Chinese people’s overseas activities are increasing, and China documents are becoming more and more popular.

　　The International Certificate of Professional Qualification for Chinese Teachers has been recognized by the education departments of several WTO member countries, and it is necessary to hold this certificate to be a Chinese teacher abroad. Image source: Douban Group Network

　　In late February, the Ministry of Public Security of China and the French Ministry of the Interior signed an agreement on mutual recognition and renewal of driver’s license in Beijing. Both sides recognized the valid driver’s license issued by the other side, and one side allowed the holders of the other country’s driver’s license to drive directly in its territory or to renew their driver’s license without trial.

　　With the increasing comprehensive national strength of China, Chinese’s overseas activities are increasing day by day. Not only the driver’s license, but also various certificates such as academic certificate, marriage certificate and professional qualification certificate have been recognized by overseas countries.

　　Convenient for China tourists in go on road trip.

　　According to the news from the Ministry of Public Security, Chinese, who entered France temporarily, can drive directly with his Chinese driver’s license and translation, and does not need to change his license. "Temporary" means to travel to France, visit relatives or go on business, and stay in France for no more than one year.

　　However, considering the short-term travel needs such as tourism and safety guarantee, not all models in France can drive with China driver’s license. At present, the models allowed to drive are: medium-sized buses (B1), large trucks (B2), small cars (C1, C2) and motorcycles (D, E, F). If you have obtained the driving qualification of the above models in China, you can drive the corresponding vehicles in France. Of course, you must remember to bring a valid passport, visa or residence certificate to ensure your legal status or right of abode.

　　If you have stayed in France for more than one year, you need to hold a Chinese driver’s license, an official French translation, a passport, a visa or a residence certificate, and directly apply for a French driver’s license without trying. The number of quasi-driving models has decreased, including only small cars (C1, C2) and motorcycles (D, E, F).

　　If you are a diplomat working in France and an international student studying, you will enjoy the reciprocal preferential policies given by the two countries. These two types of people can drive directly with Chinese driver’s license and officially recognized translation. The types of vehicles allowed to drive correspond to the types of Chinese driver’s licenses held.

　　However, the internship driver’s license, learning driver’s license and military driver’s license are not within the scope of this mutual recognition and redemption. After the renewal, the French authorities will keep your driver’s license and return it to you before you leave the country.

　　According to statistics, in 2015, the number of outbound tourists from China reached 170 million, of which 2.2 million went to France. This policy is obviously a great convenience for Chinese who has the intention of going abroad to go on road trip or living in the short term.

　　There are differences in overseas recognition of China driver’s licenses.

　　In addition to French, many countries and regions also recognize China driver’s license. According to the use time, it can be roughly divided into the following categories:

　　Free to use. In most states in the United States, China’s driver’s license is highly recognized. Take California, which has a lot of tourists from China, as an example. According to the state law, anyone over the age of 18 with a legal driver’s license from any country can use it in California. In some states in the central and eastern regions, some can rent a car with China driver’s license and international driver’s license certification or translation, while others need China driver’s license with English public documents to drive. In Turkey, China’s driver’s license can be translated and notarized to rent a car and drive in Turkey. Hong Kong, China driver’s license can be used freely in the UK. Taiwan, China driver’s license can be used in Japan. In addition, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries basically recognize China driver’s license.

　　Can be used for one year. China tourists who drive in Sweden, New Zealand and Britain for a short time can legally drive for one year with valid China driver’s license (original driver’s license and valid English translation).

　　Can be used for six months. If you stay in Belgium, Canada and Germany for 6 months, you can rent a car in Germany with your China driver’s license and the international driver’s license certification or translation provided by the car rental company. The conditions in Australia are similar, but China tourists can only drive the corresponding models listed in China’s driver’s license.

　　Can be used for 3 months. Russian tourists who stay in China for three months can drive in Russia with a Russian driver’s license and a notarized translation.

　　Others need further confirmation. Since March 14th last year, China and UAE have signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, and China tourists can drive directly in UAE with Chinese driver’s licenses within the validity period of their visas. However, the specific implementation time of the UAE has to be further confirmed by the local government.

　　A variety of certificates have been recognized overseas

　　In recent years, certificates and documents such as marriage certificate and academic degree certificate applied for in China have been recognized in more and more countries, but many documents need consular authentication.

　　一家代办外国驻华使馆和外交部进行证书认证的公司工作人员告诉记者，具体流程是，中国公民需要将这些证件送往国内具有涉外资格的公证处办理涉外公证，然后将公证书分别送往各国驻华使馆和外交部进行认证（简称双认证）。

　　至于哪些证明能够办理这种领事认证，各国规定并不一样。在中国外交部编写的《外国驻华使馆（代表处）领事认证规定汇编（2017年3月1日更新）》中，认证范围包括出生、结婚、丧偶、离异、未婚、亲属、户口、毕业证书、在学证明、学籍学分证明、职业资格证书等各种证书、证明。

　　各国对其收费标准、注意事项做了详细规定。例如，玻利维亚要求，中国籍大学生的学历、成绩单认证费为1350元，中国籍高中、中小学生的学习类文书需要150元认证费，申请者还需要提供相应的西班牙文译文和有效期3个月的无犯罪记录公证书等。

　　特别提醒

　　很多中国职业资格证书获得海外承认，并不等于允许你在这些国家行使这些证书所认定的职业资格。以中国的职业医师执照为例，这只是在德国行医的前提，德国政府还会审核你各科目学习时长、实习总时间和德语能力，并且你还需经过资格考试，才能在德国执业。

　　本报记者 彭训文