Certified Driving Licence Translation Services in Singapore
Welcome to the complete guide for driving licence conversion and driving licence translation services in Singapore.
If you are a foreign driver residing in Singapore or planning to drive in Singapore, it is of paramount importance to understand the process of converting and translating your foreign driving licence.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps involved to convert your foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving licence and the importance of translation of your driving license.
Regardless of your individual circumstances, this guide will provide you all the knowledge you need to move through the conversion and translation procedure problem-free.
Who needs to convert their foreign driving licenses?
Foreign drivers planning to drive in Singapore must convert their foreign driving licenses to a Singapore driving licence within 12 months of obtaining a Singapore Employment Pass; if not, driving is illegal.
Foreign drivers can convert their licence by first passing the Basic Theory Test (BTT), visiting the Traffic Police Headquarters with their original driving licence, an official translation of their driving licence (if it is not in English), their work pass and a recent passport-sized photograph.
The official translation must be from a professional translating organisation that is authorised by the Singapore Embassy.
Who can use a foreign driving licence to drive in Singapore?
Foreign drivers who visit Singapore for a short period of time are allowed to use their foreign driving licence to operate a motor vehicle.
However, to continue to drive in Singapore for a period exceeding 12 months, a foreign driver must have a valid foreign driving licence and obtain a Singapore driving licence.
Furthermore, obtaining a Singapore driving licence may also be necessary for foreign drivers who wish to obtain insurance coverage for their motor vehicle.
Who needs to convert to a Singapore driving licence?
If you’re planning to drive in Singapore, it’s essential to understand the requirements for converting your existing driving licence to a valid driving license.
Whether you are a foreigner relocating to Singapore or a local resident returning from abroad, converting to a Singapore driving licence is a crucial step to legally operating a vehicle on the island.
- New citizens and permanent residents
When do you need to convert your driving licence to a Singapore driving licence? New Singapore citizens and permanent residents must convert their foreign driving licences within 3 months of obtaining citizenship or permanent resident status.
2. Foreigners
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.
3. New drivers
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. Failure to do so may end up causing your driving licence to be revoked by the Traffic Police.
Who are eligible to convert to a Singaporean driving licence?
In Singapore, you will need to meet the requirements listed below in order to be qualified to convert to a Singaporean driving licence, including:
- Holding a valid foreign driving licence
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have resided in Singapore for at least six months
Foreign Driving Licence Conversion
Step 1: Register for and Pass the Singapore Basic Theory Test (BTT)
Please adhere to the following steps to convert your foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving licence:
**Pass the Singapore Basic Theory Test (BTT):**
Before you can convert your foreign driving licence, you need to pass the Singapore Basic Theory Test (BTT). The BTT assesses your knowledge of Singapore’s traffic rules and regulations.
You can prepare for the BTT by purchasing the basic theory test textbook and question book or trying out online practice questions.
There are several driving schools in Singapore that you could register with in order to get your driving licence.
You will need to create an account with any of the 3 official driving centres below before you can book your BTT, which can be done in person or online.
Bukit Batok Driving Centre
815 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, Singapore 659085
T: 1800 666 8888
ComfortDelGro Driving Centre
205 Ubi Ave 4, Singapore 408805
T: 6841 8900, 6848 0617
Singapore Safety Driving Centre
2 Woodlands Industrial Park E4, Singapore 757387
T: 6482 6060
Step 2: Apply for conversion
Conversion can only be done person at the Traffic Police Test Centre counter located in the driving centres above.
In Singapore, the driving licence is issued by the Traffic Police.
Please bring along these items:
- Original and a photocopy of your passport and relevant pass.
- Please bring along the original and a photocopy of your international driving permit or driving licence.
- A recent passport-sized photograph
- A processing fee of $50
- If your foreign driving licence is not in English, you must bring along an official translation issued by a Singapore registered translation company.
