Hua Hin - Thai Residency Certificate + Drivers Licenses

[MichaelDK]

Here is my latest experience Feb 23, 2016...

RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE(S)
The procedure went very smooth. It took less than 20 minutes and the Residence Certificates were issued on the spot.

I arrived at the Hua Hin Immigration office at 14:00 with my PASSPORT and 3 COPIES of :

• Passport picture page
• Passport page with Thai One year Non Immigrant Multiple entry Visa
• Passport page with Thai entry stamp
• Departure card TM-6
• Rental agreement for the house we are renting (in English)

PLUS 3 (three) signed originals of the "Application Form for Residence Certificate In Thailand"

• Two with the Drivers License option checked (one for motor cycle and one for car)
• One with Other: "Bank" (filled in).

PLUS 6 (six) pictures

My purpose was to renew my Car AND Motor cycle license AND document my residence to the bank/buy vehicle therefore I needed a Certificate for each purpose.
One Certificate says MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS LICENSE, one CAR DRIVERS LICENSE and the other something in Thai that I can not read.

Obviously YOU will not need 3 copies if you only need one Residence Certificate.

I handed in the documents and paid a total of 1500 baht.
10 minutes later the documents were ready. Very polite, friendly and great service.
Government officials in other countries should take a class in Thailand for how to treat "customers".

You can find the location of the Hua Hin Immigration office on Google maps.
There is plenty of parking (but they are closed for lunch - can not remember the exact time but I think it was 12:30 to 13:30).

There is photocopy service at the right side of the main building. They can also provide you with photos if you need.
NOTE: Residence Certificates are issued from the little 20 foot container-like-building to the left and separate from the main building.

DRIVERS LICENSES
The DMV is approximately 20 minutes south of Hua Hin.
Drive south on AH2 - (route 4) for approximately 20 minutes by car until you see a VERY VERY LARGE TESCO LOTUS SIGN on the left side of the road where route 1020 intersects route 4 (Pran Buri).
Make a U-turn at the light just before Tesco and take the first left (only 10 meters after the intersection - narrow concrete road with speed bumps).
The Department of Motor Vehicles is 200 m down the road on the left. There is a little store just before the gate where you can buy insurance and make photocopies.
There is plenty of parking inside the premises.

Take the stairs up to the ground floor and continue to the first floor. Hand your documents to one of the girls at any of the windows (there are no numbers, if there is a line - get in line).

She will check that everything is in order, for me it meant my...

• expired Thai Car Drivers License
• expired Thai MC Drivers license
• two Doctor Certificates (100 baht each)*
• Residence Certificate for Car
• Residence Certificate for MC

... and TWO COPIES OF:

• Passport picture page (also bring the original Passport - although she did not ask for mine)
• Passport page with Thai One year Non Immigrant Multiple entry Visa
• Passport page with Thai entry stamp
• Departure card TM-6
• Front page of International Drivers License (you may not need this - but it saved me from sitting through 4 hours of training and to take the written test - details below)
• Picture page of International Drivers License and English page with stamps for MC, Car etc.
• YOU MUST ALSO BRING THE ORIGINAL INTERNATIOAL DRIVERS LICENSE.

She will then ask you to fill out the Drivers License application form (one for each license).
NOTE: No need to print it from the internet (all the ones I looked at online were different than the one they handed me. I only had to fill in my name and phone number.

The procedure was straight forward until she found out that my Thai Drivers Licenses had expired 16 months ago.
She told me that I had to go to TRAINING. I looked deep into her beautiful eyes and suggested she could possibly wave the requirement because I had copies of my International Drivers License.
She agreed and promptly completed the forms for two five year licenses after I paid the 1060 Baht.
Car license (500 + 50 + 5 + 100) = 655 Baht
MC license (250 + 50 + 5 + 100) = 405 Baht

All I had to do now was wait in line for the photograph lady that snapped the photo and handed me the two new licenses. I was out of there in less than 45 minutes.
DO NOT BRING A PHOTOGRAPH

Obviously YOU only need one copy of your documentation if you renew one license.

* There is a doctors office/clinic if you turn down left on Route 1020 instead of making a U-turn at Tesco.
Approx 1 km down the road on the left.
If they are not open continue straight until you come to the hospital also on the left side 2 km down the road. They issue Doctors Certificates btw. 08:00 - 16:00.
There is no Latin letters suggesting it is a hospital so look for ambulances parked in front of the emergency room.

