New to Driving in Singapore?
Driving Licence Translation Singapore
Planning to drive in Singapore on a foreign licence? Driving licence translation in Singapore turns your card into clear English for the Traffic Police. We translate the front and back, including class codes and stamps.
Our licence translation copies your name exactly as it appears in your passport. You see a draft first and check every digit, and nothing is final until you are happy.
- Front and back translated in full
- Names spelled as in your passport
- Most licences ready in 1–2 working days
- Vehicle Classes Explained ClearlyCodes like C1 or B2 made plain
- Company Stamp On Every CopySigned statement from our registered company
- Conditions Shown In EnglishRules like wearing glasses are included
- Same-Day For Many LicencesExpress option for single-card jobs
Traffic Police Rules For Foreign Licence Translation In Singapore
Moving here with a licence from home is exciting, and a little stressful. If your card is not in English, our driving license translation services make the next step simple. We will walk you through it gently.
If you live here for more than 12 months, you must convert your foreign licence. The Traffic Police asks for an English translation from your Embassy or High Commission, or from a local registered translation company if your embassy does not provide one. Visitors with a valid foreign licence can drive for up to 12 months. Rules can change, so check the Singapore Police Force website.
Good news: the Traffic Police does not need a notary stamp on the translation. That keeps the cost down. Moving with family papers too? We can do your passport translation or Chinese document translation for birth and marriage records in the same order.
Your Licence Pack
- Clear English copy of both sides
- Our signed statement and company stamp
- Names matched to your passport spelling
- Vehicle classes and codes explained
- PDF by email, print on request
Translation Of Driving Licence For Conversion, Rentals And Insurance
Your home card gets checked at more counters than just the Traffic Police. A translation of driving licence details helps driving centres, rental firms and insurers confirm your class, issue date and years behind the wheel.
-
Converting To A Singapore Licence
Foreigners living here for more than 12 months must convert. Traffic Police accepts a translation from your Embassy or High Commission, or a local registered translation company.
-
Basic Theory Test Registration
Driving centres register you for the Basic Theory Test needed for conversion. They usually ask to see your foreign licence with its English translation.
-
Driving Here As A Visitor
Visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months. A licence not in English needs an IDP or an official translation. ASEAN licence holders do not need an IDP.
-
Car Rental And Car-Sharing
Rental companies and car-sharing apps check your class and licence age before you book. Many ask for an English version of a foreign card.
-
Motor Insurance Quotes
Insurers price cover on driving experience. An English translation of your old licence shows how many years you have held it, which can affect the quote.
-
Driving Jobs With Employers
Companies hiring drivers, sales reps or field staff may ask to see a translated licence before handing over the keys to a company vehicle.
Licence Cards We Translate From Many Countries
Every country designs its card in its own way. Some use old calendars, and some use short codes for each vehicle. When we translate a driving license, these are the cards and details we see most.
China Driving Licence
Chinese licences show a class code such as C1 and dates on more than one side. When we translate Chinese driver's license to English, we explain each code in plain words.
Japan Driving Licence
Japanese cards use colour bands and era years like Reiwa. Our Japanese to English translation changes those era years into normal calendar dates, so an officer reads them easily.
Thailand Driving Licence
Thai licences often use the Buddhist calendar, which runs 543 years ahead. Our Thai translation services show each date the way Singapore writes it, with nothing lost.
Indonesia SIM Card
SIM stands for Surat Izin Mengemudi. Types like SIM A and SIM C cover different vehicles. We keep the letters and add a short English meaning next to each one.
Vietnam And Korea Licences
Vietnamese cards list classes like A1 or B2. Korean licences have their own class names, such as Class 1 Ordinary. We keep each class as printed and explain it simply.
Expired Or Digital Licences
Is your card expired, or only on a phone app? We can still translate what you show us. Whether the Traffic Police accepts it is their choice, so please ask them first.
Translate Driver's Licence Cards From Chinese, Korean, German And More
Card layouts, class codes and scripts differ widely between countries. Most drivers who ask us to translate a driver's licence hold one in the eight languages below, each with its own familiar card design.
-
Chinese
中华人民共和国机动车驾驶证 cards from China with the separate 副页 page, plus Taiwan 駕照 cards and older paper licences
-
Korean
자동차운전면허증 cards from Korea, showing licence types such as 1종 보통 and 2종 보통, plus aptitude test dates
-
Japanese
運転免許証 cards with gold, blue or green bands, Japanese era dates such as 令和, and 種類 vehicle class boxes
-
German
EU-format Führerschein cards from Germany and Austria, older grey or pink paper licences, and class codes with conditions on the back
-
French
Permis de conduire cards from France, Belgium and Switzerland, including older pink three-fold paper permits and their catégorie entries
-
Thai
ใบอนุญาตขับขี่ cards from the Thai Department of Land Transport, with Buddhist Era dates and temporary or five-year licence types
-
Vietnamese
Giấy phép lái xe PET cards from Vietnam, showing hạng classes such as B2 or A1 and the expiry box
-
Russian
Водительское удостоверение cards from Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, with categories A, B and C and special marks in Cyrillic
Licence from somewhere not listed? Native translators handle 100+ languages here, and a clear photo of each side is all we need to start.
