Taiwan and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a reciprocal agreement that will allows their residents to obtain a driver's license in the other country without having to take a test.

The agreement will take effect in January 2022, according to a press release from Taiwan's foreign ministry and the British Office Taipei, which represents U.K. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.

Under the accord, holders of a valid Taiwanese driver's license who are currently residing in the U.K. will be able to obtain a U.K. one, and vice versa in Taiwan, without having to take a driving or written test.

The pact was signed remotely by Taiwan's representative to the U.K. Kelly Hsieh (???), in London and his Taiwanese counterpart, John Dennis, the U.K. representative at the British Office Taipei, in Taiwan.

In an address during the signing ceremony, Hsieh said it was the latest agreement between the two sides, following previous accords over the years on working holidays, avoidance of double taxation agreement, and language exchange programs.

The reciprocal driver's license agreement will give drivers greater convenience and will deepen people-to-people exchanges between the two sides, he said.

Dennis, meanwhile, said people in the U.K. and Taiwan will be able to enjoy several benefits of the new arrangement, starting next year.

"It offers major new flexibilities, particularly to long-term U.K. residents of Taiwan, and it symbolizes the powerful and deepening cooperation between the U.K. and Taiwan in so many areas," he said.

The U.K. is the 14th European country to sign a reciprocal driver's license agreement with Taiwan, according to the foreign ministry.

Under the arrangements, the licenses are usually valid for six years from the date of issue.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel