Guide on How to Convert Your Foreign Driving License in Singapore – Applicable for Malaysian Driving License
*Updated 30 April 2024*
Join my Telegram Channel for the latest JPJ updates-
Please join my telegram channel for updates- https://t.me/hazeldiaryy
I have recently convert my Malaysia driving license to Singapore driving license during Covid-19 period.For expat or permanent residents who posseses a driving license from your home country like myself here, you can do you conversion based on the following steps below. But do take note that any foreigners who are above 18 years old and hold a valid work/dependant/student pass are allowed to drive in Singapore with a foreign license less than a year. But all Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents must have a valid Singapore driving license to be eligible to drive in Singapore.Some of the readers shared that the Traffic Police only accept the conversion via BTT test if you convert your driving license within 3 months after you obtain Singapore PR now. However, there is possibilities of getting it done if your documents are within the validity periods (check with Traffic Police Department). You can call 6547 0000 to clarify. (Info from one of the readers)
I would suggest you guys can check again before you do any conversion letter as the JPJ letter is only valid for 6 months upon issuance date.
Here are my steps on how to convert my foreign driving license recently:
NOTE: This is only applicable if you got your foreign driving license before you obtained your Singapore Permanent Resident status.
Step 1:
Pass your Singapore Basic Theory Test (BTT)
You need to register at one of the 3 driving centres in Singapore for the basic theory test:
Singapore Safety Driving Centre
Address: 2 Woodlands Industrial Park E4, Singapore 757387
Telephone: 6482 6060
Bukit Batok Driving Centre
Address: 815 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, Singapore 659085
Telephone: 1800 666 8888
ComfortDelGro Driving Centre
Address: 205 Ubi Ave 4, Singapore 408805
Telephone: 6841 8900 / 6848 0617
Due to current Covid-19 situation, you will need to visit the respective website to make an appointment to go down to book for the Basic Theory Test (BTT). With the new rules implementation, you have to register Basic Theory Test (BTT) in package. It is now compulsory to take trial Theory Test before the actual test.
So once the appointment is fixed, head down to the driving centre on the scheduled date to book a date for your test. They will issue the receipt and included the appointment date on it as well. Keep it well as you need to bring along on the test date.
You can get the Basic Theory Book from Popular Stores retailing at S$6.00 S$10.00 or the Question Book at S$8.00 S$10.10.
P/S: The theory test result is lifetime and there is no expiry date. I passed my test in 2015 and I just converted my license in 2020. The driving centers and traffic police system will have it registered in when you provide them with your NRIC to check the status.
Step 2:
Attain the Abstract from Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (JPJ)Once you passed your theory test, you need to obtain the letter from JPJ.Here is the sample of the letter issued by JPJ and this letter only valid for 6 mths from the date of issue. Thus, make sure you get your conversion done within the period.
For JPJ in Johor Bahru, head down to the office located at Taman Daya and it is said that the letter costs RM10.00 ~S$3.33 and payable at the counter. Please make sure you keep the receipt because it is required during the later stage.
Due to the pandemic and I am unable to go back Malaysia to obtain the letter, I approached a runner to assist me on this. All I need to do is to provide him my scanned copy of Malaysia IC & Driving License and he will settle for me. And during this tough period, it took quite a while for him to obtain the letter and I made arrangement to courier the original copy to Singapore. The fee for the runner to obtain the letter is RM150.00 ~S$50.00 include the courier charges to Singapore. If you can provide him with original copies, the fee will be lower though.
Update 12 January 2021: Due to extended MCO in Malaysia, the process to obtain the JPJ letter will be longer due to the reduced of manpower in JPJ (only 30% working from tomorrow onwards) and restriction matters. Thus, the runner shared that it will take a longer period to obtain the letter now. He would be charging RM200.00 to secure for express lane and avoid missing documents.
Update 11 March 2021:
Update from the runner: CMCO in JPJ starts from 15 March onwards, all the JPJ staff is back to work as normal. Thus, the fee will be RM150.00 for normal conversion letter within 3-5 days time. If you require express (1 day), it will be RM200.00 .
