Circular No. 29/2015/TT-BGTVT on the issuance and use of international driving permits

CIRCULAR

Regulations on issuing and using international driving permits.policies

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Pursuant to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic;

On the basis of Decree No. 86/2012/NĐ-CP dated October 19, 2012, issued by the Government detailing and guiding implementation of certain provisions of the Metrology Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 107/2012/NĐ-CP dated December 20, 2012 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

At the proposal of the Director of the Cadre and Civil Servant Department and, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 109/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 193/2025/NĐ-CPthe Director General of the Vietnam Highway Administration,

the Minister of Transport issues this Circular to regulate the issuance and use of international driving permits issued by Vietnam; the use of international driving permits issued by countries participating in the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (hereinafter referred to as the Vienna Convention).

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Article 3. Explanation of terms.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to agencies issuing and managing international driving permits in Vietnam; organizations and individuals related to the use of international driving permits issued by countries participating in the Vienna Convention.

2. This Circular does not apply to driver's licenses of the Public Security and Military sectors.

2. Page 1 (cover page) contains basic information about the IDP printed in both Vietnamese and English; page 2 specifies the scope of use of the IDP printed in both Vietnamese and English, page 3 specifies the driver's declaration section and IDP classification printed in Vietnamese, page 4 is left blank, page 5 specifies the driver's declaration section and IDP classification printed in English, page 6 specifies the driver's declaration section and IDP classification printed in Russian, page 7 specifies the driver's declaration section and IDP classification printed in Spanish, page 8 specifies the driver's declaration section and IDP classification printed in French, page 9 specifies the vehicle categories allowed to be driven printed in French.12. Leather shoes

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. An international driving permit is a driving permit issued by competent authorities of countries (including administrative regions) participating in the Vienna Convention according to a uniform model.

2. The English name for an international driving permit is International Driving Permit, hereinafter referred to as IDP.

3. A national driving permit is a driving permit issued by competent authorities of countries, valid within their territory.

4. The electronic file of an international driving permit is a collection of electronic documents related to the issuance of IDP.

Article 4. Model of International Driving Permit

1. The IDP is a booklet with size A6 (148 mm x 105 mm), bearing security symbols, gray cover, and white pages inside according to the model specified in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

ISSUANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS

3. The IDP number includes the country code for Vietnam in international traffic, which is VN, followed by 12 digits representing the national driving permit number.

Article 5. Term and Categories of Vehicles Controlled by International Driving Permit

1. The International Driving Permit (IDP) shall not exceed three years from the date of issuance and must be consistent with the remaining validity period of the national driving license issued by Vietnam.

2. The categories of vehicles permitted to drive under the IDP correspond to the categories of vehicles specified in Appendix II accompanying this Circular for national driving licenses issued by Vietnam.

Chapter II

1. The Vietnam Highway Administration manages the unified issuance of IDPs nationwide and is responsible for the following:

Article 6. Recipients of International Driving Permit

Vietnamese citizens and foreigners holding permanent residence cards in Vietnam, who have national driving licenses issued by Vietnam on PET material still in valid use. Article 7. Responsibilities for Issuance and Management of International Driving Permit

1. Vietnam Road Administration Department

c) Announcing and updating annually the list of countries participating in the Vienna Convention based on official notifications from the United Nations on the Vietnam Highway Administration’s Information Website;

b) Establish an information management system for IDPs;

c) Annually publish and update the list of countries participating in the Vienna Convention according to official notifications from the United Nations on the Vietnam Road Administration Department's Electronic Information Website;

c) Annually (before January 5 of the following year), compiling the results of IDP issuance according to the form prescribed in Appendix III attached to this Circular and submitting it to the Vietnam Highway Administration for consolidation and reporting to the Ministry of Transport.

đ) Direct provincial transportation departments to meet the conditions stipulated in point a, Clause 2, Article 5 of this Decree to implement the issuance of IDPs;

e) Publish and update the list of provincial transportation departments issuing IDPs;

g) Ensure equipment in accordance with the provisions set out in point d, Clause 1, Article 5 of this Decree;

h) Receive and be responsible for the accuracy and legality of IDP issuance applications and carry out IDP issuance in accordance with regulations.

2. Provincial Transportation Departments manage IDP issuance at the local level and have the following responsibilities:

a) Ensure equipment in accordance with the provisions set out in point d, Clause 1, Article 5 of this Decree;

b) Receive and be responsible for the accuracy and legality of IDP issuance applications and carry out IDP issuance in accordance with regulations;

Article 8. Procedures for Issuing International Driving Permit

1. Individuals submit applications for IDP issuance according to the form prescribed in Appendix IV attached to this Circular. When submitting the application, they must present the original national driving license issued by Vietnam, passport, and residence card (for foreigners) still valid for verification and comparison.

