Airport Driving Permit Counters in China: Terminal Locations & Same-Day Issuance
You do not need to wait days or navigate suburban government complexes to obtain a Chinese driving permit if landing at an equipped hub. Major gateway airports—including Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX), Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH), Chongqing Jiangbei (CKG), Kunming Changshui (KMG), Sanya Phoenix (SYX), and Haikou Meilan (HAK)—feature dedicated Traffic Police Service Stations directly inside arrival passenger terminals. Crucially, airports like Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu Tianfu (TFU), Xi'an (XIY), and Urumqi (URC) require visiting municipal offices downtown. Review verified counter locations, operating schedules, and step-by-step landing procedures below.
Field Verification & Real-Time Accuracy Disclaimer办事须知与免责声明
Continuous 2026 AuditSpecific counter operating schedules, physical terminal locations, and on-site certified translation availability are subject to local traffic police detachment adjustments, security upgrades, and statutory public holiday shifts. Always verify your flight landing window against counter hours.
Verified On-Site Airport Traffic Service Stations
Airports with active Traffic Police Service Stations directly inside passenger terminals for same-day permit issuance
Beijing Daxing International Airport
From international baggage claim, exit into the public arrival hall. Head toward the West Domestic Arrivals corridor on Level 2 and follow signs for the Public Security Service Building / Traffic Police Service Station.
Beijing Capital International Airport
In Terminal 3 arrival hall, take the escalator/elevator down to Level 1. Walk toward Gate 7; the traffic management station is directly opposite Entrance 7 inside the terminal.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
From Terminal 2 International Arrivals, follow overhead signs toward the Maglev Train & Metro Line 2. The traffic service station is situated within the integrated transport hub concourse between T1 and T2.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Located on airport grounds at the Airport Police Detachment facility on Konggang 1st Road. Accessible via a short taxi or shuttle ride from Terminal 2.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
From International Arrivals, take the elevator up to the 4th floor Departure Hall. The Public Security Processing Center is prominently situated with dedicated foreigner and cross-border driver counters.
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
From T4 International Arrivals, take the elevator to the Departure Hall. Walk toward Check-in Island P; the "Hangfeng Station" public security service center is located immediately on the east flank.
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport
Located within the T3A main passenger terminal service corridor, integrated with the municipal Foreigner Immigration Service Station.
Kunming Changshui International Airport
After clearing customs in the International Arrivals area, proceed toward the ground transportation concourse. The Airport Traffic Police station is situated adjacent to the tourist information center.
Sanya Phoenix International Airport
Exiting customs into the International Arrivals public concourse, follow overhead signage for "Foreign Drivers Service Station" (境外人员驾驶许可服务窗口).
Haikou Meilan International Airport
Located inside the T2 International Arrival Hall, directly past the baggage claim exit next to customer service.
Major Gateways WITHOUT Terminal Permit Counters
You CANNOT obtain a provisional driving permit inside passenger terminals at these 22 high-volume airports (including Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Urumqi, Wuhan, Changsha, Xining, Lanzhou, Harbin, Qingdao, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, etc.). Plan ahead to visit designated municipal Vehicle Administration Offices (车管所) downtown.
Chengdu Tianfu & Shuangliu Airports
While Tianfu GTC Level B1 hosts major rental car desks (eHi, CAR Inc.), the airport traffic police post does not host active card-printing terminals for foreign provisional permits. Shuangliu T1 trial counters are no longer primary international gateways.
Take Metro Line 18 from Tianfu Airport to downtown Chengdu (approx. 45–55 min). Allocate half a business day to visit the Xipu headquarters or Baijia branch to complete paperwork before collecting your vehicle.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
The police post inside Baiyun T1/T2 only handles temporary domestic boarding certificates for flight departures. There is no vehicle administration foreigner driver desk inside the airport.
Take Metro Line 3 from Baiyun Airport directly to central Tianhe District. Schedule an advance morning appointment on the "Guangzhou Traffic Police" WeChat platform if possible, or arrive early at Cen Village.
Xi’an Xianyang International Airport
Terminal 3 has transportation service counters, but no foreign license test/production facility. The airport is 35 km northwest of Xi’an downtown.
First check in to your Xi’an hotel and ensure the front desk completes your police Temporary Residence Registration (境外人员临时住宿登记表). Bring the registration printout to the Cheguansuo foreign licensing window.
Urumqi Diwopu International Airport
Crucial for travelers undertaking the Northern Xinjiang Altai loop or Duku Highway: Urumqi airport has ZERO driver permit licensing counters inside passenger terminals.
