Totally logical, fair and right! Only thing is that it should be implemented country-wide!

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This new rule, not yet a national policy, has ignited speculation on social media. Many fear that popular annually renewable visas, such as those for retirement or marriage, might now prevent expats from obtaining a five-year licence.

They know how to make you feel welcome!

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I was told that Chonburu immigration will accept extension now 3 months prior to expiration.

 

With respect, where is Chonburu, in Africa?

Here is someone that made a video, actually going to the DLT Rayong and asking the questions. 
 

 

 

The gist of it. 
5 year renewals available for Non O, Non B, Elite, LTR, etc (visas that are issued for one year, it doesn’t matter about the time remaining on it)

2 year renewal available for tourist visa, DTV, anyone with less than one year permission of stay.

 

Example you were here, got a licence and you went home. Now you come back and you have a METV, and you renew your licence, you get two years again, because you don’t have a 365 day stay stamp. They don’t move you up to a five year because you are not “living” here. 
 

watch the video, this will alleviate your panic. 
 

 

 

2 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

I had a 5-year thai driver's license and lost it to outright racism. Immediately following the covid scammedemic

 

But to the point above. While I would agree that most of those classifications should probably not be receiving Thai driving licenses this is nevertheless just another reason not to try and settle here for retirement

 

There are so many rules and regulations here that they absolutely stifle not only living in Thailand as an expatriate but also start to bleed into just general tourism.

 

Thailand is starting to really, really venture into an area of so much bureaucratic red tape that it breeds economic stagnation. In fact, they have long since arrived

It is mere racism, time and again you come across it towards farangs.

Why bother with one when the penalty for not having a license is so low? 

Just now, proton said:

Why bother with one when the penalty for not having a license is so low? 

Without one your insurance is likely to be invalid.

Flip flop. Flip flop. Flip flop.

Just now, brewsterbudgen said:

Without one your insurance is likely to be invalid.

 

Many Thais dont bother with that either

1 minute ago, proton said:

 

Many Thais dont bother with that either

Indeed.  But most on this forum, hopefully know better!

Does the Banglamung office have a walk in system and do you need to pass the stupid peripheral tests?

11 minutes ago, stubuzz said:

Does the Banglamung office have a walk in system and do you need to pass the stupid peripheral tests?

You need an appointment,  peripheral test not when I went earlier this year...still had reaction and traffic light colour test though.

peripheral test machine might have been broken on that day ?

2 hours ago, actonion said:

A visa less than  1 year is not good enough?.... so when iI re new  my 1 year non o Retirement Visa i will have a new  365 day Visa , the following  day will be 364 days so less than 1 year, 

Exactly what is causing the confusion. All visas based on retirement or marriage are for 1 year. 

 

Unless you go on the day of issue, your visa will obviously be valid for less than one year.

So if the Pattaya office is the only one in Chonburi province doing this (at the moment) could you go to another office in Chonburi ie Si Racha with no problem ?

Or do you have to use the nearest office to your address as confirmed by Immigration ?

Mine expires in February 26 10days after my 75th Birthday I’ve held a thai driver license for 20 years without incident but apparently once you reach 75 you can only hold a one year license I did see a while back that drivers license was going digital no need to go the transport department is that no longer the case is that yet another u turn 

3 hours ago, flexomike said:

Problem is most extensions won't line up with license renewal date 

Yea, I personally will only have 6 months left on my extension when renewing driving license next year, that is if I manage to get it my extension renewed. With the never ending changes and procedures (banking) I am really considering if it is at all worth it . !!!

my renewal is next month..will post here how it went

41 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

Mine expires in February 26 10days after my 75th Birthday I’ve held a thai driver license for 20 years without incident but apparently once you reach 75 you can only hold a one year license I did see a while back that drivers license was going digital no need to go the transport department is that no longer the case is that yet another u turn 

I am 78, got a five year in Rayong last year

 

Different driving license regulations in different provinces doesn't make sense at all.

Now we can add one more abnormality to the list of recent screw ups:

1. New visa rules that don't work.

2. Income tax for foreigners sending money to Thailand.
3. The handout of 10,000 Baht to all Thai citizens over 16.

4. The conversion of Thailand to a High-Tech hub.
5. The casino failure.

6. Fast lane at the airport for selected groups.

7. Different driving license rules depending on where you live in the country.

 

2 hours ago, fulhamster said:

could you go to another office in Chonburi ie Si Racha with no problem ?

 As far as I know  you can go to any office...they may have their own differing requirements for documentation  so more than one trip is very likely.

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

I did see a while back that drivers license was going digital no need to go the transport department is that no longer the case is that yet another u turn 

I remember reading this, too.

5 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

I had a 5-year thai driver's license and lost it to outright racism. Immediately following the covid scammedemic

 

But to the point above. While I would agree that most of those classifications should probably not be receiving Thai driving licenses this is nevertheless just another reason not to try and settle here for retirement

 

There are so many rules and regulations here that they absolutely stifle not only living in Thailand as an expatriate but also start to bleed into just general tourism.

 

Thailand is starting to really, really venture into an area of so much bureaucratic red tape that it breeds economic stagnation. In fact, they have long since arrived

Please explain in detail how the right to renew your licence was lost due to racism?

2 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Please explain in detail how the right to renew your licence was lost due to racism?

 

Probably something to do with Foreigners not being able to get an appointment at the DLT during Covid, after which his license expired....   or something similar... 

 

Some posters only see a victim mentality...  and will interpret something such as the above occurring as 'blatant racism' rather than poor circumstances.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Until official guidance is provided, expats should check their visa expiry dates and renew early if they plan to update their licences. The best approach seems to be staying calm and informed, and not giving in to every rumour circulating online.

 

So.. this is a news report, about another thread and the ambiguity between “less than one year” and “more than one year”, Resident Visa status...   and muddied waters....

 

Nothing substantiated or officially verified by the DLT - this is getting far more oxygen than it currently deserves.

 

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

recent change in driving licence regulations in Pattaya and Rayong

 

Love it!!

 

This will sort out the "snowflakes" from the "full timers". 

I'm here on a Type O Nonresident Visa, and have lived in Thailand for over 20 years. I have to extend my stay every year, and I do that using the Retirement option. 

Our driver's licences expire on our birthday, but there is a 30-day extension period after that in which you can renew your licence. I wait until after my birthday, and then go down and get a new one. It then expires on my birthday, five birthdays from the day I get it, so it is valid for almost 6 years. I've done this the last two times I've gotten a new license. 

7 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

I had a 5-year thai driver's license and lost it to outright racism. Immediately following the covid scammedemic

 

But to the point above. While I would agree that most of those classifications should probably not be receiving Thai driving licenses this is nevertheless just another reason not to try and settle here for retirement

 

There are so many rules and regulations here that they absolutely stifle not only living in Thailand as an expatriate but also start to bleed into just general tourism.

 

Thailand is starting to really, really venture into an area of so much bureaucratic red tape that it breeds economic stagnation. In fact, they have long since arrived

And how exactly did you lose your drivers license due to racism? Thus should be a good story to hear

6 hours ago, Farma said:

In a pic from banglamung DLT posted in another thread it showed Elite SE visas only entitled to a 2 year licence whereas Elite PE could get 5 year licences.

 

A few years ago when i got my last CoR upcountry to upgrade from 2 to 5 year licence it listed me as holding a Non-PE 

 

Presumably because the older SE (special entry) type only allows a 90 day entry stamp whereas the newer PE (privilege entry) gets a one year stamp.