I could not find the DMV on Google maps.
But you can paste this text into Google maps to find the location.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/สำนักงานขนส่งจังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์+สาขาอำเภอปราณบุรี/@12.3942798,99.9174361,16z/data=!4m6!1m3!3m2!1s0x0000000000000000:0x5f3d177c916de652!2z4Liq4Liz4LiZ4Lix4LiB4LiH4Liy4LiZ4LiC4LiZ4Liq4

LmI4LiH4LiI4Lix4LiH4Lir4Lin4Lix4LiU4Lib4Lij4Liw4LiI4Lin4Lia4LiE4Li14Lij4Li14LiC4Lix4LiZ4LiY4LmMIOC4quC4suC4guC4suC4reC4s-C5gOC4oOC4reC4m-C4o-

C4suC4k-C4muC4uOC4o-C4tQ!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x5f3d177c916de652!5m1!1e4

[sometimewoodworker]

FWIW

(16th February ) at AEK DLT office Udon Thani about 11:30:

Expired February 11th 1year temporary car and MC licences

Needed:

passport ID page + 2 copies signed and phone number

Med cert + copy

Certificat of residence from immigration + copy

Received 2 5+year licenses

Total time taken about 10 minutes from walking in to leaving

No test or film

Note 2 licences so needed 2 sets, for the 2nd copies are OK.

Special note I was specifically told by the DLT official that I only needed 1 Certificat of residence from immigration and that a copy for the second licence was perfectly acceptable.

[MichaelDK]

Wow, others should take notice: You can possibly save money by submitting copies when applying for both MC and Car drivers licence.

I may have wasted 600 Baht on an extra original of the Residence Certificate and the Medical Certificate.

Your response may save others from wasting money.

Thanks

[ThaiFelix]

I renewed mine in Sakon Nakhon two weeks ago. I got my Thai car drivers license last year, first time, by showing my International drivers lic (plus all the other paperwork as above) however both times I was told they would not accept doctors cert from a clinic, only from a hospital. After looking at my passport the lady told me I could only have one year again because I only had a 1 month 'under consideration' stamp. This was because I had only just put in my visa extension renewal (based on marriage) although it was my fourth 1 year extension. However I ended up leaving with a two year lic for some reason?? Does this mean I will never be able to get a 5 year lic because it falls due same time as my visa extension therefore each time I will only have a 1 month "under consideration" when I renew my license? Hope that makes sense.

[Liquorice]

Here's my experience.

Local Police Station, Certificate of Residence free.

Local Amphur, using C of R to get Tabian Baan, free.

DLT, Banks, Immigration, whatever, all accept copies of TB.

Why take the expensive long road, when there are free short cuts.

[Liquorice]

I renewed mine in Sakon Nakhon two weeks ago. I got my Thai car drivers license last year, first time, by showing my International drivers lic (plus all the other paperwork as above) however both times I was told they would not accept doctors cert from a clinic, only from a hospital. After looking at my passport the lady told me I could only have one year again because I only had a 1 month 'under consideration' stamp. This was because I had only just put in my visa extension renewal (based on marriage) although it was my fourth 1 year extension. However I ended up leaving with a two year lic for some reason?? Does this mean I will never be able to get a 5 year lic because it falls due same time as my visa extension therefore each time I will only have a 1 month "under consideration" when I renew my license? Hope that makes sense.

There is no 1 year licence now.

All first temporary licences are now valid for 2 years.

You can apply to renew your next licence early before you do the extension, thus avoiding the 'under consideration' situation.

When you get the 5 year licence, the renewal date will be your birthday following the 5 year period, so it shouldn't coincide with your extension again.

Example: My birthdate is March. I renewed my licence in April 2015. Expiry is March 2021. (5 years 10 months)

[KMartinHandyman]

A yellow book saved me from needing C of R and my first public hospital visit for medical certificate registered me in the Thai system with a card. 50฿ each for bike and car.

IDP for car with eye and reaction test got a 2 yr temporary license. They had no English preparatory class,film or book to study so I told them let me take the test. Missed one question and the man was shocked,, he told my wife "international not the same as Thai, people like me take the test many times"

I didn't tell him I read Chaing Mai Buddy's online test tutorial and link to Thai driving laws first.

Told my wife to say I was lucky today [emoji23]

[KMartinHandyman]

Forgot to say the exam was for a motorcycle license which I do not have the stamp for in the IDP.

[Hayduke]

Apologies for drifting north...but for those in Bangkok....

Renewed my automobile license Feb 18 at the Area 3 office on Sukhumvit 62, Bangkok.

