Singapore has an efficient public transportation system coupled with an excellent taxi services, with phone apps providing very affordable car rides. For those who would still like to drive, it might be necessary to apply for a licence depending on your residency status.
DRIVING IN SINGAPORE FOR TEMPORARY VISITORS
Tourists or temporary visitors to Singapore can drive using a valid foreign licence and a Singapore Driver’s License , issued by the authorities in your home country. In general, international permits are issued by the authorities issuing driving permits, although other bodies such as the Automobile Association (AA) might also be able to deliver international permits. Official English translations are required in the absence of international permits. If you come from one of the ASEAN states (Association of South-East Asian Nations), you can drive in Singapore without an international permit. For further details on how to obtain translations or international licences, you need to contact the authorities which have issued your current licence, as these tend to vary and change over time.
DRIVING IN SINGAPORE FOR LONG TERM RESIDENTS
After 12 months in Singapore, it is compulsory to obtain a local licence. Permanent Residents, students and long-term residents need to apply for a local driving licence. When applying, you will be required to prove the legitimacy of your stay; this can be done by providing details of an employment contract or details of your course of study. New citizens and permanent residency holders need to convert their foreign licences within three months of obtaining their new status.
To apply for a local licence, you will need to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) in one of the three approved schools in Singapore. If successful, the next step is to exchange your national driving licence for a local licence in a Traffic Police Driving Test Centre. Documents required include:
Original and photocopy of your passport and residency documentation
Original and photocopy of your valid foreign driving licence
A recent passport-sized matte, colour photograph of yourself with a white background (further details are available online)
A processing fee of SGD 50 (payment is only possible through a cash card or NETS card)
A translation of your driving licence (if not in English)
Details of the first date of issue of your licence
Note that there are further documentation requirements for Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents. This includes documentation that you have worked or studied in a foreign country for a year or more. If your driving permit has expired, you need to seek documentation showing details of when you passed your test, the date of issue of your licence as well as your driving record details.
Driving licences issued to foreigners will be valid for a period of 5 years from the date on which the licence is issued. Renewals should then be carried out within a month of the date of expiry of the licence. Licences issued to Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents have unlimited validity and do not need to be renewed.
SPECIAL CASES
Licences for heavy vehicles cannot be converted and applicants will be required to enrol in a driving school and pass relevant driving tests before being allowed to drive in Singapore. The same applies to motorcycle licences which are granted automatically with motorcar licences in some countries. If you wish to ride a motorcycle, you need to pass relevant tests and cannot automatically convert your licence.
Useful links:
Singapore Traffic Police www.police.gov.sg
The International driving license www.idlservice.com
Singapore Police Force www.police.gov.sg
KOREAN DRIVING LICENSE TRANSLATION SINGAPORE
Korean license translation SingaporeWe provide Korean driving license translation services in Singapore.
All Korean to English license translations are prepared by professional and certified translators.
A quote for the payment of the Korean license translation is usually given within 2 hours, with payment instructions to proceed. Once ready, you’ll receive an ecopy of the translation, and the certified and stamped Korean driving license translation will be posted to your preferred local address.
KOREAN TO ENGLISH LICENSE TRANSLATION
To begin, please submit a clear scan or picture of the front and back of your driving license and submit via the form on this page.
DRIVING IN SINGAPORE
VALIDITY OF FOREIGN LICENSES
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Driving in Singapore
No additional documentation is required to drive in Singapore during short stays if the visitor has a valid driver’s license written in English. If the license is written in another language, either an official English translation or an International Drivers Permit is required.
If the duration of stay is for over 12 months, it is required that the visitor convert their license to a Singapore license. It is also required that the foreign license is switched to a Singapore license as soon as possible for those who are living in Singapore with a Student Pass, Employment Pass, Dependency Pass, or Work Permit. To do this, one simply needs to pass the Basic Theory Test, which informs the driver of driving regulations within Singapore.
It is important to note, it is strictly forbidden to drive for work in Singapore if holding a Work Pass unless the Work Pass explicitly states “Driver”, or unless the overseer of the Work Pass gives permission.
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