Get a driver's license in the Philippines as a foreigner

chesspsps wrote:

Hi guys,

I'm a 23 y.o. French and I'd like to get a driver's license just in case... but in France, it's really expensive and it takes forever to get it, same in Japan, so I'm thinking about getting one in the Philippines, I've heard that it's not a long and expensive process there, and there even are some people who claim they got theirs while on a tourist visa...

I'm wondering if there are foreigners here got their drivers license in the Philippines, how much it cost, where they went and how long it took to get it.

Thank you,
Loïc

Last time I asked a driving school here, they said one of the requirement for foreigners to get a Philippines driving license is that they must have visa that is valid for 1 year or above, counts from the date of applying. Converting a foreign driving license to Philippines driving license, on the other hand, is much more fast and easy.

The same visa requirement applies to converting a foreign license.

Thanks for the replies! And do you have any idea what could be the price? and also if we can take it in English? Thanks!

You can take it in English and it should cost less than $20.00 US dollars. Get to the LTO early and be patient. It may take you several hours depending on the branch and queue line. If you want to save time and money, download the medical form and take to any doctor to have signed before going to the LTO.

Thanks! it sounds really cheap

If you find the right person, you can get it without having to do anything but pay money--no learner's permit, no test, no waiting, no visa requirements, just showing my CA drivers license and passport. But that's probably not through legal channels.

bizwizard
you can use your UK dricing license only for 90 days - to drive legaly in philippines over this 90 day you MUST apply for the orrect philippines driving license ...Respectfuly ....

regards

Zyrena: Where did you see anything about a UK drivers license? I'm not a Brit.

I obtained a legitimate Philippine driver's license.

bizwizard

Sir that is true
I only expressing what i had found out for the use of my UK driving license
respect Sir

regards

Sorry for any misunderstanding, Zyrena.

I've had a pinoy 'driver's license' for car and motor now for about 11 years, and it's so easy because there's no real testing. Just patiently pay the many fees from window to window, and presto, you've what represents a DL. No need for a fixer or any other dodgy practices. Only true requirement is patience and some money... Hope this helps?

Thanks guys, it seems pretty easy from what I can see, compared to France where they like to milk all your money by adding more driving hours....

You do need to get a medical before applying for your license. It used to be that you had to use the LTO doctor but now you can download the form and have any licensed doctor sign it. I had a doctor sign mine when I went in for a new bp prescription. No exam, just signed it.
Like others have said, stay away from fixers. If you  ever get stopped and they check your license validity you are screwed!

Good afternoon everyone.
I'm from Canada and spend 8 to 9 months every year  in Iloilo City. I've recently bought a car. And now reading that I can only use my Canada license for 3 months I'm wondering can I have both, a Canadian and Philippine license?
Thanks for any information
Réal D

Dreal1


You can have both.

As for getting a license on a tourist visa(which doesn't meet the 1 year visa requirement) it can be done, & not by a fixer. I won't go into the details & you didn't hear it from me, but let's just say money talks. Especially at the more remote LTO offices out in the provinces

Dreal1 wrote:

Good afternoon everyone.
I'm from Canada and spend 8 to 9 months every year  in Iloilo City. I've recently bought a car. And now reading that I can only use my Canada license for 3 months I'm wondering can I have both, a Canadian and Philippine license?
Thanks for any information
Réal D

Absolutely, you don't need to surrender your Canadian license to get a philippine license.

Wen I arrived here I had an oficialised translation of my license whit me, whit this it took a few hrs at LTO to get my pinoy license, forgot the costs but it was cheap, hahaha, greets Dirk.
Ps, I was on 59 day tourist visa at that time. No fixer needed ever

zincity wrote:

Dreal1 wrote:

Good afternoon everyone.
I'm from Canada and spend 8 to 9 months every year  in Iloilo City. I've recently bought a car. And now reading that I can only use my Canada license for 3 months I'm wondering can I have both, a Canadian and Philippine license?
Thanks for any information
Réal D

Absolutely, you don't need to surrender your Canadian license to get a philippine license.

Who would you surrender your other license too?  Give it to the Filipino's and have them post it back to Canada and do the paper work for you and then pass the refund back to you!!!  Yep I think not.

There is no need to surrender another license, if a country has no stipulation on being a resident or citizen and you meet any other requirements then you can have as many license as you want, if eligible.

I'm back in Canada for the summer months. So I called the licensing office and asked if I got a license in the Philippines would I be able to keep my license that I have here in my home province of Canada and they said no. I'd have to surrender it and if I wanted to get it back in the future I would need to retest the written and driving tests. 
They basically told me to try and not get a Philippine license even if I stay in the Philippines for sometimes up to 9 months.

