Foreign Driving
Permit in China

1. Do foreigners need a permit?

Yes. Under the Public Security Ministry Regulations on Temporary Entry Vehicles and Drivers (Order No. 90), a foreigner holding an overseas driving licence who wants to drive in China must apply for a Temporary Driving Permit (临时机动车驾驶许可) from the local traffic police. Driving with only your home-country licence or an International Driving Permit (IDP) is not accepted on its own.

In practice, the permit must be used together with your overseas licence and its Chinese translation — that is exactly how border crossings and police checkpoints read it.

2. IDP vs temporary permit

China is not a party to the 1949 or 1968 international driving licence conventions, so an International Driving Permit issued by your home country has no legal standing in China. What matters is the Chinese Temporary Driving Permit. You keep your overseas licence and its certified Chinese translation — the temporary permit is issued on top of those, for the vehicle classes shown on your home licence.

3. Documents required

• Your passport / entry-exit ID document (入出境身份证件)
• Overseas driving licence — a Chinese translation is required (certified translation we prepare)
• Proof of age and physical fitness meeting Chinese driving requirements
• Two recent 1-inch colour ID photos (white background)
• Vehicle class match: the permit is issued for the classes on your home licence and, for your own car, must match the vehicle you bring in

This is the checklist in Article 13 of the Ministry's Order No. 90 — nothing more is asked when your file is complete.

4. Validity & costs

• Validity: up to 3 months, aligned to your permitted stay (cannot be extended)
• Longer stays: if you stay over 3 months, the validity can be extended up to 1 year under the newer driving licence rules (Order No. 172, Article 21)
• Cost: the government fee is modest; our agency fee covers document preparation, translation, submission and follow-up
• Timing: with your documents pre-prepared, the permit is issued quickly — many visitors pick it up the same day

5. Real case: Vietnam driver

Here is a Temporary Driving Permit we recently arranged — issued by Kunming traffic police to a Vietnam national (driving class C1), valid 3 months. The name and photo are masked for privacy; this is the exact document your driver receives.

6. Fast handling by our agency

We are a licensed travel agency (云南省省国际旅行社（集团）有限公司) handling vehicle-entry and driver documentation for foreign travellers. For the temporary driving permit we:

• Check your licence and vehicle class against the permit rules before you travel
• Prepare the certified Chinese translation of your licence
• Complete the application form and photo requirements
• Submit and follow up with the traffic police so the permit is issued without delay
• Combine it with your vehicle temporary import permit and customs guarantee in one package