Converting a foreign driving licence in Singapore
Most people discover the translation requirement late, because the licence in their wallet has worked everywhere else. If it is not in English, it has to be readable before it can be relied on here.
A translation is not an International Driving Permit
These are constantly confused and they are not interchangeable. An International Driving Permit can only be issued by the authority that gave you your licence, usually before you leave that country. Once you have left, that door is closed.
A certified translation is a separate document produced here, rendering the licence you already hold into English. Which one you need depends on what you are doing and who is asking, so confirm it before ordering either.
What actually gets translated
The value of a licence is in what it permits. Vehicle classes, restrictions, endorsement codes and validity dates all have to carry across, with the original code shown beside the English so the reader can check it against the card.
Send photographs of both sides. Conditions, issuing authority and expiry are usually printed on the reverse, and a translation covering only the front is the most common reason one of these has to be redone.
Expired, replaced or renewed licences
A licence can still be translated after it has expired. The translation records the document as it stands, expiry included, and the certificate of accuracy says what was supplied.
Whether an expired licence is of any use to the authority receiving it is their decision rather than ours, and worth asking before you pay for anything.
Where to check the requirement
The conversion process, the tests involved and which licences qualify are set by the Traffic Police and change from time to time. Check the current position with them, then translate what they ask for.
Official sources
These requirements are set by the authorities below and they change. Read the current wording at source rather than relying on this page.
Last checked 30 August 2026.