What documents do I need to convert my driving license to a Thai one?

Regarding your “residence address in Thailand certificate from immigration bureau,” you can also get one from your embassy. Mine offered one printed out on the day but wanted 1400 THB per copy. If money’s no concern, and you want to avoid the hoop jumping at Thai immigration, it’s a viable option to get one from your embassy.

I did it last week at Chaeng Wattana. They said they’ll mail it to me in a week. I need it to renew my Thai driving license. When I asked how the long residency letter is valid for, the lady didn’t know. “One or two months,” she said. When I pressed her for which one, she admitted she didn’t know. Now I realise my appointment at the DLT in Bang Chak is for April which means if the residency letter is only valid for 30 days, I’m screwed. Welcome to Thailand. You’re forced to visit a car park (Chaeng Wattana) on the outskirts of town when any normal practise would allow you to apply online (especially during a pandemic). That’s to apply for a letter to prove you live there (I’ve lived at the same address for 16 years), and while your 90-day report is proof of your address and supposedly valid for that time, the letter that’s supposed to be free, isn’t and valid for less than the same time—only 30-60 days. TIT.

Land Transport office opens at 8 am but they start dishing out the queue numbers from about 730am onwards.

John

You first have to go to Immigration to get a Certificate of Residence

To get this you need

Passport and Entry Permit and Type of Visa

Residency Either House or Condo ownership or letter from Landlord

Passport Size photos 2

Application Form

All of the above you will need photocopies and sign each one

Cost is 300 BHT for each one at Jomtien Immigration

If you are applying for both car and motorcycle you need two certificates and 3 photos

At Land and Transfer Office opens at 08:00

You will need

Certificate of Registration from Immigration

Passport and Visa

Medical Certificate from Thai doctor 200 BHT

Your Drivers Licence from your country. If not in English you will have to get it translated and then sent to your Embassy in Thailand for Certification of Documents

Sign all documents and if getting Car and Motorcycle licence you need 2 medical Certificates

Photocopies of all and sign them

If you do not have a motorcycle licence from your country you can go to driving school. In Bang Saray the name is Mityon and they do everything. Even the classroom , exam and practical test. Cost was 1500 BHT.

You need to get a letter from your landlord stating that you reside at your address and for how long

You take that letter to immigration and ask for a certificate of residence

If you want for both car and motorcycle you will need 2 letters from your landlord

2 copies of passport I’d page 2 copies of visa page 2 copies of last entry stamp

Every immigration is different however most will charge you 500 baht per certificate of residency

If you have a Thai partner usually only 300 baht per certificate of residency

You take the certificate of residency plus copies of your passport and copies of your home country drivers licence and copy of international driving permit if you have one

Go to the Thai licence office & submit your application for a driver licence

Depending on where you apply you may or may not need to do a few things

Watch a safety video (thais crashing cars and bikes)

Do some testing

Colour blind test

Brake response test

Eye hand co-ordination test

Road sign test

If you are on a tourist visa you can only get a licence for 2 years

Other visas you can get a 5 year licence, however the first one issued will only be for 12 months then when you renew it after 1 year you can get a 5 year licence

Just go to your nearest immigration office and apply for a certificate of residence. Bring work permit if any, and/or TM30 receipt.

If you don’t have a work permit you need either a letter from your immigration office stating your address or from your embassy. No form for immigration just go and say you’re applying for a driving license. They’ll print out a letter for you. In theory this should be free but expect a charge of approx 300 baht. No idea what charges your embassy will impose,or indeed if they’ll do one at all.