Dreal1 wrote:

I'm back in Canada for the summer months. So I called the licensing office and asked if I got a license in the Philippines would I be able to keep my license that I have here in my home province of Canada and they said no. I'd have to surrender it and if I wanted to get it back in the future I would need to retest the written and driving tests. 
They basically told me to try and not get a Philippine license even if I stay in the Philippines for sometimes up to 9 months.

When back in Canada just take the Philippine Drivers License out of your wallet and keep it in a safe place until your return.  Then do vice a versa when back in the Philippines.

The issue is carrying two active licenses on your person at the same time from separate places.

In regards to a International Drivers License and driving in the Philippines with it.  Be aware that there is a "International Driving Permit (IDP)" this is officially not your standard license from your country of origin.   Of course the 99.99% of all police in the Philippines would not be aware of this.

Law has changed now, you use to be able to get a license with a 5 month visa a friend of mine on a tourist visa with license was stopped by LTO they confiscated his license

Okieboy wrote:

Law has changed now, you use to be able to get a license with a 5 month visa a friend of mine on a tourist visa with license was stopped by LTO they confiscated his license

What?      

This is a new development as renewing your Philippine drivers license does not require inspection of your type of visa and length of stay left.  Or has this changed too?

I thought existing holders of Philippine drivers licenses were grandfathered in.

If you have a UK licence you have to just ask to convert foreign licence into Philippine licence, don't say convert UK licence because UK and Philippines do not have reciprocal arrangements with regard to driving in the UK with a Philippines licence, you have to say convert foreign licence or they may say you need to take a driving test.

You don't say if you already have a French driving licence, if you do then it's very easy to get a Filipino licence, if you don't have any driving licence then it's best to pay a fixer to get one for you.

"Okieboy :
Law has changed now, you use to be able to get a license with a 5 month visa a friend of mine on a tourist visa with license was stopped by LTO they confiscated his license"

Never heard about this, I got my Philippine licence earlier this year and I am on a tourist visa, I think it's valid for 3 years, maybe the LTO just made that rule up because they wanted a bribe...... it happens.

FindlayMacD wrote:

Never heard about this, I got my Philippine licence earlier this year and I am on a tourist visa, I think it's valid for 3 years, maybe the LTO just made that rule up because they wanted a bribe...... it happens.

I don't know if the law has changed but the latest LTO directive for a new license is 1+12, meaning you have to have been in the Philippines for at least a month and have a Visa good for another 12 months when you apply.

No changes made for renewal that I know of.

FindlayMacD, you may have been lucky and got your license during the confusion over this or your local LTO just didn't care.  It can vary from office to office I have heard.

I have an Australian friend who also got a Filipino licence here in CDO about 3 weeks ago.

FindlayMacD wrote:

You don't say if you already have a French driving licence, if you do then it's very easy to get a Filipino licence, if you don't have any driving licence then it's best to pay a fixer to get one for you.

I didn't hear that. Many others won't, fools will, laws are laws, though stupid and contradictory most times, perhaps I am deaf. Be very careful what and how you say  things on a public forum.
I will say though with all my 8 years driving here I have never been accosted by the constabulary and if they ever did/would ask for my licence I can produce, foreigner? What makes you say that?  Australian drivers credentials? Accepted no mater what country I visit, same for my better half with a Filipino drivers licence twice now has flashed an alien drivers (Australian)how long have you been here? 1 month sir, where is your passport? In the safe in my hotel where it should be. Move along.

Never bothered over the years to secure a driving licence here and why should I? It's too hard and the law needs to be changed, 12 months permanent residency? all good if you have a 13A or Balikbayan privileges or SRRV status but for the average joe (pardon the pun) living here one can not secure a driving licence here legally even if they have resided for 10 years on a tourist visa cannot secure through correct channels.

The problems arise if you have an accident, be it your or some other fools fault the truth will come out being an alien in this fine country (without a licence),,,,,, no different to any other. The main reason I let my pinoy husband drive all the time. The laws are contradictory big time and definitely need to be amended/reviewed for those wishing to be abiding guests here for 6 months, 1,2 or 3 years as a tourist availing the legal immi regulations, the temptations of this fine country can be a free for all if one goes down Findlay's post. Buyer beware.

