If you have decided to live in Thailand for long-term work purposes or go to university, getting a Thai driving license makes your daily life easier. You will come to know how frequent taxi-hailing drains your budget and consumes time. Even if you don’t have your vehicle, you can still rent it from rental services if you have one valid driving license.
You can use your Thai driving license as your identification card by carrying it in your pocket wherever you go, so you don’t have to worry about taking care of your passport from being wet or strained. I guess all of you sometimes might feel irritated by holding the passport with a suitcase or bag that distracts your will to wander freely. If you need to go on a short domestic trip, you do not need your passport verification from the airline. Moreover, you can use your driving license in various registration processes and apply for memberships in convenience stores, malls, and even nightclubs and bar entries. Wouldn’t you like to go plainly?
Basically, driving licenses in Thailand can be classified into three types: international driving permit (IDP), your home country license and Thai driving license. The IDP, also known as the International Driving License, is accepted in Thailand. However, it can only be valid for one year after your arrival, so it is not a good option if you are thinking of long-term work or whatever your purpose is. As for Myanmar citizens, Myanmar domestic license is recognised within the ASEAN countries if it is accompanied by an English version. However, I suggest to convert it into a Thai driving license as there are some difficulties in showing your license on the ground despite the ASEAN recognition agreement.
You don’t need to answer the driving license examination if you already have a domestic license. The process is quite straightforward, and it only requires some physical tests. But it should be at least a B (ခ) type license. If you don’t have one, you will have to take an examination as an amateur driver.
First, you need to ask for an appointment from the Thai Department of Land Transport (DLT) in your nearest location. The required documents are your original passport with valid visa status, your original Myanmar driving license, and their copies. Your visa validity must be at least 30 days, and at least 15 days of arrival are needed to be eligible for application. For the Thai driving license conversion, your domestic license should have at least 6 months of validity. You need to ask for a recommendation from the embassy. Sometimes, you might need TM30. You will also need a medical certificate.
It takes about 2 weeks to get an appointment from DLT after submitting your application. Then, you may obtain your license within 2 or 5 days after your appointment date. One thing you need to be aware of is that a Thai driving license is separated into two categories: a car driving license and a motorcycle driving license. Approximately, it would cost around 150 baht for a motorcycle driving license and around 200 baht for a car driving license. You have to account for expenses like commuting and some extra charges for doing this. Before you proceed anything, go checking to the Thai Department of Land Transport (DLT) would be the best step you have to take first as the requirements may be varied according to times and circumstances.
To sum up, getting a Thai driving license as a Myanmar citizen is an important step toward living in Thailand conveniently if you are thinking of long-term living. While options like the IDP or a Myanmar domestic license may work sometimes, converting to a Thai license could be the most practical and reliable solution. With a straightforward application process and multiple benefits, getting a Thai driving license is definitely a worthy decision for long-term living.