Thai Drivers Licence on a Tourist Visa - (absolute no no?)

[CrankyCarrot]

Ok, I've searched the forums and the web and the consensus seems to be that you cannot get a Thai drivers licence on a tourist visa - however, I did see at least one poster say that "some" offices will in fact issue licences to people on a tourist visa.

So on the slim chance that they were right, I'm asking here.

Do any of these offices exist in Phuket, or at all, in the experience of people reading this?

[cooked]

I needed proof of residence from Immigration. I'm sure you can get around this if you 'know ' the right people.

[Gregory Morozov]

It seems that rules have changed. Some people i know got the Thai driving license while being on a tourist visa recently.

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[NamKangMan]

I have a Thai licence and I live here on tourist visas. I did get it a couple of years ago, but you should still be able to get one.

Use your lease to get a Certificate of Residence, and with all the other paperwork, you should be issued a Thai licence.

Unless the law has changed recently, you can only get a 1 year licence on a tourist visa, but that's enough to make sure you are insured and legal on the roads here.

Edited June 30, 2013 by NamKangMan

[KarenBravo]

Yup, you can get a one year license on a tourist visa.

Just did it.

[harrry]

One year licences on tourist visa. Can only be changed to a 5 year on an O visa etc.

[NamKangMan]

One year licences on tourist visa. Can only be changed to a 5 year on an O visa etc.

That's my understanding, but a 1 year licence is better than nothing. Best to have one than not have one.

[CrankyCarrot]

A 1 year licence would suit me just fine.

All I have at the moment is an expired driver's licence from Australia (which was only for driving cars anyway, not motorbikes as I'd be doing in the LOS). Will this be any major impediment to getting a Thai motorbike licence, or would I be better off renewing this licence in my home country prior to applying for one in Thailand?

Did everyone else need to get a certificate of residence first like Namkangman says?

@KarenBravo - you said you just got a 1 year licence on a tourist visa. I assume you did do that in Phuket?

[Kopitiam]

A 1 year licence would suit me just fine.

All I have at the moment is an expired driver's licence from Australia (which was only for driving cars anyway, not motorbikes as I'd be doing in the LOS). Will this be any major impediment to getting a Thai motorbike licence, or would I be better off renewing this licence in my home country prior to applying for one in Thailand?

Did everyone else need to get a certificate of residence first like Namkangman says?

@KarenBravo - you said you just got a 1 year licence on a tourist visa. I assume you did do that in Phuket?

You cannot get a Thai motorcycle license without a motorcycle lincense from your home country.

[NamKangMan]

A 1 year licence would suit me just fine.

All I have at the moment is an expired driver's licence from Australia (which was only for driving cars anyway, not motorbikes as I'd be doing in the LOS). Will this be any major impediment to getting a Thai motorbike licence, or would I be better off renewing this licence in my home country prior to applying for one in Thailand?

Did everyone else need to get a certificate of residence first like Namkangman says?

@KarenBravo - you said you just got a 1 year licence on a tourist visa. I assume you did do that in Phuket?

That Australian driving licence will not get you a Thai Motorcycle licence. It may get you a Thai driving licence, if they ignore the expiry date, but as you said you will be on a motorbike, there's probably no point, but you could try, and may as well get a Thai driving licence through a straight conversion, if they ignore the expiry date.

You will be required to do all the motorcycle licence tests. That is, the reaction and depth perception tests down stairs, watch the video and sit the computer test up stairs. Then, after lunch, ride around the course. It's not difficult, but all up, does take a few hours.

You will definately require a Certificate of Residence from Immigration. You will also need a certificate from a doctor, I forget the name of it, but it's easy to get. You will also need copies of your passport.

I got mine in Phuket Town Land Transport Office.

Edited June 30, 2013 by NamKangMan

[harrry]

A 1 year licence would suit me just fine.

All I have at the moment is an expired driver's licence from Australia (which was only for driving cars anyway, not motorbikes as I'd be doing in the LOS). Will this be any major impediment to getting a Thai motorbike licence, or would I be better off renewing this licence in my home country prior to applying for one in Thailand?

Did everyone else need to get a certificate of residence first like Namkangman says?

@KarenBravo - you said you just got a 1 year licence on a tourist visa. I assume you did do that in Phuket?

You cannot get a Thai motorcycle license without a motorcycle lincense from your home country.

false you can...you just have to do the test.

[harrry]

The holdup will be the certificate of residence. Most immigration departments will not issue it on a short term visa. You will need to use a certificate of residence from an embassy instead. As many countries make you do a stat dec personal attendance is required and often honorary consols are not authorised to give them. Charges from the embassies vary but budget about $100

Edited June 30, 2013 by harrry

[Kopitiam]

A 1 year licence would suit me just fine.

All I have at the moment is an expired driver's licence from Australia (which was only for driving cars anyway, not motorbikes as I'd be doing in the LOS). Will this be any major impediment to getting a Thai motorbike licence, or would I be better off renewing this licence in my home country prior to applying for one in Thailand?

Did everyone else need to get a certificate of residence first like Namkangman says?

@KarenBravo - you said you just got a 1 year licence on a tourist visa. I assume you did do that in Phuket?

