From 12 January, non-local drivers seeking a Hong Kong full driving licence via the ‘direct issue’ route must obtain a same-day queue ticket online rather than in person, the Transport Department announced on 7 January. Walk-in ticket distribution will stop immediately, after weeks of overnight queuing and reports of scalpers charging up to HK$800 for a spot.
Hong Kong recognises driving licences from more than 30 jurisdictions—including the UK, US, Australia, Singapore and most EU states—allowing newcomers holding a clean record to swap their permit without a road test. Demand has surged alongside record expatriate inflows under the Top Talent Pass Scheme: the department processed 27 000 direct-issue applications in 2025, up 42 % year-on-year.
![Overnight queues end: Hong Kong shifts ‘test-free’ driving-licence tickets fully online]()
Companies coordinating international moves may find it convenient to outsource the paperwork maze accompanying such relocations. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong specialists (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can guide assignees through visa options, document authentication and even driving-licence conversion requirements, helping newcomers avoid costly administrative missteps.
Under the new system, 300 e-tickets will be released at 07:00 on each working day. Applicants enter basic ID details online and receive an SMS confirming an appointment window; one ticket equals one application. Officials say the change will “streamline procedures, meet increasing demand and ensure fair and orderly access”. They will adjust quotas dynamically if online slots fill too quickly.
For mobility managers relocating staff to Hong Kong, the message is clear: brief employees to secure an e-ticket before visiting the Admiralty licensing office and to upload complete documentation—including an official letter confirming at least six months’ residence in the issuing country—to avoid being turned away. Failure to obtain a local licence within 12 months of arrival invalidates overseas permits for driving in Hong Kong, so timing matters.
Hong Kong recognises driving licences from more than 30 jurisdictions—including the UK, US, Australia, Singapore and most EU states—allowing newcomers holding a clean record to swap their permit without a road test. Demand has surged alongside record expatriate inflows under the Top Talent Pass Scheme: the department processed 27 000 direct-issue applications in 2025, up 42 % year-on-year.
Companies coordinating international moves may find it convenient to outsource the paperwork maze accompanying such relocations. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong specialists (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can guide assignees through visa options, document authentication and even driving-licence conversion requirements, helping newcomers avoid costly administrative missteps.
Under the new system, 300 e-tickets will be released at 07:00 on each working day. Applicants enter basic ID details online and receive an SMS confirming an appointment window; one ticket equals one application. Officials say the change will “streamline procedures, meet increasing demand and ensure fair and orderly access”. They will adjust quotas dynamically if online slots fill too quickly.
For mobility managers relocating staff to Hong Kong, the message is clear: brief employees to secure an e-ticket before visiting the Admiralty licensing office and to upload complete documentation—including an official letter confirming at least six months’ residence in the issuing country—to avoid being turned away. Failure to obtain a local licence within 12 months of arrival invalidates overseas permits for driving in Hong Kong, so timing matters.
