Beijing Driver License Guide for Foreigners

Most Beijing foreigners apply at the Haidian or Chaoyang VAO sub-branches. Theory tests are held at the Beijing Driver Examination Center (北京驾驶人考试中心). Appointments are booked via the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau website (jtgl.beijing.gov.cn) or its WeChat mini-program. Same-day walk-ins are rare; book in advance.

Bring originals and photocopies of every document. Some offices use local supplementary forms not available online — arrive early to collect them at the counter.

• Passport with a valid visa or residence permit.
• Temporary residence registration (居住证 or police-issued 暂住证).
• Original foreign driver's license plus a certified Chinese translation.
• Medical examination report from an approved hospital or exam center.
• Three one-inch (25×35 mm), white-background, bare-head color photos.

Some counters ask for extra copies or have local supplementary forms — bring spare prints of everything.

A full conversion typically moves through these stages:

1. 1 Document review at the VAO counter.
2. 2 Photo verification by staff.
3. 3 Medical check on-site (if not already completed at a hospital).
4. 4 Theory test booking — Subject One, 100 questions, 90/100 to pass.
5. 5 License collection after passing the test.

A temporary permit for short-term visitors is usually issued the same day — no theory test required, but expect a brief road-safety briefing.

• Arrive early — VAO counters frequently have long queues.
• Carry printed copies of every document, including all passport pages.
• Ensure your name is spelled identically on your passport, translation, and all forms.
• Confirm your home license vehicle class maps to the Chinese category you need (e.g., standard car → C1).
• Re-confirm appointment requirements on the official city website the day before — policies change frequently.