On signing an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on mutual recognition and Exchange of Driver's Licenses
Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 794 dated September 5, 2026
THE Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan DECIDES:
1. To approve the attached draft Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on mutual recognition and Exchange of Driver's Licenses.
2. To authorize Yerzhan Saparbekovich Sadenov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to sign on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Mutual Recognition and Exchange of Driver's Licenses, authorizing amendments and additions that are not fundamental.
3. This resolution shall enter into force from the date of its signing.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan
O. Bektenov
Approved by Resolution No. 794 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on September 5, 2026
Project
Agreement
between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
and the Government of the People's Republic of China
on mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Parties), in an effort to facilitate mutual travel of citizens of the States of the Parties and ensure mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses issued by both countries, have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Principles
1. Each of the Parties recognizes and permits drivers who legally have driver's licenses issued by the other Party to drive vehicles within the categories permitted by these licenses and to apply for the exchange of such certificates in accordance with the procedure and conditions specified in Articles 2, 3 and 4 of this Agreement.
2. If there are clear signs or evidence that the driver's condition cannot guarantee safe driving or the country of issue no longer recognizes his qualifications, one Party may restrict the right of such a driver to drive vehicles on the basis of a certificate issued by the other Party.
3. The competent authorities responsible for the implementation of this Agreement are:
in the Republic of Kazakhstan – Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
In the People's Republic of China, it is the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China.
Article 2
Conditions for mutual recognition of driver's licenses
1. Each of the Parties recognizes the validity of driver's licenses issued by the other Party, subject to the following conditions::
1) the certificate is authentic and valid;
2) this type (format) of the certificate is still in use in the normal mode in the territory of the issuing State.;
3) at the time of issuing the certificate, the issuing State was the State of permanent residence of the certificate holder;
4) the certificate is permanent (basic) and does not apply to educational, temporary or international driver's licenses.;
5) the holder of the driver's license must simultaneously present an officially recognized translation of his driver's license.;
6) the validity period of the medical certificate on admission to driving vehicles is determined in accordance with the legislation of each of the States of the Parties.
2. Persons who do not comply with the conditions specified in paragraph 1 of this Article shall not have the right to have their driver's licenses recognized. Persons driving vehicles in case of non-compliance with the specified conditions may be held liable in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country in which the violation was committed.
3. The requirements of the legislation of the States of the Parties regarding age, health status and other conditions for admission to driving vehicles of various categories remain in effect. The Parties may refuse to recognize the driver's licenses of persons under the age of eighteen.
4. The driver must be able to confirm the legality of his residence or stay in the territory of the receiving State, including by presenting a valid passport, visa or residence permit. The requirements for the length of stay or residence for the exchange of a driver's license are applied in accordance with the laws and regulations of both countries.
Article 3
Mutual recognition of driver's licenses for persons temporarily staying in the territory of the other party's State
1. Persons who have valid driving licenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan and comply with the conditions of Article 2 of this Agreement are allowed to obtain in the People's Republic of China a temporary permit to drive a vehicle of the appropriate category for up to one year from the date of entry (Appendix 1 to this Agreement).
2. Persons who have valid driving licenses of the People's Republic of China and comply with the conditions of Article 2 of this Agreement are allowed to obtain a driver's license in the Republic of Kazakhstan confirming the right to drive a vehicle of the appropriate category for a period of up to one year from the date of entry (Appendix 2 to this Agreement).
3. In accordance with the provisions of this article, persons holding a driver's license issued by one of the Parties are exempt from taking exams and medical examinations.
Article 4
Exchange of driver's licenses for permanent residents
1. Subject to the conditions specified in Article 2 of this Agreement, all drivers who have a valid driver's license of one Party, have resided in the territory of the other Party for more than one year and intend to continue driving in that country must apply to the competent authority of the country of residence to obtain a driver's license of that country without having to take exams.:
1) in the territory of the People's Republic of China, persons holding a driver's license of the Republic of Kazakhstan may, without passing exams, exchange it for a corresponding driver's license of the People's Republic of China with a validity period determined in accordance with the legislation of the People's Republic of China (Appendix 3 to this Agreement);
2) in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, persons holding a driver's license of the People's Republic of China may, without passing exams, exchange it for a corresponding driver's license of the Republic of Kazakhstan with a validity period determined in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Appendix 4 to this Agreement).
