National test standards apply across cities, while counter scope, booking channels and medical arrangements differ. These official entry points were checked on 2 October 2026; individual service points do not necessarily accept every identity category.
What to have ready
Before you start
Search the city-scoped provincial portal for first issue, overseas-licence application or expiry renewal, then select the implementing authority, district and applicable applicant category. 12123 serves eligible records that match its identity checks; it does not replace every initial verification. The source list contains a link for every city, while the table distinguishes verified local arrangements from matters requiring confirmation.
All nine mainland cities: official channels and service distinctions
| City | Official enquiry or application entry | Check before applying |
|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen | Shenzhen traffic-police licence booking categories; Shenzhen provincial portal | The official menu separates Hong Kong exemption, ordinary overseas-licence applications, first issue and restoration. A Hong Kong conversion appointment is not a first-test slot. Resolve unmatched identity records with the vehicle-management service before booking. |
| Guangzhou | Guangzhou Public Security driving-licence services; Guangzhou provincial portal | Select first issue or overseas conversion and the relevant municipal or district authority. A general police or self-service replacement counter is not automatically an overseas-licence verification counter. First-time trainees should also review the contract terms updated in 2026. |
| Zhuhai | Zhuhai provincial portal; the Zhuhai examination record in 12123 | Hengqin's December 2025 venue notice covers subject one and booking through 12123. It does not establish a subject-two or road-test venue at that address, or an exemption-conversion counter. Check each appointment's actual service. |
| Foshan | Foshan provincial portal; select municipal or district implementing authority | Use the municipal or district guide appropriate to your transaction and residence, reading its applicant scope and documents. An overseas-conversion subservice for mainland residents cannot simply be reused for Hong Kong residents or foreign nationals. |
| Huizhou | Huizhou provincial portal; search the specific licence transaction | Confirm the residence city, authority and Hong Kong or foreign-national document checklist before arranging medical checks and attendance. Renewal information differs from first issue or conversion, and accommodation records should match the application identity. |
| Dongguan | Dongguan traffic-police overseas-conversion guide; Dongguan provincial portal | The official guide lists Dongguan traffic-police or iGuanjia booking, separates eligible Hong Kong exemption from overseas applicants requiring tests, and includes safety learning. Confirm identity and vehicle class; the exemption does not cover every Hong Kong licence holder automatically. |
| Zhongshan | Zhongshan provincial portal; Zhongshan Public Security vehicle-management notices | An April 2026 notice suspended the self-service hall's medical and photo machines and directed users to hospitals and 12123 replacement services. Check later restoration notices before assuming an on-site one-stop medical service is available. |
| Jiangmen | Jiangmen provincial portal; official Talent Card conversion service guide | The Talent Card guide's priority service is for qualifying cardholders and still requires medical, full-licence and verification steps, with exemptions assessed separately. Ordinary applicants need the normal transaction guide; the card guide does not establish their priority eligibility. |
| Zhaoqing | Zhaoqing provincial portal; choose authority by licence transaction | Check municipal or county/district counter scope for the actual residence and transaction, confirming overseas identity verification, medical upload and examination city. A point offering ordinary duplicate licences is not thereby authorised for first issue or overseas-licence applications. |
What to do, step by step
- State identity, current full-licence issuer, transaction and residence when contacting the official service. Holders of the non-Chinese permit should identify its full document category rather than simply saying Home Return Permit.
- Read the applicant scope and materials before booking, checking whether that counter performs verification, learning or examination. Save school, medical and vehicle-management appointments separately.
Costs, timing, and things to check
Shared national rules do not mean another city's same-day outcome establishes your exemption. Recheck older addresses or package prices against the current appointment confirmation.
A driving licence concerns driving entitlement. Northbound or southbound vehicle schemes, plates, insurance and personal entry each have separate approvals and validity periods.
Match city, identity and transaction before following the official application route.
Official information and enquiries
These are the reference and service entry points for this guide. Check current fees, eligibility, and schedules with the authority. The preparation date is not each source's official update date.
- Guangdong government service portal: Guangzhou
- Guangdong government service portal: Shenzhen
- Guangdong government service portal: Zhuhai
- Guangdong government service portal: Foshan
- Guangdong government service portal: Huizhou
- Guangdong government service portal: Dongguan
- Guangdong government service portal: Zhongshan
- Guangdong government service portal: Jiangmen
- Guangdong government service portal: Zhaoqing
- Traffic police: current driving-licence rules amended by MPS Order 172
- Shenzhen traffic police: driving-licence appointment categories
- Guangzhou Public Security: services and driving-licence business
- Hengqin Public Security: theory-test venue opened in December 2025
- Dongguan traffic police: overseas-licence applications and Hong Kong exemption channel
- Zhongshan Public Security: April 2026 self-service equipment notice
- Jiangmen government: Talent Card driving-licence conversion service