What you need to know
A foreigner can drive in China in two ways: on a temporary permit, or after converting the foreign licence to a Chinese one. Both start at the vehicle administration office of the police.
Temporary permit
If you stay a short time, apply for a temporary driving permit. It is valid for three months. If you stay longer than three months it can be extended, up to one year. It can be used for repeated entries within its validity, with no new application. The business-people guide lists what to bring: passport, foreign licence with a Chinese translation, and a recent one-inch colour photo (half-length, bareheaded, front view, white background).
Converting a foreign licence
You can convert your licence if you lived in the issuing country or region for at least 90 days in total within one year when you got it. Applying for a large passenger vehicle, heavy towing trailer or medium passenger vehicle class needs two years with the matching foreign class as well.
Apply at the vehicle administration office where you live or stay. Submit:
- proof of identity
- a medical certificate from a medical institution
- your foreign licence
- if the licence is not in Chinese, a Chinese translation made by a translation agency or notarised
Exams
You must pass Subject 1. For the large passenger, heavy towing, urban bus, medium passenger and large cargo classes, Subjects 2 and 3 are also required. The exams must be finished within three years of the office accepting your application.
Agreements with some countries
China has licence exchange agreements with France, Serbia, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates, which allow holders of those licences to drive directly or to exchange without an exam. This comes from the 2025 business-people guide; check whether the list has grown.
Check with the office
Your city's office sets the exact translation rules, appointment steps and fees. This guide gives no fees because the sources give none. Ask the Haikou or Sanya vehicle administration office before you go.
Sources are listed below with the date each page was opened.
Practical facts
Documents to bring
- Passport or other proof of identity original For the temporary permit and for conversion[1]
- Foreign driving licence original For both[1]
- Chinese translation of the licence by a translation agency, or notarised original or copy Needed when the licence is not in Chinese[1]
- Medical certificate from a medical institution original For conversion[1]
- Recent one-inch colour photo, half-length, bareheaded, front view, white background original Listed for the temporary permit[2]
Steps
- For a short stay, apply for a temporary driving permit at the vehicle administration office of the police. It is valid for three months and can be extended up to one year if you stay longer than three months.[1]
- The permit works for repeated entries within its validity, so you do not need to apply again.[2]
- To convert your licence, check the condition first: when you got the foreign licence you must have lived in the issuing country or region for at least 90 days in total within one year.[1]
- For a large passenger vehicle, heavy towing trailer or medium passenger vehicle class, you must also have held the matching foreign class for two years.[1]
- Apply at the vehicle administration office where you live or stay. Submit proof of identity, the medical certificate, the foreign licence and the Chinese translation if needed.