In line with the standards of Circular 108/2026/TT-BCA

Driver’s License Conversion for Foreigners & International Driving License IDP Issuance

Solution to legalize the right to operate vehicles in Vietnam: 100% exemption from theory & practical tests. Legalkeys completes the certified translation and prepares the online dossier; foreigners only need to prepare a complete dossier, we will submit it on their behalf at the Traffic Police Department, and receive the PET plastic card license delivered to the door at the customer’s request in HCMC and Binh Duong, Dong Nai and other provinces and cities.

5Minutes

Photo taken at the Department of Transport

7 – 10

Days to receive the PET card license

100%

Traffic Police database compliant

Register for driver's license conversion consultation

GPLX

Licensing authorityTransport Department

PET Plastic Card

STATE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS

Legal Framework for Driver’s License Conversion Under the Road Traffic Law

The conversion of driver’s licenses for foreigners is strictly regulated to ensure traffic safety and synchronize the violation penalty database:

01

Circular 108/2026/TT-BCA

Articles 18 and 24 regulate the exchange of driver's licenses issued by the Police sector for foreigners residing, working or studying in Vietnam for 90 days or more or holding legal temporary residence papers.

02

Regulations on the Term of Exchanged Licenses

Clause 5, Article 24 provides: The term of the Vietnamese license exchanged for foreigners must be consistent with the residence papers and the foreign license, and must not exceed the term of the Vietnamese license class.

03

Principle of Equivalent Vehicle Class

The People's Public Security sector only exchanges the Vietnamese driver's license class corresponding to the vehicle class permitted to be driven as stated on the foreign driver's license. A car driver's license is not automatically converted into a motorcycle license if the original license does not include a 2-wheel vehicle class.

SERVICES AT LEGALKEYS

2 International & Vietnamese Driver’s License Solutions

Designed according to the 2 service codes listed in the standard price list, transparent about documents and completion time:

PETTime: 7 – 10 Working Days (Urgent service on request)

Converting Foreign Driver's Licenses to Vietnamese Licenses

For foreigners, overseas Vietnamese or Vietnamese citizens holding a valid national driver's license issued abroad who are living or working legally in Vietnam:

• Scope of accepted countries: Driver's licenses from the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Russia...

• Form of the delivered license: PET plastic card to the People's Public Security sector standard, with a QR code for looking up the national database of the Directorate for Roads, valid when checked by the Traffic Police.

• 100% test exemption: No traffic law theory test or practical driving course test, only equivalent license class conversion.

• Super-fast procedure: Legalkeys does the certified translation in advance; foreigners only need to provide a complete dossier as prescribed.

Get consultation on converting your license to a PET card →

IDPTime: 5 – 7 Working Days

International Driving Permit Issuance (Global IDP)

For Vietnamese people or foreigners in Vietnam preparing to go abroad for tourism, business trips, family visits or short-term study:

• International legal status: Valid in more than 85 countries party to the 1968 Vienna Convention. The IDP booklet is printed in the standard international format in 5 languages (Vietnamese, English, French, Russian, Spanish).

• Term as prescribed: Maximum term not exceeding 03 years (or the remaining term of the national driver's license if the national driver's license has less than 3 years left).

• 100% Online Dossier: Just take photos of both sides of the Vietnamese driver's license (PET plastic version) + 3x4 ID photo + specimen signature and the passport information page, no need to submit originals.

• Full set delivered: Includes 01 international standard A6 IDP booklet issued by the management authority, with photo affixed, overlapping seal and an integrated QR code to verify validity on the national public service portal.

Register for an international IDP driving permit→

OPTIMIZING TIME

Self-Service License Conversion vs Using Legalkeys Services

The difference between struggling with procedures and a professional, pre-arranged process:

Procedure Criteria	Customers Do It Themselves	Full-Package Service at Legalkeys
Dossier preparation & Translation	Must take the license to find a place for certified translation yourself; name errors or missing overlapping seals are common.	Legalkey handles accurate certified translation, completing the full set within 24h.
Waiting time at the Police Authority	Foreigners must take a queue number themselves, wait 2–4 hours, and face language barriers when communicating with officers.	Legalkeys declares and submits the dossier on the online public service portal in advance; the customer waits for the result.
Converted license class	Officers may mistakenly issue only a car license (B1/B2), cutting off the right to ride a motorcycle (A1).	Lawyers check and compare the original license, ensuring full conversion of both car and motorcycle classes if valid.
Receiving the original result	Must return to the Police Authority to take a number and queue a second time after 10 days to collect the license.	The PET card driver's license is received and hand-delivered to the customer at home or at the branch office.

