Just some update info which may help anyone thinking of getting Thai licence at Phuket DLT office;

 

I went there this morning to obtain both car and motorcycle licences (I hold both car & bike on my UK licence) was told to get there early before it gets busy, it opens at 8am, this was slightly incorrect, I got there 06.40 was one Thai guy in front of me. On the door it has open 08.30 - 16.30 by 07.00 I reckon was about 20 peeps waiting, the doors were opened at 07.20 and in we went, Told lady what I was there for and she sent me straight to desk 2 she checked my paperwork which was all correct and then I had to sign everything and print my name on the form given, she checked originals of my passport and Certificate of residency and medical cert I was then sent for reaction test and light test room No7, once there was about 10 people in there they started randomly calling names to do the test and the traffic light test, it was a laugh and some peoples reactions was funny (way off) eveyone was giggling etc and all watching the person doing the test (only in LOS) I was about 4th called and back out in about 5 mins sent back to information desk and given a number 4 told to sit, waited a while then called back to desk 2, she took paperwork off me and then said 310Bhat (205 for car and 105 for bike) then told to go sit wait cubicle No5 for picture had that done and another 200B I suppose for plastic protective wallet and pics? and both licences then issued, I was on my way out the door by 08.40 so 1hour 20mins, I was well happy with that, people had told me differing stories of having to wait and watch film etc out by noon-ish...? I just handed over the docs as below, done the reaction test and traffic light test then had pic took, below is docs I took and what I paid for them in patong:

 

COR - Certificate of Residence from Patong Immigration office yesterday, cost 500B (yes before anyone bothers I know supposed to be free but thats what they said it was and thats what I paid) I just copied this for extra licence

Medical certificate for five diseases cost 100B Just looked at my passport and that was it (a medical clinic on Sai Nam Yen) copied again for extra licence

Two copies PPort Pic/info page

Two copies Visa page (I was on SETV)

UK Licence two copies both sides

IDP two copies

 

Hope it helps anyone who has never been, I was expecting a full morning of it but was a good experience and no probs at all... Lady even explained that on a SETV can only issue 2 year Temp licences if have longer visa then five year on renewal ok Mr...!

 

First time applying for Thai license with Home license and IDP for the licenses you are applying for in Thailand you do not have to sit and watch video

When you renew your Thai driving licenses you do have to watch the video, nothings changed

So just so I have this correct, does  SETV mean Single Entry Tourist Visa which is the 60 day visa? yes no? So my question is (and I am new to this so please bear with me) , but how do I get a Certificate of Residency on a SETV? and with that can I then open a bank account too? Thank you.

23 hours ago, madmax2 said:

First time applying for Thai license with Home license and IDP for the licenses you are applying for in Thailand you do not have to sit and watch video

When you renew your Thai driving licenses you do have to watch the video, nothings changed

I had the opposite experience....three days of videos and nonsense to get license with California license. For renewal walk in with paperwork, light and reaction test, out the door with two five year licenses. Like most of this country a crapshoot. The certificate of residency at Phuket was 300 baht.

23 minutes ago, Mansell said:

I had the opposite experience....three days of videos and nonsense to get license with California license. For renewal walk in with paperwork, light and reaction test, out the door with two five year licenses. Like most of this country a crapshoot. The certificate of residency at Phuket was 300 baht.

You need a International drivers permit as well as your home country license to avoid watching the video and maybe the written and driving exam which is not required with a IDP

When renewing your Thai license unless the rules have changed everyone Thai and foreigner must watch the video before they will issue you with new licenses

3 hours ago, Mansell said:

I had the opposite experience....three days of videos and nonsense to get license with California license. For renewal walk in with paperwork, light and reaction test, out the door with two five year licenses. Like most of this country a crapshoot. The certificate of residency at Phuket was 300 baht.

 

I would challenge that ... fisrt license used to always be just one year ... now 2 years. No idea how you got a 5 year first time.

11 hours ago, JDMCanuck said:

So just so I have this correct, does  SETV mean Single Entry Tourist Visa which is the 60 day visa? yes no? So my question is (and I am new to this so please bear with me) , but how do I get a Certificate of Residency on a SETV? and with that can I then open a bank account too? Thank you.

 

I'm surprised not one member has yer answered you questions ...

 

Yes, SETV means singe entry tourist visa.

 

For C of R you apply at any Immigtaion office, even at Patong. And yes a SETV allows you to  obtain a C of R.

 

No need for C of R to open a bank account, although might help. Much depends on the individual bank manager's opinion. Usually a house rental contract will suffice, a letter from the house owner (land lord) helps even more. 

 

1 hour ago, LivinginKata said:

 

I would challenge that ... fisrt license used to always be just one year ... now 2 years. No idea how you got a 5 year first time.

He said he received 5 years on renewal.

7 minutes ago, stevenl said:

He said he received 5 years on renewal.

 

Oops ... my error

10 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

I'm surprised not one member has yer answered you questions ...

 

Yes, SETV means singe entry tourist visa.

 

For C of R you apply at any Immigtaion office, even at Patong. And yes a SETV allows you to  obtain a C of R.

 

No need for C of R to open a bank account, although might help. Much depends on the individual bank manager's opinion. Usually a house rental contract will suffice, a letter from the house owner (land lord) helps even more. 

 

Thank you so much for your reply!

If you already hold the licence on your own countries licence (in english}and have an IDP (International Driving Permit) then you only have to sit the reaction and light test as my OP, on renewal you will have to watch the safety video - If renewal on another SETV then will only be issued with another two year tempory licence, if on a long term visa then you get the five year licence on renewal - this was explained to me by the lady at desk 2 on my visit as I was leaving. Overall it was a breeze but with the help of this forum I ensured all my docs were correct and had everything listed and copies at the ready.

 

The fee for the COR (Certificate of Residence) was as of last week at Patong Immigration office (the argument as to whether this is a free service or not am not getting into) thats what you will be paying in Patong, you want to argue with them it is a free service then hey Knock yourself out. I only rent a room and just got my landlady to give me a copy of her ID, and address/home details along with rental receipt which she had also signed each copy.

 

Is good idea to make a few copies of the COR as they can come in handy for various things and can help smooth the passage with officialdom.  

 

This post is really just to help newbies like myself or someone who has never been to get a licence in Phuket, I just thought I would share my experience of what went down on the day and what was involved with costs as of December 2016 at Phuket.  I thought it was gonna be a nightmare and full morning lost/day but was actually very efficent and a lot easier process than I had feared.

 

I have gained great info from TVF over the years and if I can help others to do same then thats good.

On 12/22/2016 at 4:22 PM, stevenl said:

He said he received 5 years on renewal.

 

Not on a SETV.  He would have to hold a non-immigrant or retirement visa for a 5-year license.

 

Kurt

 
Not on a SETV.  He would have to hold a non-immigrant or retirement visa for a 5-year license.
 
Kurt

Nobody said that.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

If you are on a single entry tourist visa and have a home country license and a IDP you can drive legally in Thailand anyway, so why bother getting Thai licenses