Exchange a foreign license in China: treaty countries skip the test; others take Subject 1. Short stays get a 3-month temp permit; an IDP is not recognized.
With a valid foreign driver's license you can exchange it for a Chinese license of the corresponding class. Whether you can skip the test and how many subjects you take depend on whether your country has a license-recognition agreement with China and on your stay length in the issuing country.
For short visits (tourism, business) where a full exchange is impractical, you can apply for a temporary driving permit. As for the "International Driving Permit (IDP)" — China is not a contracting party, so an IDP is NOT recognized in mainland China and cannot stand alone as a legal driving document.
Under license-recognition agreements, qualified licenses from countries such as Belgium, the UAE, France and Serbia can be exchanged for a Chinese small-car (C1/C2) license without a test. Details follow the bilateral agreement and local vehicle-administration practice; the document must be genuine, valid and non-provisional.
Recognition means "qualified holders skip the test," not that every license from that country auto-converts; always confirm the latest local stance with the intended vehicle administration office beforehand.
Generally, exchanging a foreign license requires Subject 1 (theory); for large buses, heavy tractors, city buses, medium buses and large trucks (A1/A2/A3/B1/B2) you must pass Subjects 1, 2 and 3.
Key threshold: you must have accumulated 90+ days of residence in the issuing country/region within one year when you obtained the foreign license, otherwise (for mainland residents under 90 days) you take all subjects. Large-vehicle classes also need 2+ years on the foreign equivalent. Exams must be completed within three years of acceptance.
Identity: passport, or permanent residence card;
Stay proof: a visa or residence permit valid for 3+ months, plus an alien accommodation registration form (waived with a PR card or HK/Macau/Taiwan residence permit);
Foreign license original; if not in Chinese, a Chinese translation from a translation agency or notarized by a notary;
Physical-condition certificate (medical exam); some cities skip submission via hospital data sharing. Apply in person at the vehicle administration office, book the exam after acceptance, and collect the license once you pass.
Short-term entrants can obtain a temporary driving permit valid for 3 months; if the stay exceeds 3 months, validity can be extended to 1 year. It is reusable within its validity — handy for brief stays.
The permitted stay must exceed 30 days to apply; the temporary permit also requires a genuine, valid foreign license (not a learner/provisional/temporary one).
The license name must be in Chinese (the standard Chinese transliteration of your passport name). Validity follows class and age; renew before expiry. Lost/damaged licenses can be re-issued with passport/PR card and accommodation form (or PR card).
The foreign license must be a standalone, non-provisional valid document; expired, provisional or restricted ones cannot be exchanged.
With a Chinese license (or temp permit) you can use rental platforms and outlets; if you plan to [buy property and a car in China](/en/blog/foreigner-buy-property-china/), vehicle purchase and financing involve [cross-border funds and account opening](/en/blog/foreigner-remittance-china-guide/).
For long-term use, do the formal exchange early rather than rely on temporary permits; for money and status compliance see our [account-opening overview](/en/blog/foreigners-open-account-china-overview/) and [payroll remittance guide](/en/blog/foreigner-remittance-china-guide/).
China has license-recognition agreements with countries such as Belgium, the UAE, France and Serbia; qualified corresponding licenses can be exchanged for a small-car license without a test, subject to the agreement and local office practice.
Usually Subject 1 (theory); large/medium buses and trucks need Subjects 1-2-3. If you accumulated under 90 days in the issuing country within a year, you take all subjects.
You cannot do the formal exchange on a tourist visa (usually needs a 3+ month stay), but you can get a 3-month temporary permit (stay must exceed 30 days) for short-term legal driving.
No. China is not an IDP contracting party; an IDP is not recognized for solo driving. Legal driving requires a Chinese license or a temporary permit, together with a valid foreign license.
A non-Chinese license needs a Chinese translation from a translation agency or notarized by a notary; Chinese or multilingual-with-Chinese versions may be exempt.
The name must be in Chinese (the standard transliteration of your passport name), not pinyin or the original script.
Generally 3 months for short stays; extendable to 1 year if the stay exceeds 3 months; reusable within its validity.