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What are the requirements for renewing a Thai driving license as a resident with travel frequently?
Thai driving licenselicense renewalresidence certificateTM30medical certificateDLT appointmentexpat documentationvisa requirementsPattayanon-immigrant visa
Oct 11, 2024
2 years ago
Sunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTERSearched everywhere, but still so confusing.
Doing my Thai driving license renewal from 2 to 5 years.
Need residence certificate. Is tm30 enough with 2 photos, and visa
/entry stamps? Do I need a house contract? ( just did in Pattaya for my dad, and those where the only required)
I travel every 3 weeks, so don’t have 90 day report
Do I need to make an appt for license renewal or can I come to DLT directly
Many thanks in advance 🙏🙏🙏
Doing my Thai driving license renewal from 2 to 5 years.
Need residence certificate. Is tm30 enough with 2 photos, and visa
/entry stamps? Do I need a house contract? ( just did in Pattaya for my dad, and those where the only required)
I travel every 3 weeks, so don’t have 90 day report
Do I need to make an appt for license renewal or can I come to DLT directly
Many thanks in advance 🙏🙏🙏
TLDR : Answer Summary
To renew your Thai driving license, you need a residence certificate from immigration (a TM30 is insufficient), a medical certificate, two photos, and photocopies of your passport including visa and entry stamps. While it's possible to go directly to the Department of Land Transport (DLT), making an appointment is advisable to avoid long wait times. Bringing along a house contract may be helpful but is not always necessary.
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Pranom **********
I understand how confusing these processes can be. Here’s what I can confirm:
For the residence certificate, a TM30 is not sufficient on its own. You’ll need an official residence certificate from immigration or a yellow house book if you have one. The TM30 just proves you’re registered at a residence, but for the license renewal, immigration will need to issue the residence certificate.
You’ll also need:
• 2 photos
• A copy of your passport with visa and entry stamps (as you mentioned)
Regarding the house contract, this is not always required, but it’s good to have on hand in case they ask for further proof of residence. Since you’ve just done this in Pattaya for your dad, it sounds like you’re familiar with the process there.
90-day report: You’re right, if you travel frequently, you won’t have this, and it shouldn’t be a problem as long as your visa and TM30 are in order.
Appointment: You can go directly to the Department of Land Transport (DLT), but it’s highly recommended to make an appointment online. Walk-ins can lead to longer wait times or limited availability, especially if you’re in a busy location.
For the residence certificate, a TM30 is not sufficient on its own. You’ll need an official residence certificate from immigration or a yellow house book if you have one. The TM30 just proves you’re registered at a residence, but for the license renewal, immigration will need to issue the residence certificate.
You’ll also need:
• 2 photos
• A copy of your passport with visa and entry stamps (as you mentioned)
Regarding the house contract, this is not always required, but it’s good to have on hand in case they ask for further proof of residence. Since you’ve just done this in Pattaya for your dad, it sounds like you’re familiar with the process there.
90-day report: You’re right, if you travel frequently, you won’t have this, and it shouldn’t be a problem as long as your visa and TM30 are in order.
Appointment: You can go directly to the Department of Land Transport (DLT), but it’s highly recommended to make an appointment online. Walk-ins can lead to longer wait times or limited availability, especially if you’re in a busy location.
Rok ********
I had only TM30 from the hotel i was staying.
Graham ******
@Rok *******
that might be ok for the DLT in the province that you were staying but not all as many will insist on a residence certificateSunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
but is tm30 enough for doing residence certificate or they will ask for contract ? Or owners papers? Thank youGraham ******
@Sunny ******
Immigration will normally just require a TM30 filedReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Mark *******
Suggest you make an appointment with DLT (need proof with QR code, otherwise you'll be waiting many hours. You can save time renewing by completing the multiple choice exam by doing it online showing DLT the QR code.
Kim *********
@Mark ******
that must depend on the DLT. When I got my Thai drivers license I went directly to DLT - no appointment - left about 25 minutes later with my license.Sunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark ******
thank you 🙏Reply to
Sunny *******
Reply
Bob **********
If you have car and bike license you’ll need two of everything Chonburi DLT accepted a copy and one original
Jim ***********
Certificate of residence and medical need
Stuart ***********
You will need to make an appointment at the DLT.
Kim *********
@Stuart **********
you can just walk in - we did that recently and left about 30 minutes laterStuart ***********
@Kim ********
you were lucky, but as always this is Thailand so it varies between offices. When I did mine a couple of months ago, I booked and there were about 30 people waiting when I got there! Without an appointment I doubt you would have been seen that week!Sunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kim ********
for renewal? ThanksReply to
Sunny *******
Reply
Jan ******************
Requirements are well defined in comments.
If you don’t have a long stay visa you’ll only get another two years.
If you don’t have a long stay visa you’ll only get another two years.
Sunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan, retirement visa.Reply to
Sunny *******
Reply
Tony ******
Residents certificate needed from immigration
Stephan ***********
Here you go...
*****************************************
Sunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stephan **********
thank you 🙏Stephan ***********
@Sunny ******
Anytime... :-)Reply to
Stephan ***********
Reply
John **********
You need a medical certificate, a residence certificate issued by immigration (not a TM30) and your passport containing a long term non-immigrant visa/extension of stay. You'll need photocopies of anything you can't leave with them
Mark *********
@John *********
what about if you have yellow house bookJohn **********
@Mark ********
you'll need to ask the DLT office, some might accept it & some might notMark *********
@John *********
ok cheersReply to
Mark *********
Reply
Sunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
is there a grace period after it expired? Thank youJohn **********
@Sunny ******
I think it can be renewed up to a year after it expires. Beyond that you start over againSunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thank you very much 🙏Reply to
Sunny *******
Reply
Sunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thank youSunny *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
my biggest question is tm30 enough for residence certificate or do I absolutely need a house contract. -on retirement visa here .Tore *********
@Sunny ******
tm30 is enough, they don’t care about rental contract. Tm30, copy of passport, visa and entry stampTony **********
@Tore ********
I've always used (4 times now) a copy of the tm47 along with the rental agreement. I've never even seen my tm30....Tore *********
@Tony *********
that’s very weird, as only tm30 is listed on their website as requirement. I just did my CoR at Chaeng W., they wanted my TM30, didn’t care about my rental agreement when i waved it.TM47 is not needed any more. At least not in Bangkok. Copy of TM30 is needed.
Tony **********
@Tore ********
still confused on how in supposed to acquire tm30. Have gotten total of 5 CoR in first 2 months. I assumed they could just look up the tm30 versus supplying one more piece of paper....Tore *********
@Tony *********
the TM 30 you get from owner. In my case my agent arranged it. Also tourist at hotels need to bring copy/screenshot of TM30 for visa extension or now also CoR. I always had to show TM 30 for pretty much anything i did at immigration.
What office are you connected to? I know different locations have different processes (in classic thai fashion)
At least for Bangkok TM30 is what they require
Tony **********
@Tore ********
hua Hin... Only numbered form I have is a tm47 with some kind of receipt stapled to it but no form number on it....John **********
@Tony *********
TM47 is a 90 day report. A TM30 is your address registration (which you must have done for the 90 day report).Reply to
John **********
Reply
Tony **********
@Sunny ******
take your rental agreement to immigration. They can look up the tm30 on their own.Tore *********
@Tony *********
no you need to bring a copy of TM30. House contract they don’t care a aboutReply to
Tore *********
Reply
Christopher *************
You need residence certificate and medical certificate check on DLT site / app will tell you
David ********
Just go to DLT they will direct you if you need more Just go get it.
Reply to
David ********
Reply
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