Correcting Name Order on Thai Driving License – Is It Possible?

[driveout]

Hi everyone,

I recently got a Thai driving license and noticed that my name is written with my last name first, followed by my first and middle names. For example, if my full name is Martin Jacobs Wilson, my Thai driving license shows it as Wilson Martin Jacobs. I’m wondering if this name order is also used on resident certificates issued by immigration in other cities. Specifically, does Pattaya Immigration write names in this format, or is this the standard across all immigration offices in Thailand, like in Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, etc.?

Also, is there any way to have the name order corrected? I asked immigration to change it, but they told me to go to the DLT in Chonburi and ask them to call immigration. Is this something they actually do? Has anyone successfully had their name order corrected on official Thai documents? One more question: If you have the yellow book and pink ID card, do you still need a resident certificate to obtain a driving license, or is the yellow book enough?

I’d appreciate any insights!

Thanks!

[BrandonJT]

The CoR I have from Bangkok reads my name as Mr. First Middle Last.  My drivers license also says Mr. First Middle Last.  I can't say anything about Jomtien as I've never used either the Immigration Office or the DLT there.

[driveout]

  On 2/5/2025 at 5:46 PM, BrandonJT said:

The CoR I have from Bangkok reads my name as Mr. First Middle Last.  My drivers license also says Mr. First Middle Last.  I can't say anything about Jomtien as I've never used either the Immigration Office or the DLT there.

Expand  

I guess it’s depends on the city. For me it’s a bit strange since I would like to use it as an id instead of having my passport around all the time. Sometimes you have to give your passport for a longer period to immigration when you apply for different types of visa. 

[driveout]

  On 2/5/2025 at 5:46 PM, BrandonJT said:

The CoR I have from Bangkok reads my name as Mr. First Middle Last.  My drivers license also says Mr. First Middle Last.  I can't say anything about Jomtien as I've never used either the Immigration Office or the DLT there.

Expand  

When did you get your driving license? 

[BrandonJT]

  On 2/5/2025 at 6:32 PM, driveout said:

When did you get your driving license? 

Expand  

December

[DrJack54]

  On 2/5/2025 at 5:31 PM, driveout said:

Has anyone successfully had their name order corrected on official Thai documents? 

Expand  

I wouldn't worry about it.

You are not alone here is very old thread and posts with surname first.

 

  On 2/5/2025 at 5:31 PM, driveout said:

If you have the yellow book and pink ID card, do you still need a resident certificate to obtain a driving license, or is the yellow book enough?

Expand  

You will read many posts stating that obtained TDL with yellow book, pink ID etc.

That is the case years back however land transport office now wants COR..

[kelboy]

It's normal don't worry about it 

[Digitalbanana]

  On 2/5/2025 at 5:31 PM, driveout said:

One more question: If you have the yellow book and pink ID card, do you still need a resident certificate to obtain a driving license, or is the yellow book enough?

Expand  

On my DL the name is in the correct order First Middle Family name format. When I renewed my DL in Bangkok a yellow book is not enough, it must be shown with a pink ID card. With that no resident cert is needed.

[SAFETY FIRST]

  On 2/5/2025 at 5:31 PM, driveout said:

Thai driving license and noticed that my name is written with my last name first

Expand  

I have the same, it's not been a problem for the last 20 years, don't worry. 

 

My passport shows my surname first, it's probably why it shows first on my DL 

[phetphet]

Not sure if this is true, but I read somewhere on here that if you apply for a Driving Licence using a Yellow Book, said licence will all be in Thai.

 

I recently went a changed my passport number on my D/L, so a name change shouldn't be any more difficult.

Remember. You will need to take all copies of documents again. Two of each if also changing motorcycle D/L.

 

[Caldera]

It's inconsistent. My current Thai DL lists my name in the "First Middle Last" order (which I prefer), but I previously had one that listed it in the "Last First Middle" order.

 

I doubt they'd be willing to "correct" it if you don't like the order they choose. Ultimately there's nothing incorrect about it that needs to be fixed.

[Upnotover]

  On 2/6/2025 at 2:32 AM, phetphet said:

Not sure if this is true, but I read somewhere on here that if you apply for a Driving Licence using a Yellow Book, said licence will all be in Thai.

Expand  

I did.  And it wasn't, although that was a renewal.  Maybe for the first application things might be different.

[DrJack54]

  On 2/6/2025 at 2:32 AM, phetphet said:

Not sure if this is true, but I read somewhere on here that if you apply for a Driving Licence using a Yellow Book, said licence will all be in Thai.

Expand  

Apparently you NOW can (at least at some) Transport offices.

Previously (some time back) was the norm. 

 

Then required COR and from this thread last April seems pink ID and yellow book again sufficient.

 

 

[driveout]

  On 2/5/2025 at 9:43 PM, BrandonJT said:

December

Expand  

Oh so it’s recently, well I guess it is different where you are 

[Briggsy]

COR (Jomtien) reads Surname ; First Name ; Middle Name.

 

Driving Licence (Sri Racha) reads First Name ; Middle Name ; Surname.

 

I am of the view that Thais routinely shuffle foreigner's names around and as long as they are spelt correctly, I won't interrupt their shuffling game.

