Renew Of Driving Licenses.

[thailand11]

I have my two driving licenses that will expire on next 4 july 2006.

But at now i have only a simple Turist visa.

Can i get my licenses normally renewed ?

Thanks to everybody can give suggestions.

Thailand 11.

[bmanly]

No, you must have a Non Immigrant Visa that is current. More information can be found

on this thread.

[Maigo6]

You can get your licenses renewed:

30 day entry stamp will get you a 1 year extension.

A Non Immigrant Visa will get you a 5 year extension.

That is the case in Pattaya anyway.

[Maejo Man]

You can get your licenses renewed:

30 day entry stamp will get you a 1 year extension.

A Non Immigrant Visa will get you a 5 year extension.

That is the case in Pattaya anyway.

Pppycock maigo6! The notice in the Dept. of Lands and Transport states that... "A passport with a non-immigrant visa is required" for any licence.

[monty]

It seems in Pattaya they don't look much at the passport...

Friend of mine just got his first Thai driverlicense, only holding a 30 day border-run visa...

He did however acquire the paper stating that he is holding a valid non immigrant visa and confirming his residence address from immigration, after the hand-over of 2 purple notes to an undisclosed charity of the immigration officer's choice (actually holding a non-immigrant visa somehow didn't seem required at all...)

The transport department is not trained in recognizing all the visa's possible in Thailand, they just rely on the paper the immigration writes for that specific purpose...

[Maigo6]

You can get your licenses renewed:

30 day entry stamp will get you a 1 year extension.

A Non Immigrant Visa will get you a 5 year extension.

That is the case in Pattaya anyway.

Pppycock maigo6! The notice in the Dept. of Lands and Transport states that... "A passport with a non-immigrant visa is required" for any licence.

Poppycock?

We are talking about getting an extension on an existing License, not applying for a License for the first time.

I have extended my License for the last 2 years with 30 day stamps. They will only give a 1 year extension at a time without non immigrant, this applies to the Pattaya office.

I needed a Non Immigrant Visa for getting the license in the first place, after that a non immigrant will get you a 5 year extension and a 30 day stamp will get you a 1 year extension.

I'm going to extend my license again when I get back from Japan for the 3rd year running, I will do that on a 30 day entry stamp and get 1 year, a non immigrant would have got me a 5 year extension.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Maigo6

[Maejo Man]

We are talking about getting an extension on an existing License, not applying for a License for the first time.

I have extended my License for the last 2 years with 30 day stamps. They will only give a 1 year extension at a time without non immigrant, this applies to the Pattaya office.

I'm going to extend my license again when I get back from Japan for the 3rd year running, I will do that on a 30 day entry stamp and get 1 year, a non immigrant would have got me a 5 year extension.

You might be able to get an extension on a visa, but there is no such thing as an "extension" to your licence! You have to renew it, and get a new licence issued, and to do that you are required by law to be in posession of a non immigrant visa, and supply copies of your passport, two 1" square photos, and your expired licence. A medical certificate is waived after your first licence.

Why would all other 75 provinces be different to Chonburi province?

If you get away, good luck to you, but don't state categorically that it can be done, as other forum users might be a little annoyed when they find out that they don't get the same treatment as you.

[Mobi]

We are talking about getting an extension on an existing License, not applying for a License for the first time.

I have extended my License for the last 2 years with 30 day stamps. They will only give a 1 year extension at a time without non immigrant, this applies to the Pattaya office.

I'm going to extend my license again when I get back from Japan for the 3rd year running, I will do that on a 30 day entry stamp and get 1 year, a non immigrant would have got me a 5 year extension.

You might be able to get an extension on a visa, but there is no such thing as an "extension" to your licence! You have to renew it, and get a new licence issued, and to do that you are required by law to be in posession of a non immigrant visa, and supply copies of your passport, two 1" square photos, and your expired licence. A medical certificate is waived after your first licence.

Why would all other 75 provinces be different to Chonburi province?

If you get away, good luck to you, but don't state categorically that it can be done, as other forum users might be a little annoyed when they find out that they don't get the same treatment as you.

As Thailand11 put his question in the Pattaya forum, I think it is reasonable to assume that he wishes to renew his licences in Pattaya, in which case Maigo6's reponse is eminently suitable, and completely appropriate to the OP's situation - unlike yours, which will only serve to confuse.

