Dear readers,
From 1986 to 2005 I worked and lived in Thailand. In 2005 I was unfortunately forced by circumstances to return to the Netherlands. My Thai partner, who I had been living with for 10 years at the time, came to the Netherlands a year later. In 2006 we got married in the Netherlands.
At this point a practical problem arises. My Thai driver's license expires in November, so I need to renew it.
Previously, one could simply have a “letter of residence” made at the Thai Immigration Service, with which the driver's license could then be extended at the country department.
When I last had my driver's license renewed five years ago, things still worked as described above. However, there was a problem; a rental contract had to be submitted to obtain the 'letter of residence', which I did not have. I only found out about this when I reported to the Immigration Service in Chiangmai to have the “letter of residence” made. Because I no longer lived in Thailand, I did not have a rental contract, but fortunately this did not cause any problems and I still received the “letter of residence”.
To renew my driver's license in November, I will have to apply for a letter of residence again. The question is whether the Immigration Service in Chiangmai will be as flexible with the issuance of this as it was five years ago.
In February 2015 I will retire and it is the intention to live in Thailand again. I would therefore like to keep the driver's license, especially since it is accepted as proof of identity almost everywhere in Thailand. My Thai driver's license was first issued in 1990 and its long validity always inspires confidence.
Who has tips to obtain the “letter of residence” as legally as possible. A Thai friend has offered to draw up a (fictitious) rental contract for me. I myself have thought that it might be possible to register on the “tabien ban” of my partner's family home where my partner is also registered. We have a small house on the property where we will also live when we return to Thailand. Does anyone know if this is a realistic option and what I need for this?
For the record; i will have no problem in getting an annual visa. Our marriage was contracted in the Netherlands in 2006, but has never been reported to the Thai government until now.
All advice is welcome.
Yours faithfully,
Peter
Peter, I don't see any problem, you tell me that in 2015 you will live in Thailand again, then you have an address again, your driver's license may have expired upon renewal.
regards Leen
I know that in CM this is not the case. There is now a kind of information desk where you have to register and inform yourself. My driver's license also expired (4 years) while I was in Europe. I was then advised to bring an international driver's license and convert it to a Thai one. Next time I return I will do that. And actually I don't need that, since I let myself be driven. But one never knows when it might come in handy. I prefer to leave driving in the chaos of CM to a Thai. I only have 2 eyes and need six. Even as a pedestrian.
For address I ask for a letter from the landlord. Also for 90 days notification or visa extension
Since you're going to be living on that property soon, I'd better formalize that now. That has happened, with those papers you get a letter of residence as intended and you keep your driver's license.
Another thing is that you can try to get your own yellow house book of that house. Then you will be rid of that piece of paper forever. For this you need the cooperation of the owner and his/her blue house book and the aforementioned letter of residence. At least, that's how it went with me, with you it can be completely different in another province.
It is not clear to me what not reporting your marriage has to do with an annual extension, you write an annual visa. When asked if you are married, you will not answer in the negative, will you? Perhaps it is useful to pay attention to this in the light of death, inheritance, and then the transfer of bank balances, etc. to the remaining party. My partner and I are not married and we have a Thai will for that.
Thanks for all the information.
Erik, I assume that by formalizing you mean that I register for the “tabien ban”. At least that seems like the most convenient solution to me. What do I need for this? Houses and land are in my mother-in-law's name.
Is it true that in this case I have to go to the amphoe with my mother-in-law and the “tabien ban”? Do I need any other documents besides my passport with visa?
Peter
I passed my adderes last year from my Hotel where I stayed, a phone call was made to the Hotel listed on the form confirming I was staying there and I got my letter of residence.
This was at the immigration of Pattaya Jomtien Soi5
Peter, I went to get that document from Immigration Jomtien soi 2 5 days ago.
You must ask the information desk for the application form, fill it in and then you will receive a number.
Other required documents:
2 passport photos
Copy identity page passport.
Copy stamp residence permit and arrival card in passport.
Copy address page house book; may also be an electricity bill receipt or an internet bill
invoice eg.
All this delivered to counter 7 in the back right. Paid 300 baht (without proof of payment) for 1 document that I was allowed to pick up half an hour later.
No problem.
PS. Is valid for one month to renew your driver's license.
