Anyone holding a driving licence issued by the competent authority of a foreign country other than Singapore , may apply for conversion to a Singapore driving licence to drive the equivalent class of motor vehicle.
Foreign licence conversion is only granted for class 2B and class 3 qualified driving licences. Learner driving licence may not be converted.
Those who wish to obtain a class 4 and/or class 5 licence need to go through training and a prescribed practical test before they can obtain the Singapore class 4 or 5 licence. No direct conversion is granted for these heavy vehicle licences.
Singaporeans and PRs Convert Driving License
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents must convert their foreign driving licence upon returning to Singapore and upon obtaining PR status respectively.
They may convert a foreign driving licence if they can show proof that they have reason to be staying in a foreign country for a period of 1 year or more due to study or work, and have a total stay of 6 months within the one year period.
New PRs who already have a 5-year Singapore driving licence will have to replace it with a lifetime driving licence that reflects their new NRIC number.
Foreigners Convert Driving License
A foreigner above 18 years old with a Work Pass, Dependent Pass, or Student Pass may drive in Singapore with a valid class 3, 3A or 2B foreign licence, for a period of not more than 12 months. A Singapore driving licence is required after 12 months.
People on short term social visit may drive with their foreign licence for up to 12 months each time they enter into Singapore . For licence not written in English language, an International Driving Permit or translation is required as explained below.
Work Permit holders are not allowed to drive for work-related purposes unless the occupation stated in the Work Permit is as a “Driver”. S pass holders are allowed to drive for work-related purposes provided his/her occupation as stated in the S pass requires him/her to do so. Foreign drivers must have a valid driving license and comply with traffic regulations.
Classes of Driving Licence that May be Converted
Foreign licence conversion is only granted for class 2B and class 3 qualified driving licences. Learner driving licence may not be converted.
Driving License Conversion Procedure
In order to convert your foreign licence to a Singapore driving license, you are required to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT).
You may book for a BTT in person at any of the 3 driving schools. On passing the BTT you may then proceed to apply for conversion at the Traffic Police Driving Test Center counters in person, with the relevant documents. The 3 Traffic Police Driving Test Centers are co-located with the 3 driving schools.
Singapore Driving Schools
- Ang Mo Kio Driving Test Centre, level 3, co-located with the Singapore Safety Driving Centre at 3 Ang Mio Kio St 62 Industrial Park 3 Singapore 569139.
- Bukit Batok Driving Test Centre, level 2, co-located with the Bukit Batok Driving Centre at 815 Bukit Batok West Ave 5 Singapore 659085.
- Kampong Ubi Test Centre, level 2, co-located with ComfortDelgro Driving Centre at 205, Ubi Ave 4 Singapore 408805.
Documents Needed for Driving License Conversion
- Original and a photocopy of your passport and NRIC/Entry Permit/Employment Pass/Dependant Pass/Social Visit Pass/Work PermitOriginal and a photocopy of your valid Qualified Foreign Driving Licence
- Original and a photocopy of your valid Qualified Foreign Driving Licence
- Processing fee of $50 (Cashcard and NETS payment Only)
- One matt finish passport-size colour photograph with white background, eyes looking straight and both ears and eyebrow visible in the photograph. There should be no headgear worn unless normally worn for religious purpose, and glasses worn should not be tinted.
- For Malaysian licence holders, an extract from JPJ Malaysia showing information of your driving record and licence information (obtained not more than 6 months before date of conversion)
- For Singaporeans studying overseas for one year or more, please produce proof of stay in the country, e.g. educational transcripts or Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution and the relevant student visa in the passport.
- For Singaporeans employed overseas for one year or more, please produce Income Tax Returns or supporting documents from employers and the relevant employment visa in the passport.
If you are 65 years old and above, you need to be certified fit to drive by a Singapore registered medical practitioner. The prescribed form for the medical certification can be obtained at all Traffic Police Driving Test Centre counters. Application for conversion has to be accompanied by a favorable medical report that is complete.
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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
The driving licence authority still delaying to issue my convert licence. due to could you please give any suggesion?
You need to consult corresponding authority.
Wondering whether do i need to go in-person to convert driving licence at the police office.
For conversion
Step-1. Take Basic Theory Test.
Step-2 Fill the application form and submit together with passport+NRIC/Workpermit/Pass+IDP(International Driving Permit)+Forign Driving License (All documents both original and a photocopy)
Note : Before apply, Change your foreign driving to plastic card/SIM card type(For indian driving license). Extract of document(issue date and relevant info) for malaysians.
Step-3 Some time confirmation from embassy is required for some nationals (For indian nationals “Confirmation of License” can be obtained from High Commission of India for S$40 with a waiting time of 24hrs)
Step-5. Submit all the relevant documents with Fee $50(Documents all original for verification and a photocopy)
Step-6 Obtain your newSingapore licence.
Note : If you have taken any other class of license from singapore driving centres using normal procedure, then you are not eligible to apply for conversion.
traffic police is delaying my conversion the reason is because my e-pass is about to be expired in two months time and i don’t get it why do they have to i never read any documents about the validation of e-pass and i just pass the btt exam i have a valid foreign license i dont get the logic of delaying it that i have to renew first before the conversion because they will give me 5years validity of singapore license wats the logic behind? but then i call the service centre of the traffic police and ask about the matter they said that i can convert it even my pass have 2months left to be expired now anyone who knows exactly whats the real score?