You cannot get a Thai motorcycle license without a motorcycle lincense from your home country.

false you can...you just have to do the test.

I was referring to a straight conversion.

[harrry]

A 1 year licence would suit me just fine.

All I have at the moment is an expired driver's licence from Australia (which was only for driving cars anyway, not motorbikes as I'd be doing in the LOS). Will this be any major impediment to getting a Thai motorbike licence, or would I be better off renewing this licence in my home country prior to applying for one in Thailand?

Did everyone else need to get a certificate of residence first like Namkangman says?

@KarenBravo - you said you just got a 1 year licence on a tourist visa. I assume you did do that in Phuket?

You cannot get a Thai motorcycle license without a motorcycle lincense from your home country.

false you can...you just have to do the test.

I was referring to a straight conversion.

No such thing......

[CrankyCarrot]

So... you can definitely get a Thai motorcycle licence on a tourist visa, provided you first obtain a Certificate of Residence? (no way around getting the cert of residence?)

Spending the best part of a day sitting a few physical tests and getting a medical cert to say I'm healthy enough to drive doesn't bother me.

Edited June 30, 2013 by CrankyCarrot

[Jimi007]

So... you can definitely get a Thai motorcycle licence on a tourist visa, provided you first obtain a Certificate of Residence? (no way around getting the cert of residence?)

Spending the best part of a day sitting a few physical tests and getting a medical cert to say I'm healthy enough to drive doesn't bother me.

No way around the residence certificate from immigration, a medical certificate, and showing up early in the morning and taking a written, reaction, and driving test after lunch. Unless you have motorcycle license from your home country then you can skip the driving and maybe the written test.

[monty]

Correct.

Prepare yourself:

1) medical cert (most any hospital will do)

2) residence cert (absolutey required)

3) Copies of passport

At the registration center:

4) reaction/colour blindness/depth vision test

5) Theoretical test

6) watch video on driving safety (usually)

7) practical test

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[thrilled]

it's being done all the time.It's who ya know.Money talks.

[KarenBravo]

You can get the immigration paper by showing a rental agreement, or, a bill with your name on it showing your address. You don't need to go to an embassy.

[harrry]

You can get the immigration paper by showing a rental agreement, or, a bill with your name on it showing your address. You don't need to go to an embassy.

Generally they will only do this now if youare doing 90 day reports there. A person with a tourist visa is not. Of course you could be lucky....$$

[NamKangMan]

@ harry

That's not correct. I had to sit all the tests for the bike licence, but got a straight conversion on my car licence from my home country.

[NamKangMan]

You can get the immigration paper by showing a rental agreement, or, a bill with your name on it showing your address. You don't need to go to an embassy.

I had a rental agreement and also took several receipts of monthly payments to the landlord.

It's supposed to be for free, but I paid 300 baht for it.

[Jimi007]

it's being done all the time.It's who ya know.Money talks.

You can't buy a license here in Phuket, you have to take the test... Maybe in some other provinces you still can... But yes you'll have to pay immigration for a residency certificate.

[harrry]

@ harry

That's not correct. I had to sit all the tests for the bike licence, but got a straight conversion on my car licence from my home country.

You should have had to do the eyesight and reaction tests.,...did you?

Edited June 30, 2013 by harrry

[harrry]

You can get the immigration paper by showing a rental agreement, or, a bill with your name on it showing your address. You don't need to go to an embassy.

I had a rental agreement and also took several receipts of monthly payments to the landlord.

It's supposed to be for free, but I paid 300 baht for it.

Do you have a tourist visa?

[Jimi007]

You can get the immigration paper by showing a rental agreement, or, a bill with your name on it showing your address. You don't need to go to an embassy.

I had a rental agreement and also took several receipts of monthly payments to the landlord.

It's supposed to be for free, but I paid 300 baht for it.

Better than the $50 USD my US Consulate charged me for one!

[NamKangMan]

Just a quick side post to this thread. They really need an extra visa class for those who are self funded, yet under 50 years of age, or, lower the 50 year retirement visa age.

You seem to have more difficultly doing most things here when on a tourist visa.

[NamKangMan]

@ harry

That's not correct. I had to sit all the tests for the bike licence, but got a straight conversion on my car licence from my home country.

You should have had to do the eyesight and reaction tests.,...did you?

Yes. However, I know your information is incorrect because I had to ride around the course for the motobike test, but didn't have to drive a car around the course because I was given a straight conversion on my foreign licence.

[harrry]

@ harry

That's not correct. I had to sit all the tests for the bike licence, but got a straight conversion on my car licence from my home country.

You should have had to do the eyesight and reaction tests.,...did you?

Yes. However, I know your information is incorrect because I had to ride around the course for the motobike test, but didn't have to drive a car around the course because I was given a straight conversion on my foreign licence.

You were not given a straght conversion. You had to do the reaction and eyesight tests.

[NamKangMan]

You can get the immigration paper by showing a rental agreement, or, a bill with your name on it showing your address. You don't need to go to an embassy.

I had a rental agreement and also took several receipts of monthly payments to the landlord.

It's supposed to be for free, but I paid 300 baht for it.

Do you have a tourist visa?

Yes. I clearly stated this in post No. 4.