Converting a foreign license to a Thai one
A foreign license converts to a Thai one with no exam and in one visit, if you also hold a valid IDP for the same categories. Holders of a Russian license don’t need an IDP at all: the license itself is enough. Through Phuket License conversion costs from 5,500 ฿.
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Conditions for conversion
The first condition is a valid International Driving Permit alongside your home license. A notarised translation doesn't replace it, and an expired IDP doesn't count.
The second condition is matching categories. If the IDP covers only category B, only a car license can be converted. A motorcycle license is then done from scratch.
Russian license holders are the exception: conversion goes through on the Russian license alone, with no IDP and no translation. What matters is that the license is valid and has the categories you need.
Conversion or a new license
| What you have | Route | Cost through Phuket License |
|---|---|---|
| Home license + valid IDP, categories match | Conversion | From 5,500 ฿, one visit, no exam |
| Russian license with the right category, no IDP | Conversion | From 5,500 ฿, one visit, no exam |
| Home license + expired IDP | New license from scratch | 10,000 ฿, the shortest legal timeline on the island |
| Home license, no IDP | New license from scratch | 10,000 ฿, the shortest legal timeline on the island |
| Category B only, you want a bike | Motorcycle license from scratch | 10,000 ฿ |
Most people who come to us land in the "from scratch" rows, including everyone with a non-Russian license whose IDP has expired. How that route works for a bike is on the motorcycle license in Phuket guide.
Documents for conversion
- passport and a copy of the photo page;
- a copy of the page with your entry stamp or visa;
- medical certificate: about 100 ฿, any clinic;
- residence certificate: 500 ฿, Phuket Immigration, one day;
- your home license and a valid IDP with matching categories (a Russian license needs no IDP);
- cash on the day.
The 30-day rule and the TM-30
The medical and residence certificates are valid for 30 days from issue. You can't get them before you fly; they are issued on the island. If your date moves by a month, both have to be done again.
The residence certificate won't be issued without a TM-30, the notification of a foreigner's address. It is filed by the landlord or hotel, not the tenant, free of charge, online or in person. Hotels usually file it themselves, private landlords often don't. This is where most people lose a day: they arrive at immigration and the notification for their passport hasn't been filed yet.
Phuket Immigration is at 482 Phuket Rd, Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket. It is open 08:30-16:30 and closed for lunch 12:00-13:00. It gets busy, so go in the morning.
What converting costs
Doing it yourself, the documents cost about 600 ฿: 500 ฿ for the residence certificate and about 100 ฿ for the medical one. On top come DLT fees, from 105 to 505 ฿ depending on the license type according to the rental service Byklo, and travel between immigration, the clinic and the DLT office.
Through Phuket License conversion costs 5,500 ฿ for a motorcycle, 6,500 ฿ for a car and 10,000 ฿ for both. You can hand over the whole set of documents for a fixed 1,500 ฿, available only together with a license.
After conversion
The first Thai license is issued for two years. It is then renewed for up to five years, with a work permit or a retirement visa added to the standard documents. Terms are on the renewing a Thai license page.
A Thai card with the details in English is valid across ASEAN without an international permit. Whether a Thai license is useful back home is covered in the guide to a Thai license abroad.
Common mistakes
- Getting the medical certificate right after landing; the date slips and the 30 days run out before the appointment.
- Going to immigration before the TM-30 is filed and losing a day.
- Arriving at immigration around noon and hitting the 12:00-13:00 break.
- Counting on converting with an expired IDP or a notarised translation (this only works for a Russian license, which needs neither).