Take an airport taxi or Metro Line 1 into Urumqi. Kazaiwan is situated in Midong District. Expect strict security and document verification; ensure you bring paper hotel accommodation slips and certified translations.
Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
Wuhan Tianhe passenger terminals do not host on-site foreigner driver licensing desks.
Take Metro Line 2 into Wuhan urban area. Complete application at Hanbei Headquarters before heading toward Shennongjia or Three Gorges.
Changsha Huanghua International Airport
Huanghua airport police desks manage aviation safety only. No provisional driving licenses are issued at the terminal.
Maglev express train from airport to Changsha South Railway Station, then short taxi to Zhongnan Branch.
Xining Caojiabao International Airport
Primary staging hub for the Qinghai-Gansu Silk Loop. Caojiabao airport does not possess card-printing infrastructure for foreign permits.
Take airport shuttle bus (30 min) to downtown Xining. Visit Chengbei Branch on weekday morning.
Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport
Zhongchuan airport is located 70 km north of Lanzhou downtown in Lanzhou New Area; no provisional permit desk is available in T1/T2.
Take intercity high-speed train from airport to Lanzhou West Station (45 min), then proceed to downtown vehicle branch.
Xiamen Gaoqi & Fuzhou Changle
Neither Xiamen Gaoqi nor Fuzhou Changle terminals issue walk-in driving permits to international foreign passport holders.
Visit the respective municipal Cheguansuo foreign window during normal weekday business hours.
Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Under Tibet Autonomous Region tourism regulations, foreign passport holders cannot independently self-drive rental cars without an organized tour package, licensed guide, and Tibet Travel Permit (TTB permit).
Independent walk-up driving permits are NOT available at Gonggar airport for international tourists. All self-drive expeditions must be pre-arranged with accredited overland tour agencies.
Guilin Liangjiang & Guiyang Longdongbao
Gateway airports for Guangxi Karst and Guizhou ethnic minority routes do not operate permanent foreigner driving license desks inside terminals.
Allow half a day in Guilin or Guiyang city center to complete paper issuance before driving to Yangshuo or Huangguoshu.
Harbin Taiping & Qingdao Jiaodong
Neither terminal operates walk-up foreigner provisional driving permit stations.
Apply at the municipal Vehicle Administration foreigner service counter on the first business weekday.
Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 do not host provisional driver licensing counters. Police booths on airport grounds only process domestic temporary boarding IDs.
Take Metro Line S1 directly to Nanjing South Railway Station (35 min), then proceed to Xuanwu or Jiangning Cheguansuo.
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
Zhengzhou Airport terminal does not provide foreign driver permit processing. Foreign travelers planning self-drives to Shaolin Temple or the Taihang Mountains must arrange downtown clearance.
Take the Zhengzhou Airport Metro (Chengjiao Line) into Zhengzhou urban center. Complete paperwork at Jiazhai during weekday business hours.
Shenyang Taoxian & Dalian Zhoushuizi
Liaoning provincial gateways for Northeast China border and coastal routes have no foreign license counters in their passenger halls.
Take the airport shuttle or metro into downtown Shenyang or Dalian. Submit foreign license dossier on the next weekday morning.
Tianjin Binhai International Airport
Located 30 minutes from Beijing by high-speed rail; Tianjin Binhai Airport passenger terminals do not feature foreigner driver permit facilities.
Take Metro Line 2 directly into central Tianjin. If connecting to Beijing, consider obtaining your permit at Beijing Daxing (PKX) instead.
Nanning Wuxu International Airport
Starting hub for the Sino-Vietnamese Border Expressway (G219 / Detian Waterfall); NNG airport does not operate foreigner driving license desks.
Take the airport express bus into Nanning (35 min). Complete morning application at Wuyi Road before departing for the border mountains.
Hohhot Baita International Airport
Primary staging airport for central Inner Mongolia grassland routes (Xilamuren, Ulanqab). No driving permit kiosks exist inside the terminal.
Take Metro Line 1 into Hohhot city center. Allocate half a business day to visit the Jinchuan vehicle hall before starting your prairie expedition.
Landing in Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu (TFU), or Xi'an (XIY)? No Airport Counter Available
Arriving at an airport without an in-terminal desk forces you to travel downtown during weekday municipal hours to get your provisional permit. Our $149 Route Review audits your flight arrival against terminal desk hours before you book non-refundable tickets. Traveling soon? We also provide $49 Certified License Translations ready for police desks nationwide.