Licence Details We Translate Line By Line
A licence is small, but every line matters to the officer. Here is how our license translation handles the tricky parts, with the same care we bring to all translation services Singapore residents use.
| On the licence | What it means | How we translate it |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle class codes (C1, B2, SIM A) | The kinds of vehicles you may drive | Code kept as printed, plain English meaning added |
| Issue date and expiry date | When the licence started and when it ends | Written as day, month, year; era years converted |
| Licence or file number | Your personal record number | Copied digit by digit, then checked twice |
| Conditions such as "must wear glasses" | Limits on how you may drive | Translated in full, never left out |
| Notes on the back | Renewals, upgrades or penalty records | Every note translated, even the small print |
| Office stamp or seal | The office that issued the card | Shown as [stamp: office name] |
If any part is hard to read, we mark it as unclear instead of guessing.
Four Easy Steps To Translate Your Driving Licence
You do not need to visit us. A translation of your driving license is usually ready in 1–2 working days. One card can often be done the same day with express. Here is what happens.
- 1
Snap Both Sides Of The Licence
Take a clear photo of the front and the back of your licence. Add your passport photo page, so we can match the spelling of your name.
- 2
Get A Fixed Licence Quote
We reply with the price and the ready date. You pay only when you are happy with both. There are no surprise charges later.
- 3
Check Your Licence Draft
We send an English draft first. Look at your name, licence number and dates. Spot something odd? Tell us, and we fix it before anything is final.
- 4
Receive Your Licence Translation
The final translation arrives as a PDF by email or WhatsApp. A family member has a Korean card? Our Korean to English translation follows the same calm steps.
Driving Licence Translation Price In Singapore
A driver's license translation with us starts from S$35 per licence. This is a starting price. Before you pay anything, you get one fixed quote. These things decide the final amount.
What decides your final price
Card Or Booklet
Most licences are one card with two sides. A paper booklet with many pages takes more work, so it costs more.
Language On The Card
Common languages like Chinese or Thai are simple to plan. Rarer languages may need a little more time and cost.
Express Same-Day Work
Need it today? Express is +50% on the translation fee, and many single cards can be ready the same day.
Notary Not Needed For TP
The Traffic Police does not need a notary. If another office asks for one, notarisation including SAL authentication is from S$162.20 per document.
Printed Copy By Courier
A PDF is included. If you want a printed copy sent to you, courier starts from S$15.
Extra Family Documents
Adding a passport or other papers to the same order? Each one is priced on its own, and all of it shows in one quote.
quote
Starting from
S$35
per licence
Notarisation + SAL authenticationfrom S$162.20 / document
Certified true copy (notary + SAL)from S$172.20 / document
Express same day+50%
Courier hard copyfrom S$15
Starting prices. Your exact price comes in one fixed quote before you pay.
Get my exact priceIncluded In Every Driving Licence Translation Order
Each licence order includes a fixed quote and a native translator. Your name is checked against your passport, and if Traffic Police query a word, we fix it free. A sample with personal details hidden is available on WhatsApp.
See a sample translation first
Want to check our work before you order? Ask us on WhatsApp for a past translation of the same kind of document, with all personal details removed.
What every order includes
- A draft for you to check
- Names matched to your passport
- Free fix if ICA asks for a change
- Notarised PDF for upload
Frequently Asked Questions
01Will the Traffic Police accept a translation from your company?
We are a local registered translation company, which the Traffic Police accepts when your embassy does not provide a translation. We cannot promise the outcome, because the officer decides each case. Please read their latest checklist before you apply.
02Do I also need a notary stamp on my licence translation?
No, not for licence conversion. The Traffic Police does not ask for notarisation, so our company-certified translation is what you need. If a different office wants a notary, notarisation including SAL authentication starts from S$162.20 per document.
03How much will my licence translation cost in total?
Prices start from S$35 per licence. A simple two-sided card often stays close to that. Booklets, rare languages or express work cost more, and you see one fixed quote before paying.
04My licence has expired. Can you still translate it?
Yes, we can translate it. But conversion usually needs a valid licence, so check with the Traffic Police first. If you have a renewed card, send that one instead.
05Do you need my original licence card?
No, you keep your card. Clear photos of both sides are enough. Make sure all four corners show and there is no glare on the plastic.
06Is an International Driving Permit the same as a translation?
No. An International Driving Permit is issued in your home country, usually before you travel. A translation is made from your actual licence. ASEAN licence holders do not need an IDP. Ask the Traffic Police which one fits your case.
07What if I spot a mistake after I receive the final PDF?
Message us straight away. When the error is ours, the correction is free and a new PDF follows quickly. Checking the draft carefully helps avoid this in the first place.
08How long can I drive in Singapore with a foreign licence?
Visitors can usually drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months, with an IDP or an official English translation if the licence is not in English. If you live here for more than 12 months, you must convert to a Singapore licence. Rules can change, so confirm on the Singapore Police Force website.
09Do I need to pass a test to convert my foreign licence?
In most cases, yes. Applicants usually need to pass the Basic Theory Test before the Traffic Police converts the licence, and the translation is part of the paperwork. Our licence translation starts from S$35, and most are ready in 1–2 working days.
10Can I rent a car in Singapore with my foreign licence and a translation?
Many rental and car-sharing firms accept a valid foreign licence with an IDP or English translation, but each sets its own rules on licence age and class. Ask the company before you book. We deliver the translation as a PDF you can print or upload.
Order Your Translated Driving Licence Today
Is your licence in hand? Take a photo of both sides and send it on WhatsApp. We will reply with a fixed price and a ready date. Then you can get back to planning your first drive here.