According to Article 19 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, whoever drives a motor vehicle shall have lawfully obtained a motor vehicle driving license.
Whoever applies for a motor vehicle driving license shall meet the conditions for driving permission as prescribed by the public security institution under the State Council; after he/she is found upon examination be qualified, the traffic administrative department of the public security organ shall issue a motor vehicle driving license of the corresponding category.
Foreign nationals holding a valid foreign driving license in Changsha may go to the Chengbei (North of City) Vehicle Administration Office of the Changsha Municipal Public Security Bureau (长沙市公安局城北车管所) and apply for a Chinese driver's license.
File photo/hunan.gov.cn
The following information is based on information published on the official website and answers obtained via phone calls to the Changsha Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Authority. These are the current [March 2023] requirements, but they may change over time so please check for the latest policy before applying.
Required Documents:
(a) Motor vehicle driving license application form;
Tips: The application form is provided by the Changsha Traffic Police Detachment, and printed at the business handling window. The applicants need to fill and submit the form on site. There is no English version and a signature is required. To check the specific content, you may download and print the form at the remote information service platform of the Changsha Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Authority.
(b) The Driver Physical Condition Certificate （《机动车驾驶人身体条件证明》）Issued by the county-level hospital or above;
Tips: The names and addresses of hospitals authorized to issue driver physical examination certificates can be found on the Changsha Traffic Police Detachment official website.
(c) Valid identification papers and a photocopy. The passport must include the page showing the current visa page;
(d) Foreign driving license and a photocopy;
If the driving license is not in Chinese, it must be accompanied by a certified translation into Chinese.
Tips: Translations must be provided by the provincial and municipal government offices for foreign affairs at one of the following two offices. Bring the passport, including the current visa records to obtain a translation.
Foreign Affairs Office of Hunan Provincial People's Government
Address: Xianghui Building, No. 12 Shaoshan North Road, Furong District, Changsha City（长沙市芙蓉区韶山北路12号湘汇大厦）
Tel: 0731-88878389; 0731-82219825; 0731-82219830
Foreign Affairs Office of Changsha Municipal People's Government
Address: Room 519 and 520, Office of Foreign Affairs, No. 1 Office Building of Changsha Municipal People's Government, No. 218 Yuelu Avenue, Changsha （长沙市岳麓大道218号长沙市政府一办公大楼市委外事办520或519室）
Tel: 0731-88668150
(e) The applicant must present two recent, 1-inch color, bareheaded photos with a white background (25mm×35mm); and,
(f) Original Registration Form of Residence for Foreign Nationals: requested by the applicant or host (agent) and issued at the police station of residence.
(g) Valid residence (stay) permit: valid visa or residence (stay) permit of Changsha for at least 3 months; apply in the Exit-Entry Administration Service Center of Changsha Public Security Bureau, No.30 Jindun Road, Yuhua District,Changsha （长沙市雨花区金盾路30号）
Handling Procedures:
The applicant must submit the application to the Chengbei (North of City) Vehicle Administration Office of the Changsha Municipal Public Security Bureau (长沙市公安局城北车管所) with all the required materials; then obtain and complete a driving test application form at the Business Handling Window(No.14 Window); then pay the fees at the Charging Window; then go to Changsha No. 2 Driving Test Center and take Subject 1 test（长沙第二驾考中心：长沙市开福区青竹湖镇天井社区天井路与青竹湖大道路口东北角）; then return to the Vehicle Administration Office with the stamped transcript provided by the Vehicle Administration Office in order to obtain a driving license after passing all the exams.
Office Address: No.14 Window, Chengbei (North of the City) Vehicle Administration Office of the Changsha Municipal Public Security Bureau, No. 88, Section 1 of Furong North Road, Kaifu District Changsha City （Southside of the Sanchaji Bridge）（长沙市开福区芙蓉北路一段88号（三叉矶大桥南侧）长沙市公安局城北车管所）
Tel: 0731-88878305
Notice:
File photo/Xinhua
Before preparing the required materials, the applicant should go to the Vehicle Management Station of the Traffic Police Detachment of Public Security Bureau of Changsha City and make sure the foreign driving license is valid and if the application is in a proper form. The vehicle management archives system will display the test subjects which are determined according to the foreign driving license status.
An applicant holding a foreign motor vehicle driving license who applies for a motor vehicle driving license shall take the examination on Subject 1.
Subject 1 examinations papers on driving theory are available in the following languages: Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Spanish, German, Russian, Korean, and Arabic.
Foreign nationals not holding a driver's license from another country who wish to apply for a Chinese one, must enroll in a driving school and take the Chinese driving license test. To obtain a Chinese driving license, the applicant must: 1. Meet age and health requirements; 2. attend training according to the laws and regulations and pass an exam on driving theory; 3. attend vehicle driving training and a pass a practical driving test given by the Changsha Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Authority at a prescribed time which must be within three years of making a reservation to take the test.
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn
Updated on March 22, 2023
Updated on March 22, 2023
