90 day non "O" visa is it good to renew Thai drivers licence?

[shl500]

Hi

My 5 year Thai licence expired in March last year (2556) my question is would a single entry 90 day non "O" visa be ok to get a new replacement licence? I have 30 year lease papers in Thai for my home also a UK valid IDP and medical certificate plus the expired Thai licence....should I meet any objections when applying for the replacement

My local office is Mukdahan if anyone has experience there that would help too.

[stevenl]

Officially you need not visa but extension of stay to obtain 5 year license. But you never know. Since you already have a Thai license Idp or UK license don't' add anything.

[shl500]

Officially you need not visa but extension of stay to obtain 5 year license. But you never know. Since you already have a Thai license Idp or UK license don't' add anything.

Sorry but what is "extension of stay" mean ? Do you think my chances are good with the info I have supplied above in the original post?

[padsterj]

I have a friend who recently got his renewed on a tourist visa I dont know if your supposed to be able to do it or not though, it seems to me its dependent on who's at the desk

[shl500]

I have a friend who recently got his renewed on a tourist visa I dont know if your supposed to be able to do it or not though, it seems to me its dependent on who's at the desk

I definitely agree with that after todays experience : took all the relevant paperwork in to the Immigration Office and all he wanted to see was my passport 2 photo's and my old Thai licence ..300 baht and happy days...in and out in less than 20 mins

[shl500]

I have a friend who recently got his renewed on a tourist visa I dont know if your supposed to be able to do it or not though, it seems to me its dependent on who's at the desk

I definitely agree with that after todays experience : took all the relevant paperwork in to the Immigration Office and all he wanted to see was my passport 2 photo's and my old Thai licence ..300 baht and happy days...in and out in less than 20 mins

Happy Happy days ....obtained my renewed licence today with a score of 45 out of 50 ..just got in with the minimum 95% pass rate required !!

[Tomtomtom69]

Officially you need not visa but extension of stay to obtain 5 year license. But you never know. Since you already have a Thai license Idp or UK license don't' add anything.

Actually I believe any non-imm visa is sufficient and what it says in the law.

It's supposed to be 1-year only for tourist visa holders, non-imm for upgrading to a 5-year licence.

Having said that on my last 5-year renewal (actually it was my first 5-year licence ever as previously I only ever got 1-year) I was on a tourist visa that had been extended for the second time. The lady who has dealt with me in previous years could clearly see I was holding a tourist visa at the time (and she didn't get fooled by the previous extension of stay for work, that had expired either) and I was surprisingly issued with a 5-year licence. New policy? I don't know, but I was very happy needless to say!

Now I hold a non-imm B multi entry, which would work too, but I'm still 5+ years short of needing to renew, since the licence actually expires on your birthday, so technically you could almost get 6 years out of it, which in my case will have been the case.

[stevenl]

Officially you need not visa but extension of stay to obtain 5 year license. But you never know. Since you already have a Thai license Idp or UK license don't' add anything.

Actually I believe any non-imm visa is sufficient and what it says in the law.

It's supposed to be 1-year only for tourist visa holders, non-imm for upgrading to a 5-year licence.

Having said that on my last 5-year renewal (actually it was my first 5-year licence ever as previously I only ever got 1-year) I was on a tourist visa that had been extended for the second time. The lady who has dealt with me in previous years could clearly see I was holding a tourist visa at the time (and she didn't get fooled by the previous extension of stay for work, that had expired either) and I was surprisingly issued with a 5-year licence. New policy? I don't know, but I was very happy needless to say!

Now I hold a non-imm B multi entry, which would work too, but I'm still 5+ years short of needing to renew, since the licence actually expires on your birthday, so technically you could almost get 6 years out of it, which in my case will have been the case.

According to phuket immigration boss it is as I stated

[khwaibah]

On a single entry 90 day O-visa the LTD will only grant you another one year temporary dl. To get a 5 year dl you have to be on a long stay visa (O-multy, 12 months) or extension ( retirement, marriage). Also you will need a certificate of residency from immigration, they may or may not give to you on a Single entry O-visa.

Edited January 1, 2015 by khwaibah

[shl500]

On a single entry 90 day O-visa the LTD will only grant you another one year temporary dl. To get a 5 year dl you have to be on a long stay visa (O-multy, 12 months) or extension ( retirement, marriage). Also you will need a certificate of residency from immigration, they may or may not give to you on a Single entry O-visa.

I do honestly believe that there is nothing written "in stone" when dealing with the immigration authorities in Thailand.

I applied with a single entry 90 day "O" visa and even outside the Jangwat (county) where I live and obtained the letter of residency.

Simple service fee of 300 baht and done.

[khwaibah]

On a single entry 90 day O-visa the LTD will only grant you another one year temporary dl. To get a 5 year dl you have to be on a long stay visa (O-multy, 12 months) or extension ( retirement, marriage). Also you will need a certificate of residency from immigration, they may or may not give to you on a Single entry O-visa.

I do honestly believe that there is nothing written "in stone" when dealing with the immigration authorities in Thailand.

I applied with a single entry 90 day "O" visa and even outside the Jangwat (county) where I live and obtained the letter of residency.

Simple service fee of 300 baht and done.

Some yes and some no. Depends on the office.

[Tomtomtom69]

Officially you need not visa but extension of stay to obtain 5 year license. But you never know. Since you already have a Thai license Idp or UK license don't' add anything.

Actually I believe any non-imm visa is sufficient and what it says in the law.

It's supposed to be 1-year only for tourist visa holders, non-imm for upgrading to a 5-year licence.

Having said that on my last 5-year renewal (actually it was my first 5-year licence ever as previously I only ever got 1-year) I was on a tourist visa that had been extended for the second time. The lady who has dealt with me in previous years could clearly see I was holding a tourist visa at the time (and she didn't get fooled by the previous extension of stay for work, that had expired either) and I was surprisingly issued with a 5-year licence. New policy? I don't know, but I was very happy needless to say!

Now I hold a non-imm B multi entry, which would work too, but I'm still 5+ years short of needing to renew, since the licence actually expires on your birthday, so technically you could almost get 6 years out of it, which in my case will have been the case.

According to phuket immigration boss it is as I stated

It's quite clearly stated in Bangkok that a tourist visa gets you a 1-year licence, a non-imm 5 years. But as you say the interpretation may be different at different offices, but I would dispute anyone only wanting to hand out another 1-year licence to a 90 day non-imm holder and kindly request a 5-year licence.

However, my experience shows some inconsistency even in Bangkok, where I managed to get my 5-year licence while on a tourist visa.

[Tomtomtom69]

On a single entry 90 day O-visa the LTD will only grant you another one year temporary dl. To get a 5 year dl you have to be on a long stay visa (O-multy, 12 months) or extension ( retirement, marriage). Also you will need a certificate of residency from immigration, they may or may not give to you on a Single entry O-visa.

I do honestly believe that there is nothing written "in stone" when dealing with the immigration authorities in Thailand.

I applied with a single entry 90 day "O" visa and even outside the Jangwat (county) where I live and obtained the letter of residency.

Simple service fee of 300 baht and done.

You can be on any visa or visa-free stay and get that letter from your embassy. I always have and have never approached immigration - it's so much easier to deal with my embassy; it's much faster, and I know I'll get what I want.