Are you a foreigner living in Singapore? If so, and you plan on either buying a car or renting one, then you’re going to need to obtain a valid Singapore driving licence.
If you hold an existing driving licence issued outside of Singapore then you can convert that instead of doing a full driving course.
In this article, we will walk you through the process of when and how to convert your foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving license.
Table of Contents
Who needs to convert to a Singapore driving licence?
In Singapore, foreign drivers are only required to convert their driving licence if they are staying for more than 12 months.
Additionally, their home country driver’s licence must be in English or accompanied by an International Driving Permit from their country of origin or a translated version of the licence in English.
| For | Criteria | Singapore Driving Licence Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term pass holder or Social visit pass holder | Residing in Singapore for less than 12 months | Not required |
| Long-term pass holder, Student Pass (STP), Employment Pass (EP) and Long-term Visit Pass (LTVP) | Less than 12 months in Singapore | Not required |
| Work Permit (WP) or S-Pass holders | Less than 6 months in Singapore | Not required |
Eligibility criteria to convert your foreign driving licence
When you decided to convert your foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving licence. Here are what you need in order to be eligible to proceed:
- Pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) at any of the driving centres in Singapore;
- Possess a valid qualified foreign driving licence (Note: An official translation of the foreign driving licence by a Singapore registered translation company is required if it is not in English.);
- Possess an extract of the driving licence record from the Licensing Authority, indicating the date of first issue of the foreign driving licence and the date of expiry of the driving licence;
- Possess a valid International Driving Permit (IDP)
Conversion of foreign driving licences to a Singapore driving licence
Step 1: Take the Basic Theory Test (BTT)
If you have a foreign driving licence, the good news is that you don’t need to go through the full process of testing again.
All you have to do is pass a Basic Theory Test at one of Singapore’s authorised driving schools, after which you can apply for your Singapore driving licence.
To book a BTT, create an account with any of the 3 approved schools, either through their website or in person. Choose one that’s closest to where you live for convenient commuting.
| Driving School | Singapore Safety Driving Centre | ComfortDelGro Driving Centre | Bukit Batok Driving Centre |
| Location | 2 Woodlands Industrial Park E4, Singapore 757387 | 205 Ubi Ave 4, Singapore 408805 | 815 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, Singapore 659085 |
| Phone | 6482 6060 | 6841 8900 | 6848 0617 | 1800 666 8888 |
| Website | https://ssdcl.com.sg/ | https://www.cdc.com.sg/ | https://info.bbdc.sg/ |
| Course fee | S$50.78 | S$95.06 | $85.18 |
If you have passed the BTT before, you are not required to re-sit for the BTT to convert your license.
Step 2: Apply for conversion
Once you’ve passed your BTT, head down to the Traffic Police Headquarters in person to apply for your driving licence conversion. There will be a fee of $50.
The following documents (both originals and photocopies) are required to be produced at TP’s service counter at Traffic Police Headquarters located at 10 Ubi Ave 3, Singapore 408865.
| Singaporean/ New Citizen | Permanent Resident | Others |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Documentary proof from a passport of an approved period of 1-year stay and purpose of stay in the country which issued the driving licence. 2. Documentary proof of a 6-month stay within the 1-year approvide period 3. Passport 4. NRIC 5. Citizen certificate 6. Renunciation Certificate 7. A recent coloured passport size photograph on white background | 1. Passport 2. NRIC 3. Entry permit of the applicant’s first entry date into Singapore 4. Re-entry permits 5. A recent coloured passport size photograph on white background | 1. Passport (with first entry date into Singapore) 2. FIN card 3. SG Arrival Card (if applicable) 4. Letter of Employment (if applicable) 5. A recent coloured passport size photograph on white background |
New Singapore citizens and permanent residents must convert their foreign driving licences within three months of obtaining citizenship or permanent resident status.
For holders of Malaysian driving licences, they can submit their application for conversion of their foreign driving licences online from 14 July 2022 onwards.
If you’re not a Singapore Permanent Resident or Singaporean, you will need to renew your driving licence every five years to be able to continue driving.
Driving in Singapore
As a new driver, you will be on probation for one year with your driving licence. During this period, you must adhere to all traffic regulations and avoid committing any traffic offences which will add demerit points onto your record in order to keep the licence valid.
Failing to do so can cause the Traffic Police to revoke your driving license and you are required to display the Probation Plate when driving during the one-year periods.
Can I drive in Singapore as a tourist?
Tourists who wish to drive in Singapore must bring three documents with them at all times: their local driver’s license, passport, and international driver’s license. These will be necessary to show when encountering checkpoints or police officers on the streets.
Can I drive with foreign license in Singapore?
Yes, for foreign drivers who want to drive in Singapore, an International Driving Permit or an official translation of their driving license in English is required if your foreign driving licence is not in English. The English translation can be obtained from the relevant Embassy, High Commission, or any Singapore-registered translation company.
Can I drive in Singapore with Malaysian license?
If you are a foreigner living in Singapore for more than 12 months, you will need to convert your foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving licence in order to be able to lawfully drive in the country.
Can a Singaporean drive a Malaysian registered car?
You are not allowed to keep or use a foreign vehicle in Singapore if you are, Singapore Citizen, Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) Resident of Singapore, Long-Term Visit Pass or Dependant’s Pass holder and Student’s Pass holder.
