China - Apply for International Driving Permits / License (IDL)

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Procedure

China does not issue, recognize the International Driving Permit or other foreign driver’s licenses. Only foreigners with a valid residence permit can apply for a Chinese driver’s license. Tourists visiting or person wishing to stay in china can either apply for a provincial drivers licence or full drivers licence

How to apply

1. Visit the DMV office near the place where your residence is registered, or at your place of temporary residence. With all the required documents. NB Your certificate of temporary resident must be certified by the local police station near your resident
2. A physical examination will then be conducted by the DMV officer, the test mainly exams your sight, hearing and reflexes
3. Once you have the physical result attach them with the required documents, fill in the drivers licences application form. NB the form is entirely in Chinese and is required to be filled in Chinese but you can either ask for a staff assistance or bring a translator with you
4. For those who apply for full drivers licences the will be required to take written exam which contents 100 random question and a pass mark of 90/100
5. Submit all the required documents plus the fee to the DMV officer and wait for your driver’s licence to be processed.
   
   

Apply through EITA:
(There may be an additional cost involved with this process). Agent Disclaimer

1. Please use the following link to apply : Apply through EITA
2. You will be presented with plans that you can choose from.
3. Please select the appropriate plan that is suitable for you and click "Next" and follow the process to complete the application.

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Required Documents

• 3-4 copies of your passport and visa (do not forget to bring your original documents too)
• 3-4 copies of your residence card/certificate of temporary registration
• Three 1-inch colour photos with white background.
• Overseas driver’s license and a copy of the license
• Physical exam result form 

Office Locations & Contacts

General Office of the Ministry of Public Security
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: East Chang'an Avenue in Beijing on the 14th
Zip Code: 100,741

Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority
Address: 100 Dagu Rd (Office hour: 9am to 11:30am and 1:30 to 4:30pm, Monday to
Friday) Telephone: 23111111

Vehicle Administrative Office, Traffic Police Division,
Foshan Public Security Bureau
No. 1 Qinggong Er Road, Foshan City
Consultation authorities: Vehicle Administrative Office, Traffic Police Division, Foshan
Public Security Bureau
Complaint authorities: Supervision Division of Foshan Public Security Bureau
Consultation number: 82962829
Complaint number: 110 or 83391061

Eligibility

• 18-60 years of age

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

• Provincial licence 3 months
• Full drives licences 6 years

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Depending on submission method:

• In person to Licensing Office: To be issued on the same day; or
• By mail: To be sent to applicants by registered mail within 10 working days from the date of receipt of application.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

• There may be differences or changes in the Contracting States policy or conditions of using an IDP to drive in the countries / places concerned, you are advised to make enquiries to the Consulates or resident offices of the countries/places concerned for details before making application for an IDP or before driving in the countries/place concerned.

• If the countries / places where you intend to visit do not permit holders of IDP issued in China to drive, please contact the Consulates or resident offices of the countries/places concerned for further enquiry.

Required Information

• Name
• Type of Identification
• Identification Number
• Gender
• Date of Birth
• Official language of preference on licence
• Email address
• Telephone/contact number
• Facsimile number
• Mailing address
• Residence address

Need for the Document

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country that recognizes IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence.

Information which might help

The 1968 convention (as amended in 2011)

The main regulations about driving licences are in Annex 6 (domestic driving permit) and Annex 7 (international driving permit). The currently active version of those is in force in each Contracting Party since no later than 29 March 2011 (Article 43).

Article 41 of the Convention describes requirements for driving licences. Key of those are:

• every driver of a motor vehicle must hold a driving licence;
• driving licences can be issued only after passing theoretical and practical exams, which are regulated by each country;
• Contracting Parties shall recognize as valid for driving in their territories:
  • domestic driving licence conforms to the provisions of Annex 6 to the Convention;
  • international driving licence conforms to the provisions of Annex 7 to the Convention, on condition that it is presented with the corresponding domestic driving licence;
• driving licences issued by a Contracting Party shall be recognised in the territory of another Contracting Party until this territory becomes the place of normal residence of their holder;
• all of the above does not apply to learner-driver licences;
• the period of validity of an international licence shall be either no more than three years after the date of issue or until the date of expiry of the domestic driving licence, whichever is earlier;
• Contracting Parties may refuse to recognise the validity of driving licences for persons under eighteen or, for categories C, D, CE and DE, under twenty one;
• an international driving licence shall only be issued by the Contracting Party in whose territory the holder has his normal residence and that issued the domestic driving licence or that recognized the driving licence issued by another Contracting Party; it shall not be valid for use in that territory.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

An IDP issued in China should be valid for driving in some countries / places, and these countries / places are Contracting States to the International Conventions concluded at Geneva on 19 September 1949.

External Links

Contracting States to the International Conventions concluded at Geneva on 19 September 1949

Chinese Government Network

Others

The IDP, which is slightly larger than a passport, is a multi-language translation of the driver's licence from the issuing nation, complete with photograph and vital statistics. Oftentimes, short term visitors do not need an IDP since their driving licence suffices.