Foreign Applications For Thai & International Driving Licences In Phuket

[NBT TV Phuket]

Many residents think how badly people are starting to drive these days. Visitors are even more surprised or even shocked. The authorities however are attempting to get people more disciplined to drive safely when they are on the roads. One effort is in making sure that before people obtain driving licenses, they fully understand traffic rules. Our special report today looks at how people obtain Thai driving licenses, especially foreigners.

Talking about foreign applicants for driving licenses here in Phuket, can be divided into three groups.

The first one are foreigners who already have an international driving license from their own country and want to use it to obtain a Thai license. The new Thai license can be used for 1 year and the next renewal can also be for 1 year, unless the licensee holds a non immigrant visa in which case the Thai license can last for 5 years.

A second type is the group who want international licences from their Thai licences.

The third group is those with no licence who apply for Thai licences.

If foreigners want to apply for any driving license in Phuket, first they would begin with the preparation of their own documents such as their passport, two 1 inch photos, a valid work permit, visa, 505 baht for application fees, medical certificate and official documents showing an address in Thailand.

According to the Land Transport office, all the documents must be translated in English or Thai from their Embassy according to the country where the applicant belongs. The applicants can hand in documents at the registration counter;

Those that do not have an international licence then have to sit for a seminar in the morning for about an hour; then go for the exams which are divided into three parts. The first part is an eye and physical reaction test; the second one is a written test which can be selected in five languages which are Thai, Malay, Chinese, Japanese and English; and then the third is a driving test in the afternoon.

Suraphol Tanrungruangthawee, Chief Officer of Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office said so far about 45 international driving licenses have been approved since the beginning of this year. He also pointed out issues the officers face in the process of issuing the license.

“For the international licenses 45 have been approved since the beginning of this year, while the Thai licenses applications are in high demand as on average 20 people have registered per day, but our officers also face problems in language communication.”

Supagon Vilairat, registration officer, also emphasised the basic steps which applicants have to follow:

“If you have a valid international driving license you can just bring it along to get a Thai license that can be used in Thailand but if you don’t have one the application would be based on the individual country’s rules”.

Foreign applicants like Pierre Van Impe from Belgium and Sarah McBride from London both came to use their international driving license to get Thai license and told us about their opinions about applying for the licenses here:

The process of applying for an international and Thai driving license has become much easier and more convenient than before: Within one day an applicant can get a new license, but most of all under the principle ‘rules and safety come first’.

_______________

from Special Report for Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am & maybe later on Phuket Cable TV channel 1, Wednesday 21 March 2007 & www.ThaisNews.com { Our news text and videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket} (mini-video for this report could not be uploaded)

[borracho]

They could also start by having a little chat with all the tuktuk drivers, minibus, and taxi-limo drivers.

[muaythaiwarrior]

hi, im for a longtime intrested in having a thai driver license to apply for an international licence, im from holland i am regularly in thailand, and i dont have a dutch drivers license. is this possible? if yes how can i get it? help me please!

kub khun kub

[LivinLOS]

You cannot legally use a International driving license in your country of residence (perhaps origin in legal terms). Secondly try getting Dutch motor insurance for a driver that does not have a Dutch license.

I also understand you cannot get a Thai IDP while on the 1 year Thai license.. Needs to be on the 5 year one after, not positive on this but thats what I was told.