What's the matter with all you jumped up Thai Law expert freaks?

Don't you know that there is only one thing that is for sure about Thai rules, and that is that they can surely be broken.

[Maigo6]

Why would all other 75 provinces be different to Chonburi province?

.

I don't know if they are different, I only got mine in Pattaya.

I just know that I needed a non immigrant visa the first time to actually get the licenses and to renew it a 30 day stamp was good enough, whereas a non immigrant visa would have got me a renewal of 5 years.

I even offered a bribe to try to get a 5 year License but was told I can only get a Year without a non immigrant visa, this policy was in operation in Pattaya Office as of May last year.

I can only relate to my own experiences in Pattaya, and I assume as the OP enquired in the Pattaya section, he was also relating to Pattaya and not the other 75 provinces.

This has been my experience in Pattaya.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Maigo6

[Maejo Man]

What's the matter with all you jumped up Thai Law expert freaks?

Don't you know that there is only one thing that is for sure about Thai rules, and that is that they can surely be broken.

Not jumped up Mobi and not a law freak, the sign on the wall is large enough for everyone to see,

but if you can get it done, good luck.

[WNOVAK]

RESIDENCE LETTER from immigration required?????????????????

When renewing a one year license in Pattaya will you need a LETTER OF RESIDENCE from the immigration office to get a five year license?? As is the case to first get a license.

I have an o-a retirement visa.

It appears from some posts that this is not the case but would hate to rock up to the license bureau and not have ALL the right documentation the first time.

Can someone please clarify??

regards Wayne

Edited May 5, 2006 by WNOVAK

[marshbags]

RESIDENCE LETTER from immigration required?????????????????

When renewing a one year license in Pattaya will you need a LETTER OF RESIDENCE from the immigration office to get a five year license?? As is the case to first get a license.

I have an o-a retirement visa.

It appears from some posts that this is not the case but would hate to rock up to the license bureau and not have ALL the right documentation the first time.

Can someone please clarify??

regards Wayne

................................................................................

...............................................................

I needed a new certified letter of residence for the 5 year one.

If you think about it logically this is a reasonable requirement as change of residence can occur anytime and so hence the requirement.

Also it would be a drag if you went and found you needed it

( which officially you do by the way, not withstanding how the local Road transport office sees it. )

marshbags

Edited May 6, 2006 by marshbags

[Noel]

RESIDENCE LETTER from immigration required?????????????????

When renewing a one year license in Pattaya will you need a LETTER OF RESIDENCE from the immigration office to get a five year license?? As is the case to first get a license.

I have an o-a retirement visa.

It appears from some posts that this is not the case but would hate to rock up to the license bureau and not have ALL the right documentation the first time.

Can someone please clarify??

regards Wayne

Yes you do need a new Letter of Residence when renewing. If renewing for both car and motorcycle, you need two originals.

You do not need a Medical Certificate.

[Artisan]

Don't you know that there is only one thing that is for sure about Thai rules, and that is that they can surely be broken.

...........or usually bent, just like the establishments.

[Tywais]

For the first time applying

For renewal of current license

[WNOVAK]

WHERE IS THE NEW IMMIGRATION OFFICE IN JOMTIEN?

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR REPLIES IN NEEDING A LETTER OF RESIDENCE.

MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHERE EXACTLY IS THE NEW IMMIGRATION OFFICE NOW THAT IT HAS MOVED FROM SOI 8?

WILL BE ARRIVING IN PATTAYA MAY 26TH AND DIRECTIONS TO THE NEW OFFICE WOULD BE HELPFUL. ALSO IS IT OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS?

REGARDS

WAYNE

Edited May 6, 2006 by WNOVAK

[Artisan]

For the first time applying

For renewal of current license

Hello Tywais.....I've just had a look at this website and a "Temporary Thai Driving Licence", lasting one year, is mentioned. I've never heard of this. Do you know what it is and how it differs from a 1-year full licence that the website quotes?

The style of the website is a bit flippant and 'over-jolly' and possibly shows wrong information. For instance, the website tries to explain the differences between vehicle registration plates and gets it wrong. Take a look at the capture below:

This style of plate is used on every one of the ubiquitous pick-ups that are owned privately by millions of Thai people.

