The Traffic Police Department in Vietnam has responded to recent suggestions from various localities regarding the issuance of electronic driving licenses. Specifically, there have been calls to implement a regulation that would allow for the issuance of these licenses within two hours following the completion of a driving test.

This initiative is part of the Ministry of Public Security's legislative program for 2026, which aims to streamline the process of issuing driving licenses. The Traffic Police Department has been tasked with drafting a new circular to replace the existing regulations outlined in Circular No. 12/2025/TT-BCA. To facilitate this, a drafting team has been established to collaborate with relevant units and gather feedback from local police departments.

Starting March 1, 2025, citizens will have two options for renewing or obtaining a new driving license: they can either do so in person or online. However, concerns have been voiced regarding the proposed two-hour timeline for issuing electronic licenses. Localities such as An Giang and Hai Phong have expressed doubts about the practicality of this timeframe, citing potential challenges in ensuring thorough verification and processing of test results.

Critics argue that the short duration may lead to errors and that the current technical infrastructure, which includes data synchronization and license generation systems, is often unstable. As a result, they have suggested extending the issuance period to a more manageable timeframe.

Additionally, Quang Ninh province has recommended that the Traffic Police Department issue electronic licenses within eight hours of the test completion. In response to these suggestions, the drafting team has decided to maintain the original two-hour proposal, citing that current practices already support this timeframe.

Furthermore, the province of Ha Tinh has proposed amendments to the draft circular, suggesting that retesting for expired licenses under one year should be allowed at authorized centers that conduct lower-tier tests. This recommendation aims to alleviate the burden on citizens who must travel long distances to retest their theoretical knowledge, especially in areas lacking testing centers for certain license classes.

The drafting team has acknowledged these inputs and will consider them in the ongoing revision of the circular.