[driveout]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:13 AM, Briggsy said:

COR (Jomtien) reads Surname ; First Name ; Middle Name.

 

Driving Licence (Sri Racha) reads First Name ; Middle Name ; Surname.

 

I am of the view that Thais routinely shuffle foreigner's names around and as long as they are spelt correctly, I won't interrupt their shuffling game.

Expand  

Is siracha in Chon buri? 

[Briggsy]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:30 AM, driveout said:

Is siracha in Chon buri? 

Expand  

Oh yes.

[driveout]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:30 AM, driveout said:

Is siracha in Chon buri? 

Expand  

So you got the COR from jomtien and went  to siracha to get the driving license? 

[Briggsy]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:33 AM, driveout said:

So you got the COR from jomtien and went  to siracha to get the driving license? 

Expand  

Oh yes. I put a whole report on it and the reasons why. I will pm you with the link. They are all in Chonburi so it doesn't matter.

[driveout]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:34 AM, Briggsy said:

Oh yes. I put a whole report on it and the reasons why. I will pm you with the link. They are all in Chonburi so it doesn't matter.

 

I guess I can do like that, did you do it recently? Sure that would great! 

Expand  

[Briggsy]

In December 2024, so, yes very recent.

[driveout]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:38 AM, Briggsy said:

In December 2024, so, yes very recent.

Expand  

Well then I go to siracha 🙂 Thanks for the link! 

[mfd101]

Last First Second is the normal order on official documents in many countries of the world. Just not in the Anglophone parts.

 

Get used to it.

[driveout]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:56 AM, mfd101 said:

Last First Second is the normal order on official documents in many countries of the world. Just not in the Anglophone parts.

 

Get used to it.

Expand  

Yes but it seems that in Thailand everyone gets different results depending on how you do it. 

[Briggsy]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:53 AM, driveout said:

Well then I go to siracha 🙂 Thanks for the link! 

Expand  

Leave an update here if possible.

 

I am assuming you got your original Driving Licence from Pattaya DLT (Route 36). Sri Racha may tell you to go there for any correction. Or are you going to do the whole thing from scratch again?

 

 

[driveout]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:53 AM, driveout said:

Well then I go to siracha 🙂 Thanks for the link! 

Expand  

Do you know by any chance if I can get the COR from let’s say Rayong immigration or BKK immigration but I have my adress in Pattaya? And if so can I use that COR to obtain tdl in pattaya DLT? 

[driveout]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:59 AM, Briggsy said:

Leave an update here if possible.

 

I am assuming you got your original Driving Licence from Pattaya DLT (Route 36). Sri Racha may tell you to go there for any correction. Or are you going to do the whole thing from scratch again?

 

 

Expand  

Sure I will do that.

 

Yes it was from pattaya dlt. I don’t know actually since I dont know all rules, I guess I have to call them or travel there and ask them.

[Briggsy]

Sri Racha DLT is really easy to get to from Pattaya. It is on the 7 Motorway Spur in Ao Udom.

 

Go straight upstairs (driving licences) and counter 3 for the guy who speaks English and deals with foreigners.

 

 

[scorecard]

  On 2/6/2025 at 4:58 AM, driveout said:

Yes but it seems that in Thailand everyone gets different results depending on how you do it. 

Expand  

 

Partly because many Thai officers just don't know how the typical flow of western names. 

 

And some western passport officers also Aussie buddy took his Thai wife to Australia using her Thai passport. 

 

On arrival Aussie passport officer said 'but maybe this passport (Thai p'port) is wrong because it only has two names. Aussie guy had to explain 'but Thai people only have 2 words in their complete name (name / surname).

 

Aussie p'port guy said 'are you sure about that? He continued but what's her christian name?

 

Aussie husband had to explain 'she's not christian', she's Buddhist and her first name is xxxxxxxx.

 

Then p'port guy understood and said:

 

- 'Welcome home mr hhhhhh'

- 'Welcome to 'Australia Ms llllllll, please enjoy your stay', and gave her a card with Several languages on the cad including Thai, saying If you have any ongoing questions about your visa don't hesitate to call xx xxxx xxxx, there's Thai language speakers available if needed. 

[digger70]

  On 2/5/2025 at 5:31 PM, driveout said:

Hi everyone,

I recently got a Thai driving license and noticed that my name is written with my last name first, followed by my first and middle names. For example, if my full name is Martin Jacobs Wilson, my Thai driving license shows it as Wilson Martin Jacobs. I’m wondering if this name order is also used on resident certificates issued by immigration in other cities. Specifically, does Pattaya Immigration write names in this format, or is this the standard across all immigration offices in Thailand, like in Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, etc.?

Also, is there any way to have the name order corrected? I asked immigration to change it, but they told me to go to the DLT in Chonburi and ask them to call immigration. Is this something they actually do? Has anyone successfully had their name order corrected on official Thai documents? One more question: If you have the yellow book and pink ID card, do you still need a resident certificate to obtain a driving license, or is the yellow book enough?

I’d appreciate any insights!

Thanks!

Expand  

Yes one can get ones name corrected on ones Drivers License No Problem .

I had to do that Time before Last.  Must be same as  in Passport .

One thing doh They don't Admit an mistake  one Has to Pay Again.