International driving license - is Non-Immigrant visa required?

[RobertHima]

It's time for my friend to extend his international driving permit, he has a 5 year Thai driving license already. He will arrive back to Thailand with a visa-free entry stamp, and want to get a new international driving permit.
My question is: would the extension be possible or a Non-Immigrant visa is required to do this? (He was on Non-B at the time of getting his Thai driving license). I can't recall how was it last time.

Anyone has experience about this?

[JAS21]

Maybe have a look here ... http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634803-thai-international-driving-license/

But to be honest ... best to go and ask at the Land Transport Office ... different LTO's have different requirements.

[Naam]

question: what's the validity of a Thai IDP? congruent with the validity of the normal Thai license?

[steve187]

are there some countries that will only accept an international as opposed to national licence

[JAS21]

are there some countries that will only accept an international as opposed to national licence

Hopefully the mods will understand http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html why I posted a link.

[stevenl]

are there some countries that will only accept an international as opposed to national licence

Hopefully the mods will understand http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html why I posted a link.

The information on that link is completely incorrect, and seems merely fueled by the desire to sell more IDP's.

[JAS21]

are there some countries that will only accept an international as opposed to national licence

Hopefully the mods will understand http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html why I posted a link.

The information on that link is completely incorrect, and seems merely fueled by the desire to sell more IDP's.

I think that you are partly correct ... well spotted. I was under the impression that an IDP was required for Thailand if you had a UK license.

I've seen another list somewhere but can't recall where at present... sorry

[MadMac]

He will get a new 1 year Thai license, not a 5 years "permanent", if he hasn't a non-Immi visa. He will not get an international one.

[RobertHima]

Please let me rephrase. He has a 5 years permanent already, valid for 2 more years, he got that one while being on a Non-B 3 years ago.

Now the situation has changed and he will arrive with a visa free entry stamp, no visa now.
The question is if the Non-Immigrant visa is required for obtaining the IDP or not.

The topic linked above by JAS21 doesn't seem to answer that, at least I couldn't find the answer.

I would happily contact the DLT, but it's the long weekend, so I thought maybe I will get some wisdom here first, before they open next week.

Any information would be appreciated.

And yes, there are countries that will accept IDP more easily than a Thai national driver's license, at least Hungary works like this, IDP is accepted by law enforcement, whereas a Thai driver's license is not.

[Tomtomtom69]

Please let me rephrase. He has a 5 years permanent already, valid for 2 more years, he got that one while being on a Non-B 3 years ago.

Now the situation has changed and he will arrive with a visa free entry stamp, no visa now.

The question is if the Non-Immigrant visa is required for obtaining the IDP or not.

The topic linked above by JAS21 doesn't seem to answer that, at least I couldn't find the answer.

I would happily contact the DLT, but it's the long weekend, so I thought maybe I will get some wisdom here first, before they open next week.

Any information would be appreciated.

And yes, there are countries that will accept IDP more easily than a Thai national driver's license, at least Hungary works like this, IDP is accepted by law enforcement, whereas a Thai driver's license is not.

Well Cambodia is another one and conveniently located right next to Thailand. Don't bother asking the Thai Department of Land Transport about whether Thai licenses are accepted in Cambodia - they'll optimistically claim, "of course they are, we're only one step away from AEC" but the reality is much different. Cambodian authorities do NOT accept Thai licenses as stand alone documents but they will generally accept international driving permits based on Thai licenses. If you're going to be driving in Cambodia, initially bring along an international permit and then try and obtain a 1 year or even 5 year local license (the latter requires a written and practical test). The former is available for a fee of $35-55 (most likely the latter fee if you've never held one before) and all it requires is a copy of your Cambo visa, front page of passport, some photos and the fee.

Thai licenses are definitely NOT accepted in Vietnam under any circumstances not least because Thai cars can't enter Vietnam. While Thai motorcycles might be allowed to enter with special permission, these days the Vietnamese authorities are insisting more and more upon foreigners possessing local driver licenses to drive there, although I suspect obtaining special permission to bring across a vehicle to drive in Vietnam is hard enough and by that stage customs wouldn't care about a license anymore anyway.

The Thai Land Transport Department also claims Thai driver licenses will become accepted in mainland China in 2015. Maybe...but the question on everyone's lips is, will China then also finally allow unrestricted access to the country by foreigners driving their own foreign registered (including Thai registered) cars around the country (with Tibet being a possible exception)? Because if not, then I believe this claim is also hogwash - but we'll have to wait at least another year to see for ourselves.