Philippine licence in S'pore: Work Permit and S Pass holders get 6 months to convert

Driving in Singapore on a Philippine licence? On a Work Permit or S Pass, you have six months to convert.

The Traffic Police count those six months from the date your work pass is issued. New PRs and new citizens get three months from the day their status comes through.

Conversion costs S$50, plus S$7.20 for the theory test. A full Singapore driving course runs into the thousands.

Who can drive on a PH licence

The Philippines is an ASEAN member, so you need no International Driving Permit. A valid Philippine licence is enough, the Traffic Police say.

Drivers from outside ASEAN need an IDP on top of their licence.

The deadlines

• Work Permit or S Pass: get a Singapore licence within six months of your pass issue date if you want to drive for work.
• New PR or citizen: drive on your foreign licence for up to three months after getting the status, then convert.
• Other foreigners: no conversion needed while you have lived here less than 12 months.

Check your pass issue date in the SGWorkPass app and count forward. Miss the window and your LTO licence no longer covers you here.

Who qualifies

The Traffic Police set four conditions:

1. Pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) in Singapore. Your LTO exam does not count.
2. Hold a valid Philippine licence. An expired, suspended or cancelled licence fails at the counter. Renew with the LTO before you start.
3. Prove you lived in the Philippines. PR and pass holders must show a stay of at least six months within a 12-month period in the country that issued the licence. A licence first issued during a two-week home leave can fail this test.
4. Be at least 18 to convert for Class 3, 3A or 2B.

How to convert

1. Book and pass the BTT at Bukit Batok Driving Centre, ComfortDelGro Driving Centre at Ubi, or Singapore Safety Driving Centre at Woodlands. It covers signs, road markings, right of way and speed limits, which differ from home.
2. Fill in the Foreign Licence Pre-assessment on FormSG.
3. Wait for the Traffic Police to send you a booking link. No link, no appointment.
4. Go to Traffic Police Headquarters, 10 Ubi Avenue 3, Singapore 408865. Bring a passport-size photo, your passport, your pass card or IC, the physical Philippine licence, proof it is valid and proof of your stay in the Philippines. Officers may ask for more.
5. Pay S$50 by NETS, debit or credit card, or SGQR. The counter takes about 20 minutes.

Fees

Your licence class

Work Permit and S Pass holders receive a Class 3C licence, for cars up to 3,000kg unladen carrying seven passengers or fewer.

Moving up to Class 3 or 3A means passing the Practical Driving Test on top of the BTT.

Class 3C and 3CA holders who want Class 4 or 4P lessons must first pass a road assessment at Woodlands Test Centre, after their employer submits a declaration of support. Fail it and the Traffic Police revoke the 3C licence and bar you from any licence for a year.

Before you book

Read the Traffic Police Singapore Driving Licence page and the conversion appointment page for the current document list.

Until your licence comes through, keep your fare card topped up at the right places. Singapore enforces road rules hard, the same way it enforces the everyday laws that catch visitors off guard.

Driving in from Johor? Cars crossing the Causeway need a valid Vehicle Entry Permit; see driving into Singapore from JB and set up your MyICA QR code before Woodlands. Thinking of living across? Read living in Johor Bahru while working in Singapore.

New PR? Read Singapore PR: worth it ba? and your PR and CPF. Your passport must stay valid too; see Philippine passport renewal in Singapore.

Just arrived? Start with the bank account guide and the community guide for Filipinos in Singapore.