I am a Singaporean and currently studying in the US. I am intending to learn driving here before I go back to Singapore. Am I eligible for the conversion of driving license? What documents would I need then?
hi.i am kavitha(:
i am a malayisan.i would like to know what is the passing grade for the BTT?i would like to convert my class 3 driving license.
Hi Kavitha, if I remember correctly; it’s 75% correct. Just go to any driving school and practice.
Hi, I am PR in singapore. if i want to obtain singapore driving licence, i just need to do conversion by taking BTT only? how about pratical test?
Btw i am malaysian. If i already obtain singapore driving license, can i drive malaysia car in malaysia? Who can answer my question? Thankyou
If you want to be very sure, go to any driving school and ask. Or, get a phone number to call.
1) u have to pass BTT, get the letter from JPJ in malaysia and apply in sg with the required documents.
2)if u wana drive msia plate vehicle with sg lic, u gotta have to go to AA and apply for International Driving Permit.
http://www.aas.com.sg/?show=content&showview=8&val=135
its vaild for 1 year from date of apply and cannot be renewed. meaning u have to apply yearly. its cheaper than msia’s IDP comparing $22 to RM150 annually. ^_^
I’d like to know, how to upgrade class 3 to class 4.Because i’m holder workpermit. As i know that even holder w/p could not upgrade class 3 to 4. If i changed to s-pass, there are any problem or not? because now they are registered for me with my w/p data.
So far as I know you can not.
Hi , I’m Malaysian and already PR. If I want to convert license and attend the BTT, can I ask my husband on behalf of me register and choose the date for testing? or I must go to driving centre register personally?
I am not sure. Maybe you can check with the driving centre.
yes he can. he juz need to go to dis website:
http://www.bbdc.sg/bbdc/bbdc_web/conversion.asp
note: dis website is for Bukit Batok only. (for ref.)
use your particulars to enrol as a member, and pay $12.35 wif credit card online. after dat, he can straight away book the test date for BTT. u do not need to go to the centres personally.
I think my case quite special…
I am a new Singapore citizen, before that I was a PR with Taiwanese driving license. Now my Taiwanese status have been void, I can’t obtain foreign confirmation from Taiwan embassy anymore…. omg
Hi , My name is Gurdev singh , I am Indian citizen , i have indian valid driving licence. i want convert to singapore driving licence, i am in visit pass . i can convert ? suggest me… my wife is PR, working in singapore.
Better check with a driving school.
Work Permit holders are not allowed to drive for work-related purposes unless the occupation stated in the Work Permit is as a “Driver”.
Hi,
Refer to A/m,I have a Malaysian technician with work permit and class 3 licence. Can he drive and work in Jurong Port Pte? Can he drive in public area?
Seek and appreciate your soon reply.
Regard,
Scott she
i holding the work permit, and i already pass the BTT at 08/2009. but til now i haven’t convert yet to s’pore license. may i convert it next month (july) ? also once i convert to s’pore license can i still drive foreign vehicle in s’pore??
i m a malaysian with p2 employment pass, can i drive a malaysia car in sg for work? if yes, any procedure need to follow? understand have to pay the levy for > 10 times entry to sg, how to pay?
Hi, my case is similar to Regina’s. I am a student on a school exchange program in the US and will be extending my stay here to do a 2 month internship. So my stay in the US would amount to 6 months and 3 weeks. Can I get my driving license here and convert when I get back to singapore?
hi.. am in depended pass & i have international driving lience from india now i want to get singapore driving lience,what should i do to obtain the licence. just a BTT is enough are should i under go pratical test also.
HI My name is rabia
I have been in Singapore for 1 yr and 4 motnhs now on a DP… I am from Pakistan and hold a pakistani license which i had been issued in 2006 and is valid upto 2011 . i keep going back to pakistan every 6 to 8 months. can i get my license converted to one here… ? i mean i am confused with this before 12 months deal. am i still eligble for giving just BTT?
Hi My name is Kah heng, i am malaysian and holding work permit. I have already convert my driving license to singapore license. Can i use singapore driving license to drive malaysia car?
Not sure. You can try to ask a malaysian driving school.
before that, u have to go to AA and apply for International Driving Permit.
http://www.aas.com.sg/?show=content&showview=8&val=135
I am a Malaysian with work permit that hold Singapore license about 1 year, I need back to Malaysia permanently, so I went to JPJ to activate my Malaysia license, they told me that I cannot hold both countries license, I have to cancel the Singapore license and get a letter first, then I can reactivate my Malaysia license. I want to know where I can cancel my Singapore license ? What is the prosedure and documents I need to bring ?
Thanks
never come across this before… but its best to call up Traffic Police to find out more during office hours.
http://driving-in-singapore.spf.gov.sg/services/Driving_in_Singapore/contact_feedback.htm
I am Malaysian a S Pass holder and own a Singapore car,my job need me to travel daily,should i convert my Malaysia driving license to Singapore license?
Thank you.
Hi, i’m anbu , I am Indian citizen ,i’m working in crane operator in jurong port pte.. Non-transportveh & transport veh indian valid driving licence i have. i want convert to singapore driving licence, i am in work permit pass . i can convert ? i’m working in singapore just 8 months ago. suggest me…
hi
Hello,
Is it mandatory to have the plastic (license) before applying for conversion? Have passed BTT and I’ve Indian license in the form of book.
Please advice!
Thanks,
CK