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How long can I hold a Thai driver's license if I'm on an education or marriage visa?

Thai driver's licensevisa typestemporary licenseeducation visamarriage visadriving regulations in Thailandlicense renewal process
Jun 15, 2023
a year ago
マレー *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey guys, drivers licence question.

Trying to find out how long I can get a licence for if on an education or even marriage visa. I'm hearing there are longer licences now for some.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
In Thailand, a first-time driver's license is issued as a temporary license for 2 years, regardless of the visa type held (including education or marriage visas). Upon renewal, individuals can obtain a driver's license valid for 5 years, provided they have legal status. While tourists can receive a 2-year license, a 5-year license is typically granted for those with specific non-immigrant visas, such as a NON-O or B visa. Some exceptions occur, where individuals on tourist visas may also be granted a longer license, though this is less common.
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David *******
From my experience it is possible to get a 2year temporary license with a tourist visa. My Thai wife and her parents didn’t think it was possible at all but I got one.

When I went to renew I was also on tourist visa and told I could only get another 2year license but if I had an O visa could have gotten a 5year.

Funny story though, when I went to pay and get processed the lady that served me remembered me from when I did the first one and said I should of been given a 5year license but was unlucky to be served by “wrong” person when processing the documents and ticked the 2year box.
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my wife was and still is amazed that I have a license at all.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@David ******
 Why are they amazed? On a TR visa, a 2-year license is readily granted. It's only on a non-imm visa that 5 year ones are generally granted BUT occasionally, a 5-year license will be granted to a tourist visa holder (which happened to me once).
a year ago
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David *******
@Paul ******
 they just didn’t think a falang could and particularly only with tourist visa.
a year ago
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David *******
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Richard *********
@David ******
 u need a NON O, B visa to get a 5 year license on ur renewal>

so ......
a year ago
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David *******
@Richard ********
 yes that’s my understanding and my experience.

But sometimes it may be possible to get lucky as some contributors have posted about getting 5 year licenses on different visas.
a year ago
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David *******
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Ken ********
First licence 2 years after that 5 years
a year ago
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Lye **********
Always 2 years for 1st timer and 5 years for renewal, provided you have legal status to be there. I think tourist visa is not applicable.
a year ago
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マレー *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lye *********
 strange. They said 1 year last year when I asked them
a year ago
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Lye **********
@Jaymie *******
 I got 2 years. Forgot to mention, I already have a valid license from my home country. Not sure if that would make any difference.
a year ago
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マレー *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lye *********
 ok cool. That's good to know.
a year ago
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マレー *****
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Ally ************
Interesting conversation.. since I'm going to DLT in CM myself next week for my driving 'test' (lol) in order to get my Thai driving & motorcycle licenses.. so will know first hand what CM grants to first time license holders
a year ago
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David *******
First one is 2 years, on any visa! After when you renew you get 5 years. Regardless of visa (must have legal status) this is how it goes for everyone.
a year ago
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Bob **********
2 years it’s a temporary license then on to

A 5 year which is an international license
a year ago
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Richard *********
@Bob *********
 its not an international, its a 5 year thai license.
a year ago
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Dirk **************
@Richard ********
 or in other words: Thailand will only issue you an international driving permit if you hold a 5-year license.
a year ago
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Bob **********
Richard Reitman yes but you can use it internationally as with the 2 year you cannot
a year ago
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David *******
@Bob *********
 cannot, if you want to use it internationally (legally) you need to get the international driving permit valid for a year.
a year ago
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Graham ******
@David ******
 The IDP issued in Thailand is now valid for 3 years
a year ago
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David *******
@Graham *****
 this is not a Thailand thing, this is a world wide treaty, and it clearly states must be valid for a year.
a year ago
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Graham ******
@David ******
 The UK has recently changed to 3 years too so things are changing
a year ago
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Graham ******
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Brandon ************
@Bob *********
 There's no such thing as an international license. A Thai 5 year license is not an international license? What does that even mean? You can apply for an international drivers permit when you have a 5 year license but that's not an international license.
a year ago
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Toni *****
@Brandon ***********
 AFAIK even with 2 year (temporary) you are allowed to drive in ASEAN countries atleast, and other countries accept it aswell. You get 5 year’s license when you renew your 2 year temporary license and then can apply for international permit here if you wish
a year ago
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Bob **********
@Brandon ***********
 it means I can rent a car a drive legally in the US ,it also works in Cambodiaand Vietnam whereas a 2 year license you cannot
a year ago
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Kool *******
@Bob *********
 you do understand that you can do that with any driver's license being a tourist in any country, but only for a short length of time, after which you must get the local country's drivers license to stay legal. It is usually 30-90 days, even using a Thailand driver's license in another country.
a year ago
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Bob **********
@Kool ******
 yes but years ago when I had my 2 year they would not accept it in Vietnam and Cambodia or the US but the 5 year yes
a year ago
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Bob **********
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Brandon ************
Thai drivers license always starts out with 2 year "temporary" license then the renewal is 5 years.

The type of visa you are on is irrelevant.
a year ago
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Jay ********
@Brandon ***********
 In CM only a 2yr temp licence if on tourist visa, 5yr licence requires non-imm visa
a year ago
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Bob **********
@Brandon ***********
 I believe if you look you can only get a 2 year license with the Elite Visa
a year ago
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Jeffrey ************
@Bob *********
 I have elite visa and 5 year license.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Bob *********
 that wouldn't make sense because a tourist can get a 5 year license as long as they're in Thailand to renew the 2 year license.
a year ago
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Garrett ***********
@Brandon ***********
 You need to be on a Non-Immigrant visa to get a 5 year license. If you renew on a tourist visa, you'll get another 2 year license.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Garrett **********
 good time for an agent I guess
a year ago
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Duncan *******
@Brandon ***********
 Since when have tourists been able to get five-year licenses? A five-year license requires a Non-Imm visa, according to the DLT.

*****************************************
a year ago
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マレー *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Duncan ******
 this is interesting. I'm curious then if I can't get it on an education visa but can on a marriage visa.
a year ago
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Kool *******
@Jaymie *******
 what visa you have does not matter getting your Thai drivers licenses. In Bangkok it is a little harder as you need a residency certificate and Bangkok immigration will not give one if you haven't done at least one 90 day report. This confuses lots of people, mostly from communication difficulties at the DLT.
a year ago
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Duncan *******
@Jaymie *******
 both are Non-Imm visas so shouldn't be a problem.
a year ago
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Bob **********
@Brandon ***********
 I know but for some reason that’s what was told to my friend??
a year ago
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Kool *******
@Bob *********
 that is correct, but that is true with any visa. Your initial license is for 2 years, even if you are Thai, then for 5 years on every renewal after that. If you miss renewing it for over 1 year then you start over with the 2 year license. When I first got my Thai drivers licenses, one for car, and one for motorcycle, it was initially only 1 year in the first stage instead of two.
a year ago
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マレー *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
 that was changed recently to 2 years? Because I was asking a year ago and they said 2 year so I didn't bother.
a year ago
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マレー *****
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