Thai and Farang applying for IDP in Thailand

[Green Nomad]

Thanks for that info Buksida. Excuse my ignorance, is that the place in Pranburi where one goes for the Thai licence?

[buksida]

As far as I know, it is in Prachuap (on the highway). Not sure if Pranburi DLT issues them.

[Green Nomad]

OK thanks, will look into mate.

[hhinner]

Only at provincial level DLT, according to the Thai version of the press release. So that would be Prachuab city.

[Nereus]

Foreigners must bring original and a copy of their passport and visa, as well as the original and copy of their residency or work permit that is certified by the embassy or Immigration Bureau,

The usual Thai ambiguous advice. A ''permission to stay" is NOT a residency. Which Embassy?

[hhinner]

Foreigners must bring original and a copy of their passport and visa, as well as the original and copy of their residency or work permit that is certified by the embassy or Immigration Bureau,

The usual Thai ambiguous advice. A ''permission to stay" is NOT a residency. Which Embassy?

More like crappy translation. Here's the Thai.

หลักฐานที่ต้องใช้ในการขอรับใบขับขี่สากล (กรณีคนต่างชาติ)

หนังสือเดินทางและวีซ่า (ต้องไม่ใช่เพื่อการท่องเที่ยว เล่นกีฬา หรือเดินทางผ่านเมือง) (ฉบับจริงพร้อมสำเนา)

ใบสำคัญถิ่นที่อยู่ ที่รับรองโดยสถานทูต หรือสำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง (ฉบับจริง) หรือใบอนุญาตทำงาน (Work Permit) หรือใบอนุญาตทำงานอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ (Digital Work Permit) ที่แสดงรายละเอียด ที่อยู่ และยังไม่สิ้นอายุ หรือหลักฐานที่แสดงว่าเป็นผู้ได้รับการตรวจลงตราพิเศษ (Smart Visa) ที่รับรองโดยสถานทูต หรือสำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง หรือหน่วยงานภาครัฐ หรือองค์กรระหว่างประเทศออกให้ (ฉบับจริงพร้อมสำเนา)

ใบขับขี่ไทยฉบับจริงพร้อมสำเนา (แบบ 5 ปี หรือ ตลอดชีพ) (ฉบับจริงพร้อมสำเนา) ซึ่งยังไม่สิ้นอายุ

รูปถ่าย ขนาด 2 นิ้ว 2 รูป ไม่เคลือบมัน (รูปถ่ายไม่เกิน 6 เดือน)

ค่าธรรมเนียมพร้อมค่าคำขอ 505 บาท

[hhinner]

Foreigners must bring original and a copy of their passport and visa, as well as the original and copy of their residency or work permit that is certified by the embassy or Immigration Bureau,

The usual Thai ambiguous advice. A ''permission to stay" is NOT a residency. Which Embassy?

Actually on further thought, you're right, it's a bit confusing even in Thai. The residency certificate (ใบสำคัญถิ่นที่อยู่) can't be certified by an embassy as it is a Thai permanent residence certificate. It may just mean an address certificate as used for normal dl application. It doesn't say the work permit needs to be certified - that's incorrect translation.

[fft100]

What does it mean by residence permit ? I do 90 day reporting. Is the piece of paper they put in the passport during 90 day reporting enough ?

[HHTel]

I'm guessing that it's a 'Letter of Residence' from immigration. The same as renewing a driving licence or selling a vehicle.

[fft100]

Oh . Can that be got from bluport or only from main immigration ? Presumably need rental agreement, copies of relevant pages from passport, pictures and 1500 baht ? Dont have original tabien bann as renting.

[HHTel]

Pretty sure that has to be at the main office.
Also it does depend where you're expecting to use your IDP. A thai licence is recognized in many countries. It's certainly valid in the US and the UK where you don't need an IDP.

[fft100]

Unfortunately, since leaving the EU, a Brit hiring a car in a EU country now requires a IDP as well as the Thai license . Another downside of Brexit

If you have a UK photo id license, you don't need the IDP .

[buksida]

Anyone done this recently? Are the farang requirements the same (a little unclear on 'residency permit', presume this is the yellow book proof of address)?

[HHTel]

You can use a Thai licence in a number of countries under the Geneva/Vienna Convention. Certainly valid in the US and the UK and around 100 more countries.

Technically, Thailand is part of that convention but have chose to ignore it for years.

[fft100]

Don't know if it comes down to the person you deal with, but at Vienna airport a UK photo license (not the old green one) did not need a IDP, but a Thai driving license did need an IDP.

The UK license not needing an IDP was contrary to the advice I had received from the hire car company in Austria 2 weeks earlier. And also contrary to their website ! So my trip to phetchaburi for the IDP was wasted.....