Update 13 July 2021:
Update from the runner: Due to current Malaysia situation, JPJ office is only open for commercial license at this moment. All personal license and tax related will be put on hold until further notice. Perhaps by August will receive new update again.
Update 02 Aug 2021:
Update from the runner: Due to current Malaysia situation, JPJ office is only open for commercial license at this moment. All personal license and tax related will be put on hold until further notice.They only accept online appointment for now. You may want to do your conversion via online but we are not sure if there will be the verified stamp on the letter. If you can wait, the runner is able to do it from 10 August onwards. I will update this space constantly whenever there is new changes.
*Update 11 Aug 2021:*
There is a limit of 5 transaction per appointment per day. Here are his revised charges:
Renew Driving License Only
RM 30 per year
Service Charge RM30
Courier to SG RM35
Renew License & JPJ Letter
License RM30 per year
Service Charge RM30
JPJ Letter RM200 include courier to SG
JPJ Letter
RM200 include courier to SG
*Update 21 Feb 2024:*
Step 3:
Apply for Conversion at Traffic Police Department
Updated on 19 July 2022: Based on the latest news, Malaysia drivers can now convert to Singapore driving licenses online under new Traffic Police trial. Link here.
Once I got the letter or they called it Abstract from JPJ, you need to prepare the following documents before heading to Traffic Police Department located at Ubi Ave 3.
Here are the documents required to bring along for conversion:
-
Original and a photocopy of your passport and NRIC/Entry & Re-Entry Permit/Employment Pass/Dependant Pass/Social Visit Pass/Work Permit
-
Original and a photocopy of your valid Qualified Foreign Driving Licence
-
Processing fee of S$50.00 (Cashcard and NETS payment Only)
-
One matt finish passport-size colour photograph with white background.
-
For Malaysian licence holders, an extract from JPJ Malaysia showing information of your driving record and licence information
And lastly, fill up the Conversion Form (Pink colored) once you arrive at the Traffic Police entrance lobby. And of course, do get a queue number upon entering the building.
Do ensure that you get all your documents ready especially the Entry and Re-entry Permit documents. I made two trips down because missing these 2 documents. The entry permit is important because they need to see if you obtain your driving license before or after you became Singapore Permanent Resident.Once all set, NETS payment of S$50.00 required on the spot for the processing fee. They do not accept cash payment. The officer will then provide the temporary slip for you and you are eligible to drive in Singapore now.
The physical driving license will mailed to your mailing address stated in the form in 10 working days.
What happens if you missed the physical card delivery?
If you happen to miss the delivery, the card will be returned to the center. To retrieve it, you’ll need to visit the traffic police website and schedule an appointment to pick it up in person. Collection appointments are available exclusively on weekdays, Monday through Friday, at Room 6.
For Singapore Citizens and PR, the new Singapore Driving License will be valid for life and there will be no need for any renewal.
TIPS: (a) If you are converting to Singaporean but yet to convert your foreign driving license on time, fret not. You need to prepare the documents as mentioned above and also additional documents including your renunciation letter from Malaysia Embassy, letter from ICA after u submitted your renunciation and also the warranty letter stating your nationality.
(b) If you obtain your driving license after you got Singapore Permanent Resident, the conversion procedures will be different.
(c) If you hold on to Singapore driving license, you are unable to renew your Malaysia license but your record will still remain in JPJ system.
(d) If your Malaysia driving license expired more than 3 years, you cannot renew your license anymore. You need to re-take the whole process.
For more detailed updated information on Traffic police and driving license you can check the traffic matters here or call them to find out more.
This is purely based on my driving license conversion journey experience. Any new updates, please check with the respective authorities for better understanding.
For those who are asking if we can still drive in Malaysia after conversion? Read here.
[Update March 2024]
I received feedback and enquiries that most people are converting the driving license to prepare for their conversion of Singapore citizenship. You can refer to my post here about the whole process of conversion and things to take note. Hope this helps everyone!
If you think my website content is informative, do support my website by buying me a cup of coffee/ tea or bubble tea or contribute fund to my space.
Your donation is a huge encouragement for me to do better and to continue sharing my love with all of you here.
Thanks!