2. All original driver's licenses exchanged in accordance with this article may be returned to the owner upon issuance of a new license or deposited by the competent authorities of the host country. If the driver's license is accepted for storage by the competent authorities of the receiving Party, it is returned to the owner upon departure from the host State and the delivery of the driver's license issued by that State.
3. In the case of an application by the owner of a driver's license from one of the Parties for obtaining a category not provided for by mutual exchange, the competent authority of the receiving State shall consider the application in accordance with the legislation of the receiving State.
Article 5
Authenticity of driver's licenses
1. The Parties shall provide each other with samples of national driving permits and information on ways to verify their authenticity.
2. In the event of a change in the form (design) of the driver's license, the relevant Party shall immediately notify the other Party in writing and send an official sample of the new driver's license.
Article 6
Methods of cooperation
1. The competent authorities of the Parties shall cooperate on the implementation of this Agreement in accordance with the legislation of their States.
2. The competent authorities of the Parties have the right to exchange information necessary for:
1) confirmation of the authenticity of driver's licenses;
2) verification of the fact of extradition, exchange, termination or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles;
3) implementation of other provisions of this Agreement.
3. Information exchange is carried out through diplomatic channels or through other channels of interaction agreed upon by the competent authorities of the Parties.
4. The information received under this Agreement is used solely for the purpose of its implementation and is not subject to transfer to third parties without the written consent of the Party submitting it, except in cases provided for by the legislation of the receiving Party's state.
5. Correspondence between the competent authorities of the Parties, as well as correspondence through diplomatic channels, shall be carried out in writing in the official languages of the respective countries, accompanied by a translation into Russian.
Article 7
Making changes
This Agreement may be amended and supplemented by mutual agreement of the Parties, which are its integral parts and are formalized by separate protocols that enter into force in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 9 of this Agreement.
Article 8
Dispute resolution
Any disputes and disagreements arising in connection with the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be resolved through consultations between the competent authorities of the Parties responsible for driving permits.
If the competent authorities of the Parties responsible for driving permits are unable to reach a consensus, the dispute will be resolved by the Parties through friendly consultations through diplomatic channels.
Article 9
Entry into force, suspension and termination
1. This Agreement is valid indefinitely. The Parties shall notify each other through diplomatic channels of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement. This Agreement shall enter into force after 3 (three) months from the date of receipt of the last written notification.
2. Each of the Parties has the right to temporarily suspend the operation of this Agreement for reasons of national security, national interests, public order or public health by notifying the other Party in writing through diplomatic channels. In this case, this Agreement shall be suspended upon the expiration of 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt of such notification. The Parties shall agree on the date of renewal of this Agreement in writing through diplomatic channels.
3. Each Party may terminate this Agreement by notifying the other Party in writing through diplomatic channels. In this case, this Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of 90 (ninety) calendar days from the date of receipt of such notification by the other Party.
4. The termination of this Agreement does not affect the procedures for the recognition and exchange of driver's licenses initiated prior to the date of termination, unless the Parties agree otherwise.
Committed in the city "___" __________ 202____ in two original copies, each in Kazakh, Chinese and Russian, all texts being equally authentic.
In case of discrepancies in the texts of this Agreement, the Parties refer to the text in Russian.
For the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
For the Government of the People's Republic of China
Appendix 1 to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Mutual Recognition and Exchange of Driver's Licenses
Recognition of driving licenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the territory of the People's Republic of China
For drivers temporarily staying in the territory of the People's Republic of China, the following types of driver's licenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan are recognized as corresponding to temporary permits of the People's Republic of China:
Download
Type of driver's license of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Type of temporary permit of the People's Republic of China
B (passenger transport only)
C1, C2 (passenger transport only)
"Note": passenger vehicles are cars with a maximum permissible weight of less than 3,500 kg and a maximum number of seats in addition to the driver's seat, which does not exceed 8, category "B" vehicles coupled to a trailer with a maximum permissible weight of less than 750 kg, category "B" vehicles coupled to a trailer with a maximum permissible weight of the maximum mass of which exceeds 750 kg, but does not exceed the mass of an unloaded vehicle, and the total permissible maximum mass of such a combination of vehicles does not exceed 3,500 kg.
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