Dear Rudy and Peter
The information listed above is correct and complete, except for 1 detail: the document is not valid for 1 month, but is valid for 3.
And once the (always very friendly and correct) official who usually mans desk 8 (right at the back) knows you even a little bit, a “document of evidence” that proves your stay is no longer even necessary.
I have already experienced with others that the document was refused to them because their visa was valid for less than a month.
Good luck
Kito
Hi Rudi,
Letter of residence is valid for 3 WEEKS.
LOUISE
Peter, answer your question.
With me I already had a retirement extension and with that I obtained the residence letter at the Immigration at the request of the amphur where we were with a blue house book and the owner, my partner's son.
I got my driver's license at the time on the rental contract (was not yet a co-owner at the time) and a standard residence sheet from the immigration police. Such a tear-off with three lines of text. Because the residence letter for a driver's license is a simple piece of paper.
The residence letter for registration on the amphur and in the yellow house book has a different layout and is only issued in Nongkhai by the 'boss', Mrs. Lieutenant Colonel of the police. And the yellow house book also required a declaration from the kamnan (itself, the sarawat kamnan was not enough) and I was 'posted' for a month as a candidate for a house book.
But as said, it can be completely different at every amphur and immigration post.
I also have to renew my driver's license this month. What I understand is that the rules have changed. Became stricter. everyone has to take the exam again. Not only a test for reaction speed and color blindness, but also a theory exam. Answer 50 multiple choice questions (English text), 50 of which must be correct.
So you might as well let your driver's license expire and take the exam again. It doesn't mean much.
I would at least bring an international driver's license, just to be on the safe side.
Just some addition:
The questions asked in the exam can be found at:
http://tinyuri.com/Thaidrivetest
I hope this address is still good.
A letter of residence is issued to me on Samui without any problems. I've got a Non Immigrant-O-
visa with retirement extensions. I have never been asked about a rental contract.
Same address? Yes! OK!"
I believe that the link no longer works, but you can also find the instructional videos on you tube if you search Google for Drive instruction in Thailand. Good luck with it 🙂
Give one of these links a try!!
http://tinyurl.com/Thaidrivetest
http://phuket.dlt.go.th/index/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=98&Itemid=65
Dear reader
how long can your driver's license be expired upon renewal?
Kind Regards Peter Yai
@Peter Yay
It must of course not have expired at all, because then it no longer exists. And of course you can't extend what doesn't exist.
Once expired, I'm afraid you have to go for a new driver's license, which will therefore only be valid for one year.
Regards, Kito
According to the information I received, you can renew a Thai driver's license one month before it expires and within one month after it expires.
There may be a difference between different places, as is usual with immigration offices.
Coincidentally, I renewed my Thai driver's license last week (on Wednesday 13th August, on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th Thailand's driving license and registration centers were closed due to Mother's Day / Queen's birthday).
I did that in Banglamung (Pattaya). After all, my old driving license was due to expire on September 5, and after obtaining the necessary information from the driving license center, I was told very explicitly that you can renew the driving license from one month before the expiry date. And that you better do this because from the moment your driver's license has expired for even 1 second (in my case that would have happened September 6 at midnight) you CANNOT renew it (which is also logical, and completely analogous to e.g. but only in a Thai embassy abroad).
In the margin, I would like to note that all comments regarding the supposedly renewed procedure, whereby you have to take a theoretical exam for a theoretical exam, are probably not relevant to any T-blogger, since that innovation relates ONLY to PROFESSIONAL drivers (this in response to the most recent accidents involving (mini)buses).
I don't believe there is a single T blogger who got a work permit to act as a professional driver in Thailand.
So forget all the fuss about the new procedures (for now, because it can be guessed that that additional test - and that very rightly - will also be imposed on "ordinary" drivers in the foreseeable future).
Greetings
Kito
Apparently I'm lucky because it's the 2nd time I get a driving license for 6 years from the LTO in Banglamung Nongplalai.
My first 5 year driving license was valid from August 29, 2008 to August 17 (my date of birth) 2014.
Now I have 21/08/2014 today, so about 4 days after the due date I received a new one valid until August 17, 2020, so again for 6 years. The driver's license states both for motorbike and car: Issue Date August 29, 2008 Expire Date August 17, 2020. It also says in Thai above my name.
Greetings…