Step-by-Step Airport Arrival to Car Rental Workflow
From deplaning to driving onto the airport expressway in 6 chronological stages
Clear Immigration & Obtain Ink Entry Stamp
Pass through the National Immigration Administration (NIA) border inspection lanes. Ensure the immigration officer clearly inks your passport with the official port-of-entry chop (入境章) displaying your entry date and visa class.
Collect Baggage & Retrieve Physical Paperwork
Retrieve your checked luggage from the baggage carousel. Before leaving the secure customs zone, ensure your folder containing original passport, home driver’s license, and certified translation is in hand.
Navigate to Airport Traffic Management Station
Follow terminal overhead signage for “Traffic Management Service Station” (公安交警车管服务站) or Ground Transportation Center (GTC). Present your documents to the counter receptionist.
Submit Dossier & Complete Health Declaration
Hand over your passport, entry visa/stamp, domestic license, certified translation, and photos. The officer will verify credentials, take your electronic fingerprint, and have you sign a 1-page health declaration.
Pay Statutory Fee & Receive Paper Permit
Pay the official administrative permit fee (standard 10 RMB, payable via Alipay, WeChat Pay, or cash). The officer prints your laminated Provisional Driving Permit (临时机动车驾驶许可) with your photo affixed.
Proceed to Airport Car Rental Counter
Walk to your pre-booked rental agency counter (e.g. eHi Car Rental located in the airport parking garage or GTC). Present your new provisional permit, passport, and credit card to sign the rental agreement.
Late-Night Flights & Weekend Landings: Contingency Protocols
How to handle arrival times outside standard traffic police operating windows
Flight Lands After Counter Closing Hours (e.g. 21:00 Arrival)
Action: Take an airport taxi, subway, or hotel shuttle to your pre-booked accommodation. Schedule your car rental pickup for the following morning. Return to the airport counter at 09:00 or visit the municipal Vehicle Administration Office (车管所) closest to your hotel.
Landing on a Saturday or Sunday at Weekday-Only Airport Counters
Action: Either schedule arrival via a 7-day hub like Beijing Daxing (PKX) or Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX) which process walk-ins daily, or spend your initial weekend exploring the city via metro and taxi before obtaining your permit on Monday morning.
Arriving at High-Volume Hubs Without Terminal Stations (e.g. Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Urumqi)
Action: Check in to your hotel first to obtain your printed Temporary Residence Registration Form (住宿登记表). Visit the designated municipal Vehicle Administration Office (市交警支队车管所) foreign driver window on the next business morning before vehicle handover.
Landing in a Non-Counter City: Downtown Chēguǎnsuǒ Processing Guide
If landing at Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu (TFU), Xi’an (XIY), Urumqi (URC), or other non-terminal hubs, follow these 4 essential downtown steps
When arriving in cities without terminal-level printing counters, you cannot pick up a rental car immediately at the runway. Instead, plan a short buffer to visit the municipal Vehicle Administration Office (车管所, Chēguǎnsuǒ) on the first weekday morning. Here is the exact protocol to secure your permit without delays:
Obtain Police Residence Form
Unlike airport desks where your immediate entry stamp waives residence paperwork, downtown Cheguansuo branches strictly require the Temporary Residence Registration Form (境外人员临时住宿登记表). Request a printed copy from your hotel front desk during check-in.
Bring Stamped Translation In Advance
Downtown vehicle offices rarely host commercial translation counters on-site. Ensure your driver’s license is translated and stamped by an officially registered translation agency before visiting the vehicle administration window.
Direct Processing under MPS 162
Navigate to the Foreigner Service Window (涉外业务窗口). Hand over your passport, valid visa/stamp, foreign license, translation, hotel registration slip, and photos. Sign the 1-page health declaration; no theory or road tests required.
Laminated Permit & Key Handover
Pay the 10 RMB statutory fee via Alipay/WeChat Pay. The officer laminates your Provisional Driving Permit immediately (typically 15–30 minutes). You can now proceed to your downtown car rental branch to collect your vehicle.
Show this exact message to airport information desk staff or traffic police officers at the service station:
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Airport Driving Permits
Factual answers on processing speeds, queues, fees, and rental pickups
Q1.Can I pick up my rental car at the airport if I land at night and get the permit tomorrow?
No. Licensed car rental operators in China (including eHi Car Rental and CAR Inc.) are strictly prohibited by commercial transportation regulations from releasing a vehicle to any driver who does not present an active, physically issued Chinese Provisional Driving Permit or full Chinese driver’s license. Rental agents will not hand over car keys based on promises to obtain the permit the next day.