CLEAR PROGRESS

Streamlined 4-Step Driver’s License Conversion Process

Transparency between Legalkey’s preparation stage and the time customers must be present by law:

01

Send Photos of Your License and Documents (03 minutes)

Take photos of the front + back of the foreign driver's license, the passport information page and visa/temporary residence card and send them via Zalo. Specialists review the eligibility conditions free of charge.

02

Translation & Online Public Service Declaration (24h)

Legalkeys provides certified translation from the foreign language into Vietnamese, prepares the application for driver's license exchange on the Police sector's Online Public Service Portal and books an appointment in advance.

03

Receive the Original PET License After 7–10 Days (Urgent package available on request)

After the information verification period (7 – 10 working days) according to the Police sector's appointment slip, Legalkeys receives the PET plastic card driver's license and hand-delivers it to you together with the state receipt.

SERVICE PRICE LIST

Cost & Time Framework for Driver’s License Conversion

One-time transparent quote, including all certified translation fees and the state PET card issuance fee:

Specific Service	Documents to Provide	Completion Time	Estimated Cost
Converting a foreign driver’s license to a Vietnamese license	Passport + Visa/Temporary residence card + Original license	7 – 10 working days (Police sector)	Only from VND 2,000,000 – 2,500,000
International Driving Permit IDP issuance	Copy of Vietnamese driver’s license + ID photo + Signature	5 – 7 working days	Only from VND 2,000,000 – 2,500,000

15-Minute Quick Support

Register for International & Vietnamese Driver’s License Conversion

Legalkey’s legal specialists will review the photo of your original license and guide you in preparing the dossier quickly within 15 minutes.

TRAFFIC LAW Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions About Driver's License Conversion

1. How long is a Vietnamese driver's license issued to foreigners valid?↓

Under Clause 5, Article 24 of Circular 108/2026/TT-BCA: The term of a Vietnamese Driver’s License exchanged for foreigners must be consistent with the term of the residence papers and the foreign driver’s license, and must not exceed the term prescribed for the Vietnamese driver’s license class. For example: If the temporary residence card is valid for 02 more years, the foreign license is valid for at least 02 more years and the term of the Vietnamese license class allows it, the exchanged Vietnamese license may have a term of 02 years. When a new temporary residence card is issued, the driver’s license is not automatically extended; the holder must carry out the driver’s license exchange procedure and meet the conditions at the time of the procedure.

2. Do I have to take a test to convert a foreign driver's license to a Vietnamese license?↓

Absolutely no theory or practical test is required. This is an administrative procedure of equivalent conversion between countries. Foreigners only need to present a valid original license and have a biometric photo taken in person at the Department of Transport to be issued a Vietnamese PET plastic card driver’s license.

3. Can a foreign car driver's license be converted to a motorcycle license in Vietnam?↓

The principle of license exchange is by corresponding vehicle class. If your original driver’s license only has the car class (Car), the Department of Transport only issues a car driver’s license (B1/B2). If your original driver’s license also includes the motorcycle class (Motorcycle) or you have 2 separate licenses for both car and motorcycle, Legalkey will carry out the procedure to exchange them into a combined license or into 2 Vietnamese driver’s licenses so you can legally drive both cars and motorcycles.

4. Can a temporary driver's license (Temporary / Learner permit) be converted to a Vietnamese license?↓

Under Article 24 of Circular 108/2026/TT-BCA: Foreign temporary driver’s licenses (Temporary License), learner’s permits, international driving licenses (such as IAA/IDP) or foreign driver’s licenses that have expired, show signs of erasure, are torn or have discrepancies in identification, or licenses not issued by a competent authority are not accepted for exchange. The license must be an official license (Full / Official License), still valid and meet the conditions prescribed by law.