A local guide to getting your driving licence and taking your driving test in Hong Kong.
11 February 2014
| Last updated on 28 June 2017
Most driving licences are issued after the applicant passes a driving test for the respective type of vehicle.
They may be issued without a test if the applicant is a holder of an overseas driving licence issued on passing a driving test by one of the following approved countries: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guernsey, India, Iceland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Namibia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Driving in Hong Kong for Overseas Driving Licence Holders
For overseas driving licence holders who wish to drive in Hong Kong, they may do so through one of the following means-
- Apply for a full driving licence by direct issue without test;
- Apply for a temporary driving licence; or
- Driving on strength of their valid overseas driving licence or international driving permit if they are visitors to Hong Kong (visitors mean that they arrive at Hong Kong other than to take up residence for a period not exceeding 12 months).
Apply for a Full Driving Licence by Direct Issue without Test
If you hold an overseas driving licence issued by one of the approved countries:
The overseas driving licence must be:
- Valid or has not expired for more than 3 years; and
- Must be obtained through passing of driving test held in the issuing country or place;
The driving entitlement(s) applied for must be equivalent to the class(es) which are authorized to drive by the issuing country or place; and Satisfy any one of the requirements listed below:
- have resided in the overseas country or place of issue for a period of not less than 6 months during which the licence was issued; or
- have held the licence for 5 years or more immediately prior to the application; or
- hold a passport or equivalent travel document of the country or place in which the licence was issued.
How to apply?
Complete an application form TD63A ; and Submit it to Hong Kong Licensing Office
What to bring?
- Hong Kong Identity Card (original and photocopy)
- Relevant travel document (e.g. passport) (original and photocopy);
- Relevant overseas driving licence (original and photocopy);
- An officially certified translation of your overseas driving licence if it is in a language other than English or Chinese;
- Other relevant supporting documents (original and photocopy);
- Address proof (residential address and correspondence address) issued within the last 3 months (e.g. water/electricity/gas/mobile phone bill or bank correspondence);
- Medical examination report form TD256 duly completed by a registered medical practitioner (applicable to a person aged 70 or above); and
- Required fee (you may make enquiries at the enquiry counters of licensing offices or through 1823 Call Centre, refer to the licence fees table (TD341) at the licensing offices, or visit Transport Department's website for information).
What You Should Note?
Since the extension of the Probationary Driving Licence Scheme to private car and light goods vehicle on 9.2.2009, a person who has passed the relevant driving tests, is required to apply for a probationary driving licence, and upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month probationary driving period, is eligible for issue of a full driving licence for private car and/ or light goods vehicle.
According to the relevant ordinance, "direct issue" mechanism can only allow an eligible applicant with a full driving licence issued by any one of the countries/ places listed under Schedule 4 of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations, Cap. 374B, to apply for a Hong Kong full driving licence of the respective vehicle class (motor cycle, private car and light goods vehicle).
The "direct issue" mechanism is not applicable to those who only hold a probationary driving licence, or equivalent.
Applicants meeting all the requirements for direct issue of a full driving licence would be issued with a Hong Kong full driving licence without passing through the 12-month probationary driving period.
Apply for a Temporary Driving Licence
Criteria
Hold a valid overseas driving licence of which the issuing country that is NOT on the approved country list.
Apply for a driving test within 3 months after the date of arrival in Hong Kong; and Satisfy any one of the requirements listed below:
- have resided in the overseas country or place of issue for a period of not less than 6 months during which the licence was issued; or
- have held the licence for 5 years or more immediately prior to the application; or
- hold a passport or equivalent travel document of the country or place in which the licence was issued.
If you subsequently fail in any part of the driving test, your temporary driving licence will be cancelled immediately.
How to apply?
Complete an application form TD181 ; and Submit it to Hong Kong Licensing Office.
What to bring?
- Hong Kong Identity Card (original);
- Relevant travel document (e.g. passport) (original);
- Relevant overseas driving licence (original);
- An officially certified translation of your overseas driving licence if it is in a language other than English or Chinese;
- Other relevant supporting documents (original);
- Address proof (residential address and correspondence address) issued within the last 3 months (e.g. water/electricity/gas/mobile phone bill or bank correspondence);
- Medical examination report form TD256 duly completed by a registered medical practitioner (only for applicants aged 70 or above); an
- Required fee (you may make enquiries at the enquiry counters of licensing offices or through 1823 Call Centre, refer to the licence fees table (TD341) at the licensing offices, or visit Transport Department's website for information).
