In This Article
Visa Requirements
To apply for a Thai driving license, you must hold a non-immigrant visa or a work permit. Accepted visa types include Non-Immigrant B (business), Non-Immigrant O (family, retirement, volunteer), Non-Immigrant ED (education), and Non-Immigrant OA/OX (long-stay retirement). Tourist visas and visa exemption stamps are generally NOT accepted by the Department of Land Transport. If you are on a tourist visa, you will need to either change your visa status or obtain an International Driving Permit from your home country instead.
Age Requirements
You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a car driving license and at least 18 years old for a motorcycle license in Thailand. There is no upper age limit, although applicants over 70 may be required to provide additional medical documentation.
Document Requirements
You will need your original passport with valid visa, a residence certificate issued by Thai immigration (requires TM30 on file), a medical certificate from a Thai clinic or hospital (not older than 30 days), and your existing foreign driving license if you are converting rather than applying fresh. All foreign-language documents must be officially translated into Thai.
Medical & Physical Requirements
The medical certificate confirms that you are physically fit to drive. It covers basic health checks including vision and blood pressure. At the DLT office, you will also take aptitude tests for color blindness, depth perception, reaction time, and peripheral vision. These tests are simple and most people pass without difficulty.
Residence Certificate Requirement
The residence certificate (also called a certificate of residence) is issued by Thai Immigration and confirms your current address in Thailand. To obtain it, you need a TM30 notification on file for your current address. The residence certificate typically costs 500 THB and takes 1-2 business days to process. This is often the most time-consuming document to obtain, so plan ahead.
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