Getting your documents in order before your DLT appointment is one of the most important parts of the application process. Arriving without the correct paperwork is the most common reason applications are delayed or turned away. Here is exactly what you need.
The Document Checklist
1. Passport
Your original passport with a valid Non-Immigrant visa. A photocopy of the relevant pages (photo page, visa page, latest entry stamp) is also required. Tourist visas are generally not accepted — you need a Non-Immigrant visa or equivalent proof of legal long-term residence.
2. Proof of Residence
Official proof that you are resident in Thailand. Accepted documents include:
- A Certificate of Residence issued by the Provincial Immigration Office
- A letter of residence from your embassy or consulate
- A valid work permit that includes your residential address
This is one of the more time-consuming documents to obtain — allow enough time to arrange it before your DLT appointment. Many service companies handle this on your behalf.
3. Medical Certificate
Issued within one month of your application date — not before. Available from any registered hospital, polyclinic or registered family clinic in Thailand. Cost is 100 to 300 baht depending on the clinic. The doctor checks blood pressure, asks a brief medical history and runs a vision test. Must confirm the absence of severe chronic illnesses that could pose a risk while driving, and that the applicant is not of unsound mind or mentally unstable.
4. Foreign Driver's License (if converting)
Your existing home country driver's license for the same type of vehicle you are applying for in Thailand. If the license is not in English, you will need a certified translation in Thai or English from your country's embassy or consulate. A foreign car license cannot be used to convert to a Thai motorcycle license.
5. Passport Photos
Two recent 1x1 inch passport photos no older than six months. Most DLT-adjacent photo shops produce them in 10 minutes for 50 to 100 baht.
Optional but Useful
- International Driver's License (IDP) — if you have one, bring it
- Original foreign driver's license certified English translation — if your license is not in English
A Note on Regional Differences
Although the document requirements and application process are standardised in principle by the Department of Land Transport, in practice every DLT office operates a little differently. Some offices interpret requirements more strictly than others, some ask for additional documents not listed officially, and procedures that work smoothly at one office may be handled differently at another. If you are applying independently, it is always worth calling your local DLT office in advance to confirm exactly what they require — or using a license assistance service whose staff already know the specific requirements of your local office.
Documents ready?
Here is exactly what happens on the day at the DLT — step by step from arrival to walking out with your license.