- Please note that your driving licence must be obtained prior to the issuance of your relevant pass
Step 3: Receive your Singapore driving licence
Once you have completed all the necessary steps and passed the required tests and verifications, you can receive the Singapore driving licence. Congratulations!
Further update on Malaysian driving licence holder
From 14 July 2022 onwards, holders of Malaysian driving licences will be able to submit their application for their driving license conversion online via https://go.gov.sg/fpk5f0.
When all the supporting documents have been submitted, a reply on the outcome will be issued within 10 working days.
Once everything is in order and eligibility has been met, applicants will be given a date and time to visit the Traffic Police headquarters for document verification purposes and the conversion process is complete.
If you would like to know more on how professional and reliable translation company such as WhizWordz International can assist you on your driving licence translation services, do check out our Youtube video to find out more
Importance of Certified Translation for Driving License Conversion
Based on the above details we have shared regarding foreign driving license conversion; you might be wondering “So how does translation come into the picture?”
The answer is simple. In Singapore, foreign driving licenses require translation when it is not in English and this is where WhizWordz comes in.
Most of the requests we receive from our clients include Simplified Chinese, Indonesian and French driving licences to be translated into English. Fret not, there are other language pairs which we are able to provide translation services for as well!
This particular step is really important. Done right, you should be able to get your driving license soon after submitting your application.
However, if done wrong, it could delay your process longer than expected with more costs needed to redo the process.
So what are some of the errors that could possibly delay converting your driving license in Singapore?
Simple errors in names and numbers that can be easily avoided must be translated accurately so that when you convert to a Singapore driving licence, the process is smooth and flawless.
Process to Getting Certified Translation for Driving Licence
In this section, we will explain the necessary steps and procedures to obtain a certified translation for your driving licence.
When you need to use your driving licence in a foreign country or for official purposes, it is often required to have it translated by a certified professional translation company in Singapore.
- Documents required for translation
Firstly, a copy of the original licence itself is required as the source document. A copy of the passport would be helpful as well, ensuring that names and addresses are translated accurately.
- Fees and processing time
While this really depends on the source file and language, translation of a driving licence will typically cost between S$50 and S$80. Generally, it takes 2 to 3 working days to translate a foreign driving license in Singapore.
- Workflow Process
Once the fee payment is made, we will proceed with the certified driving licence translation process.
For Simplified Chinese driving license translation, we make it a point to double-check with our clients on the official names to be used.
This is because transliterated Chinese names could differ from the official ones.
As the official details in the translated driving license have to correspond with other government-issued documents such as birth and marriage certificates, this is a crucial step that WhizWordz includes as part of our client servicing process.
After the completion of the certified translation, we will email back the copy to you for a round of checking, just to ensure everything is translated as to what you have envisioned.
Once we receive the green light from you, we will certify the document with our company stamp and signature from the person in charge. It surely does not get any easier than this!
- Delivery of Certified Translation Copy
After the certified translation is done, we will email back the copy to you for a round of checking, just to ensure everything is translated as to what you have envisioned.
Once we receive the green light from you, we will certify the document with our company stamp and signature from the person in charge. It surely does not get any easier than this!
After that, our clients can choose the hassle-free option to have it posted to their mailing address or if self-preferred, they can self-collect at our office reception.
Certified Translation Agency for Driving Licence Translation in Singapore
In Singapore, foreign driving licences often require translation if they are not in English.
WhizWordz is a registered translation company that provides driving licence translation services.
Getting the certified translation done accurately is crucial to ensure a smooth conversion process and avoid any delays or additional costs.
Official Translation Agency for Driving Licence Translation in Singapore
If you have been searching for a reliable and professional translation company in Singapore for your driving licence conversion, WhizWordz International is the right choice.
We look forward to your email at sales@whizwordz.com or simply give us a call at 6600 3798 for more information. WhizWordz – Simple Words, Big Ideas.
You can also click here to learn more about our other legal translation and localisation services.