Individuals submit an application for IDP issuance in accordance with the form prescribed in Appendix IV accompanying this Circular directly or through the online public service system to the Vietnam Road Administration Department

2. Procedure for Issuing IDP

a) Individuals submit applications for IDP issuance as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article directly at the Vietnam Highway Administration or the Department of Transport to carry out checks on the accuracy and legality of IDP issuance. In cases where the application does not comply with regulations, guidance shall be provided immediately upon receipt;

b) Within no more than five working days from the date of receiving the application for IDP issuance, the Vietnam Highway Administration or the Department of Transport shall issue the IDP to individuals; if the IDP is not issued, reasons must be clearly stated.

5. In cases where individuals are found to have engaged in fraudulent behavior to obtain an IDP, tampering or altering information on the issued IDP, in addition to having their IDP revoked by the issuing authority, such individuals will also bear legal responsibility and will not be eligible for IDP issuance for three years from the date of discovery of the violation.

4. IDPs shall not be issued in the following cases:

a) National driving licenses that have been altered, damaged, and no longer contain necessary information or have discrepancies in identification;

b) National driving licenses not issued by authorized agencies as prescribed.

5. In case of discovering individuals engaging in fraudulent activities to obtain an IDP, altering or distorting information on issued IDPs, in addition to having their IDPs revoked by the issuing authority, such individuals will also face legal consequences and will not be eligible for IDP issuance for three years from the date of discovery of the violation.

a) Receiving applications for IDP issuance and using the IDP management information system built by the Vietnam Highway Administration to establish electronic files;

Article 9. Procedure for issuing and managing international driving permits

1. Department of Transport

e) Inspecting the quality of IDPs after printing and synchronizing data into the Vietnam Highway Administration’s IDP management information system as prescribed.

c) Check, update, and verify electronic files in the IDP management information system;

d) Verify the digital signature of authorized signatories on IDP electronic files;

đ) Carry out the printing process for IDPs;

e) Inspect the quality of printed IDPs and synchronize data with the Vietnam Highway Corporation's IDP management information system as prescribed.

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2. The General Department of Vietnam Transportation

c) In cases where individual applications for IDPs are received, follow the procedures set forth in Clause 1 of this Article.

Chapter III. USE OF INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS

Article 10. Use of International Driving Permits issued by Vietnam

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1. Individuals holding an IDP issued by Vietnam when operating motor vehicles to participate in traffic on the territory of countries participating in the Vienna Convention must carry the IDP and the national driving license; they must comply with the road traffic laws of the host country.

2. An IDP issued by Vietnam has no validity within the territory of Vietnam.

1. A person holding an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by Vietnam who operates a motor vehicle to participate in traffic on the territory of a Contracting State of the Vienna Convention must carry both the IDP and the national driving license; and comply with the road traffic laws of the host country.

1. Individuals holding an IDP issued by countries participating in the Vienna Convention must carry both the IDP and their national driving license corresponding to the category of vehicle being operated when operating motorized vehicles on the territory of Vietnam and must comply with Vietnamese traffic laws.

Article 11. Use of International Driving Permit issued by Contracting States under the Vienna Convention in Vietnam estimate 1. A person holding an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by Contracting States under the Vienna Convention when operating a motor vehicle on the territory of Vietnam must carry both the IDP and the national driving license corresponding to the category of vehicle being operated; such person must comply with Vietnam's road traffic laws.

1. The General Department of Vietnam Roads, Provincial Departments of Transport under central cities and provinces are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.

Article 12. Effective Date

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 12. Effective Date

2. Heads of the Office, Inspectorate, and Directors of Departments under the Vietnam Highway Corporation

Article 13. Implementation Organization

2. The Heads of the Office, the Inspectorate, the Department Directors, the Director of the General Department of Vietnam Roads, the Directors of Provincial Departments of Transport under central cities and provinces, the Heads of agencies, organizations, and individuals related to this matter are responsible for enforcing this Circular./.

2. The Director of the Office, the Inspector General, the Heads of Departments, the Director-General of the Vietnam Highway Corporation, the Directors of Provincial and Central City Department of Transport, the Heads of agencies, organizations, and individuals related to this Circular shall be responsible for its implementation./.