Getting a Thai driving licence: documents, medical certificate, tests

A first Thai licence is a temporary one issued under the Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 (1979); section 44 makes it valid two years, after which you move to the five-year personal licence. Minimum age is 18 for cars and motorcycles, or 15 for a motorcycle up to 110cc. Cars and motorcycles are separate licences — you apply for each.

The Department of Land Transport's own checklist for foreigners: passport (with copy) or alien identification, plus proof of where you live — either a certificate of residence issued by Immigration or your embassy, or a still-valid work permit showing your address — and a medical certificate in the Medical Council format stating you have no condition dangerous for driving, issued no more than one month before applying. Queues must be booked ahead via the DLT Smart Queue app or gecc.dlt.go.th. The process at the office: document check, physical aptitude tests (colour vision, depth perception, peripheral vision, brake-reaction), at least five hours of training, the electronic written exam, then the practical driving test on the DLT course; fee payment closes at 15:30.

The common forum error is treating the residence paperwork as optional: without the immigration residence certificate, an embassy letter or a work permit bearing your address, the application does not start. If you hold a valid foreign licence of the same class, DLT offices commonly reduce or waive the training and written exam — exact practice varies by office — but the physical aptitude tests and the document checklist still apply.