An interesting read nevertheless.

[Tywais]

Hello Tywais.....I've just had a look at this website and a "Temporary Thai Driving Licence", lasting one year, is mentioned. I've never heard of this. Do you know what it is and how it differs from a 1-year full licence that the website quotes?

The style of the website is a bit flippant and 'over-jolly' and possibly shows wrong information. For instance, the website tries to explain the differences between vehicle registration plates and gets it wrong. Take a look at the capture below:

I agree with you about the appearance of the site, but it seems reasonably accurate if cross referenced to other sources. Not sure about the "Temp" either, perhaps a learners permit.

[Artisan]

I agree with you about the appearance of the site, but it seems reasonably accurate if cross referenced to other sources. Not sure about the "Temp" either, perhaps a learners permit.

I know that I'm a name dropper ....but my wife has just called her brother (who just happens to be a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok) and he has never heard of this "Temporary" licence category, not even when he was in the Traffic Police Division. He says that there is no such thing. Each new applicant is granted a full licence for ONE year on the first application and subsequent licences can be valid for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years depending on the request from the applicant at renewal.

Despite what has been said about visa requirements for a Thai driving licence and the variances in the application of the rules, he confirmed that possessing a Non-Immigrant Visa is the only legal starting point.

[Rinrada]

RESIDENCE LETTER from immigration required?????????????????

When renewing a one year license in Pattaya will you need a LETTER OF RESIDENCE from the immigration office to get a five year license?? As is the case to first get a license.

I have an o-a retirement visa.

It appears from some posts that this is not the case but would hate to rock up to the license bureau and not have ALL the right documentation the first time.

Can someone please clarify??

regards Wayne

Yes you do need a new Letter of Residence when renewing. If renewing for both car and motorcycle, you need two originals.

You do not need a Medical Certificate.

I recently got my 5 year license and for the sake of 10 minutes and 80bt I also got a medical Certificate (just in case) and Yes they asked for it (Chiang Mai)...no problem laddie...

[madog]

WHERE IS THE NEW IMMIGRATION OFFICE IN JOMTIEN?

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR REPLIES IN NEEDING A LETTER OF RESIDENCE.

MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHERE EXACTLY IS THE NEW IMMIGRATION OFFICE NOW THAT IT HAS MOVED FROM SOI 8?

WILL BE ARRIVING IN PATTAYA MAY 26TH AND DIRECTIONS TO THE NEW OFFICE WOULD BE HELPFUL. ALSO IS IT OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS?

REGARDS

WAYNE

As you come from pattaya turn on to jontiem beach road and head along to soi 5, turn up soi 5 and about 200 yards on your right is the immagration building

[Noel]

WHERE IS THE NEW IMMIGRATION OFFICE IN JOMTIEN?

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR REPLIES IN NEEDING A LETTER OF RESIDENCE.

MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHERE EXACTLY IS THE NEW IMMIGRATION OFFICE NOW THAT IT HAS MOVED FROM SOI 8?

WILL BE ARRIVING IN PATTAYA MAY 26TH AND DIRECTIONS TO THE NEW OFFICE WOULD BE HELPFUL. ALSO IS IT OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS?

REGARDS

WAYNE

Coming from Jomtien Beach Road, the two storey building is situated all the way along on the right, some 200 yards from the end of Soi 5.

It has a reasonably sized courtyard for parking, but predictably the majority of space is taken up by staff vehicles. The raised flagpole stuck in the middle makes it interesting for manoeuvring around the haphazardly parked vehicles, but parking is currently not an issue as there is plenty of space to park in Soi 5.

If you are planning to get to the office by Bahtbus, motocy taxi etc or using their own transport from the Pattaya direction, the optimum access would be the first Soi on the left as you make the sharp right-hand turn at the Hanuman statue down to the beach on Thappraya Road.

The Immigration Office is probably about a five minute walk from the main road.

Soi 5 is the first Soi on the right past the Area Revenue building.

[Chopper]

WHERE IS THE NEW IMMIGRATION OFFICE IN JOMTIEN?

At the risk of sounding too esoteric; if you can find the ‘Majestic Bistro’, the Immigration Office is close by.

Just ask any motor bike taxi.