Reasons why you can't renew your driver's license: What everyone should know.

Cases where driver's license cannot be exchanged

Article 37 of Consolidated Document No. 19/VBHN (consolidating Circulars (TT) 12/217, TT 39/2019, TT 01/2021 and TT 04/2022 regulating training, examination and issuance of driver's licenses) stipulates that driver's licenses will not be exchanged in the following cases (Clause 6):

Temporary foreign driving licenses; international driving licenses; foreign, military , or police driving licenses that have expired, are altered, torn, or no longer contain the necessary elements for exchange, or have discrepancies in identification; foreign driving licenses not issued by competent authorities.

A driver's license issued by the Ministry of Transport but not listed in the driver's license information system or the list of issued driver's licenses (management register).

The person does not meet the required health standards.

Vietnamese citizens holding foreign driver's licenses who have stayed abroad for less than 3 months and whose stay does not match the driver training period of the country that issued the license.

Who is eligible to exchange their driver's license?

Clause 5 of Article 37 of Consolidated Document No. 19 also stipulates the subjects eligible to exchange their driver's licenses, including:

Vietnamese citizens and foreigners are trained, tested, and issued driver's licenses in Vietnam.

The person's driver's license, issued by the transportation department, is damaged.

Vietnamese citizens and foreigners residing permanently in Vietnam who have obtained a Vietnamese driver's license by converting a foreign driver's license may renew their license upon expiration if needed.

Individuals holding a valid military driver's license may exchange it for a regular driver's license upon leaving the military (demobilization, discharge, transfer to another sector, retirement, termination of employment contract in defense enterprises, etc.) if they so wish.

Individuals holding a driver's license issued by the Public Security sector after July 31, 1995, that is still valid, may exchange their driver's license for a new one if they so wish upon ceasing service in the Public Security sector (discharge from service, transfer to another sector, retirement, termination of employment contract in the People's Public Security).

Individuals holding a motorcycle driving license issued by the Public Security sector before August 1, 1995, whose license is damaged and who wish to renew it, and whose names are listed in the register, will be considered for a new driving license.

Foreign nationals residing, working, or studying in Vietnam who possess a diplomatic identity card, official identity card, temporary residence card, residence card, stay card, or permanent residence card valid for 3 months or more, and who have a valid national driver's license, may be considered for conversion to a corresponding Vietnamese driver's license if they wish to drive in Vietnam.

Foreign tourists driving vehicles registered abroad who enter Vietnam and possess a valid national driver's license may, if they wish to drive in Vietnam, have their license exchanged for a corresponding Vietnamese driver's license.

Vietnamese citizens residing, studying, or working abroad who have been issued a valid national driver's license by a foreign country may exchange it for a corresponding Vietnamese driver's license if they wish to drive in Vietnam.

Minh Hoa (compiled)

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