Perhaps an astute Filipino reader/government official will recognise the disparities between government bodies, LTO and Immi inconsistencies for foreign nationals to simply live and reside comfortably, and raise the flag? Idiosyncrasies not only begin with reciprocal arrangements but obvious logic and the willingness and sensibility to change/make good a system consistent  with those that live here including aliens, My better half got his drivers licence in Oz because he had one in PH., sat a driving test and drove,  6 years ago, paperwork yes but nothing to do with ones stay in Australia, here one has to prove,,,,,,,,,,,hhmmmmm God knows why. Hey, don't get me started on banks or cable tv.

Fixers? Equals desperation. OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

FindlayMacD wrote:

"Okieboy :
Law has changed now, you use to be able to get a license with a 5 month visa a friend of mine on a tourist visa with license was stopped by LTO they confiscated his license"

Never heard about this, I got my Philippine licence earlier this year and I am on a tourist visa, I think it's valid for 3 years, maybe the LTO just made that rule up because they wanted a bribe...... it happens.

The rule is posted on a large poster at the LTO office near our home as well as the one in Imus Cavite. We know people at three LTO offices and none were able to help a friend here on a tourist visa obtain a license. 

On another note. With regard to banking. We asked at a newly opened BDO branch if he could open an account and they said yes. Maybe they needed new customers.  He had tried every other bank around and had previously been turned down.

FindlayMacD wrote:

I have an Australian friend who also got a Filipino licence here in CDO about 3 weeks ago.

So I'm coming to CDO to get my Filipino drivers licence and if they tell me to b*gger I will send them to you, fill us in on the details or is it all here say or 500 pesos under the counter?

Not so simple in most provinces especially for those that are law biding, for the dudes that use fixers? They are making a buck at the fools expense.
God only knows but a few years in a Filipino prison is definitely not on my agenda.

We have dreamers here in Bacnotan but also realists.

Cheers, Steve.

Drivers licenses - information from Government sites, 2 sites one Phil Law and the other LTO.

Phil Law site:
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra … _1964.html

Section 21. Operation of motor vehicles by tourists. - Bona fide tourist and similar transients who are duly licensed to operate motor vehicles in their respective countries may be allowed to operate motor vehicles during but not after ninety days of their sojourn in the Philippines.

If any accident ……….

After ninety days, any tourist or transient desiring to operate motor vehicles shall pay fees and obtain and carry a license as hereinafter provided.



LTO site:
http://www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-is … cense.html

QUALIFICATIONS
In addition, for foreigners, the applicant must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) month with proof that he/she will stay in the country for at least one (1) year from date of application.



My 2 cents worth

*  You can drive in the Philippines for up to ninety days, based on the fact that you have a eligible drivers license from another country.
*  You can request to obtain a drivers licenese here after 1 month, provded you have a Visa for (1) year.

Further, if you read the documents:
•    Nothing that says you cannot hold two drivers licenses (the other country may have different laws)
•    Nothing saying that you cannot be a here on a tourist Visa (for 12 months or longer) and obtain a drivers license.

bigpearl wrote:

FindlayMacD wrote:

I have an Australian friend who also got a Filipino licence here in CDO about 3 weeks ago.

So I'm coming to CDO to get my Filipino drivers licence and if they tell me to b*gger I will send them to you, fill us in on the details or is it all here say or 500 pesos under the counter?

Not so simple in most provinces especially for those that are law biding, for the dudes that use fixers? They are making a buck at the fools expense.
God only knows but a few years in a Filipino prison is definitely not on my agenda.

We have dreamers here in Bacnotan but also realists.

Cheers, Steve.

An impatient and frustrated expat acquaintance on a tourist visa who was mad about not being able to get a drivers license or bank account. He told me about another foreigner with connections who was going to fix him up. He said the guy was going to get him a "permanent" ACR-I card and a drivers license. I actually met the guy and both my wife and I both felt he seemed a little shady.  He had some big stories about his loan business and a pet grooming business in a mall (turns out it wasn't his).  What a surprise!
He also told this guy he would get him a nice low mileage fairly new SUV for $11,500 US. The make and model would have made it a "steal".  Well, after we informed him that there was no such thing as a permanent ACR card (remember he's on a tourist visa) that never needed renewal and that a phony drivers license would get him thrown in jail along with the ACR if either were checked out. He got miffed and ignored our and his girlfriends advice to steer clear of Mr. Brazil and proceeded to withdraw $11.500 US from his account for his once in a lifetime SUV deal, we were going to sell him our lousy little Toyota, not good enough I guess. Cut to the chase, no ACR card or drivers license materialized and after forking over the $11.500, the guy who was a neighbor of his in a condo vanished. Disappeared, lock, stock and barrel over night. We asked if he was going to report it and he mumbled what amounted to No. Wonder why. 