Documentation requested: - Passport ID page copy (checked by staff against original)

- Extension of stay copy (checked against original)

- Most recent entry stamp copy (checked against original)

- TM 6 copy (not checked against original...maybe because unfolding it was too hard)

- Residence confirmation letter (mine was from embassy)

- Expiring Thai license

Documentation not wanted: - Medical certificate

- Copy of foreign license

Performance requirements: - Reaction test

- Depth perception test

- Color blindness check (now combined with a peripheral vision component)

- 'Polite Driver' video (approx one hour, closed room, sign in, unsupervised....most people just played with their phones)

Cost: 605 Baht

Validity: 6 years

Total time: Three hours and 18 minutes

PM me for any further information.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Hayduke

[ThaiFelix]

I renewed mine in Sakon Nakhon two weeks ago. I got my Thai car drivers license last year, first time, by showing my International drivers lic (plus all the other paperwork as above) however both times I was told they would not accept doctors cert from a clinic, only from a hospital. After looking at my passport the lady told me I could only have one year again because I only had a 1 month 'under consideration' stamp. This was because I had only just put in my visa extension renewal (based on marriage) although it was my fourth 1 year extension. However I ended up leaving with a two year lic for some reason?? Does this mean I will never be able to get a 5 year lic because it falls due same time as my visa extension therefore each time I will only have a 1 month "under consideration" when I renew my license? Hope that makes sense.

There is no 1 year licence now.

All first temporary licences are now valid for 2 years.

You can apply to renew your next licence early before you do the extension, thus avoiding the 'under consideration' situation.

When you get the 5 year licence, the renewal date will be your birthday following the 5 year period, so it shouldn't coincide with your extension again.

Example: My birthdate is March. I renewed my licence in April 2015. Expiry is March 2021. (5 years 10 months)

Many thanks Faz, I will renew early next time. Do you know if lic can be renewed at any office or must it be done in Sakon Nakhon? The reason I ask is because there are offices a lot closer. The only reason I first applied in Sakon was because I have to go there for my visa extension renewal and did it while in town. I actually live in a small village in Kalasin province and would save hours by going to Udon, Khon Kaen, etc closer by to renew my DL?

[sometimewoodworker]

I renewed mine in Sakon Nakhon two weeks ago. I got my Thai car drivers license last year, first time, by showing my International drivers lic (plus all the other paperwork as above) however both times I was told they would not accept doctors cert from a clinic, only from a hospital. After looking at my passport the lady told me I could only have one year again because I only had a 1 month 'under consideration' stamp. This was because I had only just put in my visa extension renewal (based on marriage) although it was my fourth 1 year extension. However I ended up leaving with a two year lic for some reason?? Does this mean I will never be able to get a 5 year lic because it falls due same time as my visa extension therefore each time I will only have a 1 month "under consideration" when I renew my license? Hope that makes sense.

There is no 1 year licence now.

All first temporary licences are now valid for 2 years.

You can apply to renew your next licence early before you do the extension, thus avoiding the 'under consideration' situation.

When you get the 5 year licence, the renewal date will be your birthday following the 5 year period, so it shouldn't coincide with your extension again.

Example: My birthdate is March. I renewed my licence in April 2015. Expiry is March 2021. (5 years 10 months)

Many thanks Faz, I will renew early next time. Do you know if lic can be renewed at any office or must it be done in Sakon Nakhon? The reason I ask is because there are offices a lot closer. The only reason I first applied in Sakon was because I have to go there for my visa extension renewal and did it while in town. I actually live in a small village in Kalasin province and would save hours by going to Udon, Khon Kaen, etc closer by to renew my DL?

I can't give a definitive answer but I would try the DLT AEK hospital office in Udon. You can renew up to 60 days early, so if they say no you have plenty of time to go to Sakon Nakhon later.

[Liquorice]

I renewed mine in Sakon Nakhon two weeks ago. I got my Thai car drivers license last year, first time, by showing my International drivers lic (plus all the other paperwork as above) however both times I was told they would not accept doctors cert from a clinic, only from a hospital. After looking at my passport the lady told me I could only have one year again because I only had a 1 month 'under consideration' stamp. This was because I had only just put in my visa extension renewal (based on marriage) although it was my fourth 1 year extension. However I ended up leaving with a two year lic for some reason?? Does this mean I will never be able to get a 5 year lic because it falls due same time as my visa extension therefore each time I will only have a 1 month "under consideration" when I renew my license? Hope that makes sense.

There is no 1 year licence now.

All first temporary licences are now valid for 2 years.

You can apply to renew your next licence early before you do the extension, thus avoiding the 'under consideration' situation.

When you get the 5 year licence, the renewal date will be your birthday following the 5 year period, so it shouldn't coincide with your extension again.

Example: My birthdate is March. I renewed my licence in April 2015. Expiry is March 2021. (5 years 10 months)

Many thanks Faz, I will renew early next time. Do you know if lic can be renewed at any office or must it be done in Sakon Nakhon? The reason I ask is because there are offices a lot closer. The only reason I first applied in Sakon was because I have to go there for my visa extension renewal and did it while in town. I actually live in a small village in Kalasin province and would save hours by going to Udon, Khon Kaen, etc closer by to renew my DL?

You can obtain and change your DL at any DLT office.

As a rule most people obtain their licence locally and renew at the same office.

If you renew your licence at an office different to the one who issued the original then there is a small additional charge.

The charge is different for a car DL or a motorcycle DL.

You can ask at your local DLT office in Kalasin what the charge is.