The applicant may apply for a driving license in China corresponding to the type of motor vehicle license that he or she originally possesses. If failing to meet the required conditions for such an application—such as age or height—the applicant may voluntarily downgrade the type of vehicle for their China driving license application; otherwise, it will be denied.

Beijing residents with driving licenses issued by foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan, or foreigners living in Beijing, must meet the following conditions to qualify for a driving license application. 

I. Age Restrictions

(1) Small-size vehicles, small-size vehicles with auto transmission, light motorcycles: minimum age 18, maximum age 70.

(2) Low speed freight vehicles, three-wheeled vehicles, three-wheeled motorcycles, two-wheeled motorcycles and other utility vehicles: minimum age 18, maximum age 60.

(3) Buses, mid-size passenger vehicles, large freight vehicles, trolleys or tramcars: minimum age 21, maximum age 50.

(4) Tractors: minimum age 24, maximum age 50.

(5) Large-size passenger vehicles: minimum age 26, maximum age 50.

II. Health restrictions

(1) Minimum height

Large-size passenger vehicles, tractors, buses, large freight vehicles, trolleys: 155cm;

Mid-size passenger vehicles: 150cm.

(2) Vision restrictions

Large-size passenger vehicles, tractors, buses, mid-size passenger vehicles, large freight vehicles, trolleys or tramcars: natural or corrected vision minimum: 5.0 logarithm.

Other types of vehicles: natural or corrected vision minimum: 4.9 logarithm.

(3) No red/green color blindness.

(4) Hearing: Both ears must be able to determine the direction of sounds from 50 meters away

(5) Upper limbs: Two hands with thumbs and at least three other fingers. Upper limbs and hands can motion normally.

(6) Lower limbs: Normal range of motion. To apply to drive a manual transmission vehicle, lower limbs cannot be more than five centimeters different in length. To apply to drive an auto transmission vehicle, the right lower limb must be in good condition.

(7) Torso and neck: Normal range of motion must not be obstructed.

III. Those with the following conditions are not permitted to obtain a driving license:

(1) Heart disease, epilepsy, Meniere's disease, hysteria, vertigo, mental illness, mental retardation, as well as diseases associated with the nervous system and other illnesses or diseases that may hinder safe driving.

(2) Users of addictive drugs or addictive medicines that affect one's mental state.

(3) Those whose driving license has been revoked within three years of the date of application.

(4) Those whose driving license was revoked for fleeing the scene of a traffic accident.

(5) Those whose driving license was canceled by force of law within three years of the date of application.

(6) Other conditions relating to P.R.C. laws and regulations.

If the applicant has a driving license (C1 level) issued by Belgium or the United Arab Emirates, he or she may be exempt from exams. In this case, a PRC driving license would be issued directly.

If you have resided in France continuously or cumulatively for one year and obtained a driver's license during your stay, with permitted driving types on your license being AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE, and your license uses the harmonized European Union (EU) license model for French drivers introduced by EU on September 16, 2013 (excluding probationary driver's license, learner's license, and military driver's license), and you meet the application conditions outlined in the Regulations on the Application and Use of a Driver's License for Motor Vehicles of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, you are exempt from taking an examination. You can directly apply for a Chinese driver's license corresponding to the permitted driving types: C1, C2, D, E, and F.

If you have been residing in China for more than one year and possess a driver's license that allows for 14 permitted driving types, such as Serbian AM, A1, and others (excluding learner's license, provisional driver's license, and international driving permit), and you meet the application conditions specified in the Regulations on the Application and Use of a Driver's License for Motor Vehicles of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, you are exempt from taking a test. You can directly obtain a Chinese driver's license corresponding to the permitted driving types: C1, C2, D, E, and F. For Chinese mainland residents and residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan of China, who hold Serbian driver's licenses, Serbia should be their permanent residence country when their driver's licenses are issued.

If you are a permanent resident of Macao Special Administrative Region of China and possess a valid Macao driver's license for light vehicles (Class B) or larger vehicle types, and you meet the age, physical, and other conditions required for applying for a Chinese mainland driver's license for the first time, and have completed the study of road traffic safety laws and regulations, you can apply for a driver's license for small vehicles (C1) without the need for a test. Similarly, if you hold a valid and full Macao driver's license for light vehicles (Class B restricted to light vehicles with automatic transmissions) or larger vehicle types than light vehicles, and meet the age and physical conditions required for applying for a driver's license for the first time, and have studied the laws and regulations on road traffic safety, you can apply for a driver's license for small vehicles with automatic transmission (C2) without taking a test.

If the applicant is a member of a foreign embassy or consulate in China, or a representative of an international organization stationed in China, he or she should be granted a Chinese driving license within five working days (of acceptance) by the relevant authorities, according to the principle of diplomatic reciprocity.

All exams must be finished within a three-year period of the VMO's acceptance of one's application. 

Definition of proof of identity

For residents of Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, their identity document is the "Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents" or the "Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents" or the "Travel Document of the People's Republic of China" issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the accommodation registration certificate issued by public security organs; For a Macao permanent resident holding a valid and full Macao driver's license for light vehicles (must be a category B one or a category B one restricted to light vehicles with automatic transmissions) or larger vehicle types, who wants to apply for a Chinese Mainland driver's license for small cars (C1 or C2) without taking a test, he/she shall submit his/her Macau Resident Identity Card;

The identity documents for the residents of Taiwan include the Residence Permits for Taiwan Residents, the Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan Residents valid for five years and issued by public security organs, the People's Republic of China Travel Documents issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the residence registration certificates issued by public security organs;

The identity documents for Chinese citizens residing overseas include their passports of the People's Republic of China and the residence registration certificates issued by public security organs;

The identity documents for foreigners are their passports, other travel documents, valid visas allowing them to stay for at least three months, stay/residence permits, the residence registration certificates issued by public security organs, and the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Cards;

The identity documents for the personnel of foreign embassies, consulates, and representative offices of international organizations in China are the valid identity documents issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.