Do you want to come to Singapore for a holiday and plan to hire a car or take a friend’s car to go around? Are you an expat who is going to stay here for a few years and want to buy a car to commute to your office? Did you get a job as a driver in Singapore?
If you belong to any one of the above categories, then you might be wondering whether you can drive with your existing driving license here or not. How long is it valid? Do you need a Singapore driving license? How to apply? Whom to approach? How long does the whole process take?
Do not worry and brush aside your stress. We are here to clarify all your doubts and guide you about the foreign driving license, how to convert it, and all the questions that have been bombarding you.
Converting a foreign license in Singapore is not a complicated and time-consuming task.
To drive a car or any other vehicle, the first point to note down is at the time of driving in Singapore, you must hold a valid driving license and it should not be under suspension.
Another important point is, if you intend to drive a 3A car, the driving license that was issued in your country must have been given to you to drive the same class of vehicle.
How long your Foreign Driving License can be used?
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Who can use the foreign driving license and how long they can use it, it all depends on the type of visa that you are holding and your duration of stay in Singapore? Note that the start date of this duration will be counted from the date you entered Singapore.
The conversion of a Foreign Driving License depends on how long you are going to stay in Singapore. If you come as a tourist or for a holiday and stay only a few months, then you can use your existing valid driving license to drive in Singapore.
If you are an expat and stay less than a year or 12 months, then you can happily use your existing Driving License and drive the car.
If you are on Social Visitor Pass and stay here for less than 12 months also can use your driving license from their respective countries.
If you are on Student Pass (SP) or Employment Pass (EP) or Long-Term Visitor Pass,(LTVP) you can drive the car with the valid driving license that was issued in your country for a year. After a year, you have to convert yourforeign driving license.
Work permit and S-Pass holders can drive in Singapore with a valid driving license that was issued in their country for 6 months. After 6 months, they have to convert their foreign driving license.
One important thing to keep in mind is, if your driving license is not in English language, you need to get it officially translated into English or get an International driving permit from the respective license issuing authority of your home country.
The New Singapore PRs and Singapore Citizens must convert their driving license within 3 months of acquiring their Citizenship or Permanent Residency.
What do you need for Conversion?
Unless you meet certain requirements, your foreign driving license will not be converted.
List of the basic requirements
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- A Valid Work pass that is not expired.
- A valid Driving license that is not expired.
- If the date of issuance or class of the vehicle on your driving license is not visible, make sure to provide supporting documents.
- Before getting the work pass itself, you should be holding a valid driving license.
- At the time of issuance, you should be the resident of the country which has issued your driving license.
- Your driving license should be in English, clear date of issuance, class of vehicle. If you do not have any of these, get them officially translated into English, take necessary supporting documents or valid International Driving Permit issued by relevant authorities from your country.
The date of expiry of your driving license or the visa should not be within a month.
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How to convert?
In 2 easy steps, you can convert the foreign driving license.
Step 1: Basic Theory Test
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In Singapore, there are 3 official driving centres. First, create an account with any of these driving centres and book a date to pass the compulsory Basic Theory Test. This BTT is conducted online, at the respective center and the results can be seen immediately. The test will be based on the driving and traffic rules. You can prepare for the test from the official handbook of Singapore’s Traffic Police.
It’s better to choose the centre which is closer to you for your convenience.
For people living in the East, Comfort Delgro Driving Centre is the closest one.
Comfort Delgro Driving
205, Ubi Avenue, Singapore 408805
Tel: 6841 8900, 6848 0617
For those people living in the West, Bukit Batok Driving Centre is the closest one.
Bukit Batok Driving Centre
815 Bukit Batok West Avenue 5, Singapore 659085
Tel: 1800 666 8888
For those people living in North, Singapore Safety Driving Centre is the closest one
Singapore Safety Driving Centre
2 Woodlands Industrial Park E4, Singapore 757387
Tel: 6482 6060
Step 2: Apply at the Traffic Police counter of the Driving Centre.
Once you clear the BTT, you can proceed immediately to the Traffic Police Test Centre located in the driving centre and apply for conversion in person.
Make sure to carry these with you.
- Original and a photocopy of your Passport.
- Original and a photocopy of your NRIC/Employment Pass/ Dependant Pass/Social Visit Pass/ Work Permit.
- A recent passport-size colour photograph with white background.
- Original and a photocopy of a valid foreign driving license.
(If your driving license is not in English, make sure to bring an official
translation or International Driving Permit)
- Last but not least, your BTT results slip.
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So, once you clear the BTT, meet all the requirements, and hold all the necessary documents that are needed for the foreign driving license conversion, without much time your foreign driving license will be converted into Singapore driving license.
Vroom…Vroom…..You can steer your dream car on Singapore roads.
If you have any further doubts, you can contact our consultants who are readily available to guide you with their expertise.
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