Yeah, take that drivers license and hope you don't have the PNP run it for background and validity. The jails here are rat and cockroach infested hellholes, is it worth it?

pej1111 wrote:

Drivers licenses - information from Government sites, 2 sites one Phil Law and the other LTO.

Phil Law site:
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra … _1964.html

Section 21. Operation of motor vehicles by tourists. - Bona fide tourist and similar transients who are duly licensed to operate motor vehicles in their respective countries may be allowed to operate motor vehicles during but not after ninety days of their sojourn in the Philippines.

If any accident ……….

After ninety days, any tourist or transient desiring to operate motor vehicles shall pay fees and obtain and carry a license as hereinafter provided.



LTO site:
http://www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-is … cense.html

QUALIFICATIONS
In addition, for foreigners, the applicant must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) month with proof that he/she will stay in the country for at least one (1) year from date of application.



My 2 cents worth

*  You can drive in the Philippines for up to ninety days, based on the fact that you have a eligible drivers license from another country.
*  You can request to obtain a drivers licenese here after 1 month, provded you have a Visa for (1) year.

Further, if you read the documents:
•    Nothing that says you cannot hold two drivers licenses (the other country may have different laws)
•    Nothing saying that you cannot be a here on a tourist Visa (for 12 months or longer) and obtain a drivers license.

Hear what you are saying pej but for me useless, facts and laws are for those that follow. Though I lease property here for the next 48 years I am still a terrorist apparently and while the LTO and Immi cannot shake hands and easily share info, continue to contrive and make it difficult for the average bloke/lady to retire here on what is supposed to be "the most lenient Asian country to retire to" an easy hop over, I lay my hat. Then the proverbial triplicates and stamp your receipt from the grocery store or they will shoot you, banks, pharmacies and even the 7/11 store have armed guards and why? Ask yourself, only my observation but the store owner/conglomerate trusts no one including empoyees and I often wonder if this came from the Spanish occupation or the turn around in 1900 odd or the simple fact every body here is looking for an angle/slice as offered up by a regime,  they ruled for too long. Very sad if true; Regardless I will not, don't intend  to bother getting a PH drivers licence until the protocols become realistic and achievable by the likes of a simple plebeian such as myself.

While conflicting laws predominate the Philippines I will take a back seat and ride the flow.
Dead set on getting a drivers licence? Wait until you purchase, try to a property. That's when the fun really begins

BTW, OMO and rant.

Cheers, Steve.

Anyone know where the LTO office is in Cebu City?

My experience:
I'm Swiss (68 years) and our local licens is unlimited. I brought also the international one for the english language, valide 3 years. I entered in the PH the 1 Nov 19 as single foreigner. In Jan. 20 the Immigration gave me the ACR card and I got the visa until the end of April, so 6 months from the entrance, it's what the LTO wants. End of Jan. I went to a LTO office, they say, you don't have 6 months, why? You have the ACR card only from Jan. and until April there are only 4 months....!! Nothing to do, here they changed the rules. I went to a other LTO with all my documents. Here they accept the 6 months from Nov. and all went the normal process with medial test. They treated me also as special case and after 3 hours from the begin I had my ph driver licens. Happy me and thanks to the PH.
I will not reveal the places of the LTO offices for not create problems between, if some ph read this post. Just try in an other office, you find in internet all informations really clear.

KudiBudi wrote:

My experience:
I'm Swiss (68 years) and our local licens is unlimited. I brought also the international one for the english language, valide 3 years. I entered in the PH the 1 Nov 19 as single foreigner. In Jan. 20 the Immigration gave me the ACR card and I got the visa until the end of April, so 6 months from the entrance, it's what the LTO wants. End of Jan. I went to a LTO office, they say, you don't have 6 months, why? You have the ACR card only from Jan. and until April there are only 4 months....!! Nothing to do, here they changed the rules. I went to a other LTO with all my documents. Here they accept the 6 months from Nov. and all went the normal process with medial test. They treated me also as special case and after 3 hours from the begin I had my ph driver licens. Happy me and thanks to the PH.
I will not reveal the places of the LTO offices for not create problems between, if some ph read this post. Just try in an other office, you find in internet all informations really clear.

Thanks for feedback 'Kudibudi';

Yes its always more fun here in the 'philippines' surprises to be had everywhere you turn...& congratulations on yr new driving license.
Pse drive carefully.

Best Regards