Q2.What is the official government fee for issuing a Provisional Driving Permit at the airport?
The statutory government issuance fee under National Development and Reform Commission price guidelines is exactly 10 RMB (approx. $1.40 USD). If you need on-site ID photographs, automated photo kiosks charge an additional 15 to 25 RMB. If on-site translation is required at hubs offering it, authorized translation desks charge 120 to 180 RMB.
Q3.Do I need an advance appointment to visit an airport traffic service station?
No. Airport traffic police service counters operate on a walk-in, first-come first-served queue ticket system for arriving international passengers. You do not need to register on the municipal "12123" traffic app or book appointments through local government WeChat portals. Simply pull a queue ticket upon arrival.
Q4.How long is the Provisional Driving Permit issued at the airport valid for?
The permit validity strictly mirrors your legal stay period granted by the National Immigration Administration. For short-term tourists on 15-day or 30-day visa-free entry, or standard 30-to-90-day L tourist visas, the permit is valid for the exact duration of your current entry stay (up to a statutory maximum of 3 months per single entry).
Q5.Can I drive outside the province where the airport permit was issued?
Yes. Even though the permit is physically printed by a specific municipal traffic police detachment (e.g., Beijing Public Security Bureau or Shanghai Public Security Bureau), it is a sovereign document issued under Ministry of Public Security Order No. 162. It is legally valid across all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities of Mainland China.
Q6.What happens if my certified translation has not arrived before I land?
If you land at Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), or Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX), you can utilize the on-site translation service kiosks located right next to the traffic service desk (approx. 30–60 min turnaround). If you land at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Chengdu Tianfu (TFU), there are no on-site commercial translation kiosks; you must either wait for an express courier to your hotel or visit a downtown translation firm.
Q7.Is there an eye exam or physical medical test at the airport counter?
Under MPS Order No. 162, foreign tourists applying for short-term provisional permits (under 3 months) for small passenger cars (C1/C2) are exempt from comprehensive hospital physical examinations. You only need to complete a brief written health declaration questionnaire at the counter confirming you do not suffer from epilepsy, severe mental illness, or red-green color blindness.
Q8.Can I pay the airport counter fee with an international Visa or Mastercard?
Government administrative counters in China generally do not accept foreign credit cards directly. However, they accept Alipay and WeChat Pay (which can be linked to international Visa/Mastercard credit cards), UnionPay cards, and Chinese RMB cash. Ensure you have small denomination RMB cash (10–50 RMB) or your Alipay app activated with an international card before reaching the counter.
Q9.Can two people apply together to be authorized drivers on the same rental car?
Yes. Each traveler wishing to drive must independently submit their own document packet, take photos, and obtain their own individual Provisional Driving Permit. Once both permits are issued, you can register both individuals as authorized drivers at the rental counter, allowing you to alternate driving duties during long road trips.
Q10.What should I do if the airport counter staff do not speak fluent English?
While airport service counters handle international travelers regularly, English proficiency varies among individual police officers on duty. Keep our bilingual prompt card open on your smartphone screen, which clearly states in official Chinese legal terminology that you are applying for a provisional permit under MPS Order 162. Hand over your neatly organized document folder; the paperwork speaks for itself.
Q11.Can I obtain a permit at Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) or Beijing Nanyuan?
Beijing Nanyuan Airport is permanently closed. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) primarily serves domestic flights and limited regional short-haul routes (Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Gimpo); its on-site traffic police counter has limited foreigner licensing facilities. If arriving in Shanghai on a long-haul flight, Pudong (PVG) is the designated primary processing hub.
Q12.What if I am entering China via high-speed rail from Hong Kong (West Kowloon)?
At Hong Kong West Kowloon High-Speed Railway Station, the Mainland Port Area applies mainland immigration and customs clearance. However, there is no vehicle administration service station inside the train station. Once you arrive at Shenzhen North (深圳北站) or Futian Station, you can visit the nearby Shenzhen Municipal Vehicle Administration Center or Bao’an Airport hub to obtain your permit.
Avoid Airport Lockouts: Audit Your Arrival Schedule & Driving Route
Landing on a Sunday or late evening at an airport with no weekend counter can stall your entire road trip. With our $149 Route Review, we audit your airport landing times, permit desk schedules, and rental depot hours. Need full turn-by-turn guidance? Get our comprehensive $399 Custom Road Book with 7-day WhatsApp text support included.