So you've made Singapore home. Maybe you've been taking the MRT religiously, or relying on ride-hails to haul groceries. However you’re footing it around the island, at some point you're going to want the freedom to just... go. And for that, you're going to need a Singapore driving licence.
The good news? It's easy. Whether you're starting completely from scratch or converting a licence you already have from back home, this guide walks you through everything, step by step.
First things first: are you eligible?
Before anything else, you need to check whether you're even allowed to apply. You're eligible to get a Singapore driving licence if you're a foreigner aged 18 and above holding any of the following:
- An Employment Pass (EP)
- An S Pass
- A Work Permit
- A Dependent Pass (DP)
- A Student Pass
- A Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
No licence from home? No problem. You'll go through the full process, same as a new local learner. Already have a valid foreign driving licence? You might be able to skip a few steps. More on that below.
How long can you drive on your foreign licence?
A lot of foreigners don't realise that you can actually drive in Singapore with a foreign license for a time.
If you've just arrived and you hold a valid foreign driving licence, you can drive in Singapore without converting it for up to 12 months. After that, you'll need a Singapore licence. ASEAN passport holders can drive using just their foreign licence during this period. For everyone else, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required alongside your home country licence. If an IDP isn't available in your country, an official English translation of your licence will do.
One important exception: Work Permit and S Pass holders only get 12 months from the date they arrive, not from when their pass was issued. Keep track of that date.
New Permanent Residents and new Singapore Citizens get a shorter grace period. You have just three months after obtaining your status to convert before your foreign licence becomes invalid.
Path A: Starting from scratch (no existing licence)
Never held a driving licence before? The process is the same as that of any new learner in Singapore — BTT, PDL, practical lessons, FTT, simulator training, and finally, the Practical Driving Test. We've covered the whole journey in detail, with costs and tips, in our easy step-by-step guide to getting a driving licence in Singapore. Give that a read first, then come back here for the conversion-specific bits that apply to you as a foreigner.
Path B: Converting an existing foreign licence
If you already hold a valid driving licence from your home country, the process is significantly shorter.
What you'll need
- A valid foreign driving licence (in English, or with an official English translation)
- Your passport and a copy
- Your local pass (EP, DP, Student Pass, etc.) and a copy
- A passport-sized photo taken within the last three months
- Your Foreign Identification Number (FIN)
If your licence isn't in English, you'll need either an International Driving Permit or a certified English translation from your embassy, high commission, or a registered translation company.
The conversion process
- Register with one of the three driving centres and pass the BTT ($7.20 per attempt)
- Head in person to the Traffic Police Test Centre counter at your driving centre, with all your original documents in hand. Verification has to be done face-to-face, so this step can't be done online
- Apply for your QDL online via Singpass and pay the $50 processing fee
- Your Singapore driving licence will arrive by registered post within about a week
Work Permit and S Pass holders converting their licence will be issued a Class 3C licence, which allows you to drive standard motorcars. If you hold an EP, DP, Student Pass, or LTVP, you'll be issued a Class 3 or 3A licence depending on what your original foreign licence covered.
Already licensed? Try carsharing while you wait
If you're in that 12-month window and your foreign licence is still valid, there's no reason to sit on it. GetGo's carsharing platform lets foreigners with an overseas licence and work pass (such as an S Pass, Employment Pass, or Work Permit) get behind the wheel across over 1,700 pickup locations in Singapore. It's a practical way to get comfortable with Singapore roads — the speed limits, the expressways, the notorious left turns — before your Singapore licence arrives. Check out our easy guide to getting a driving licence in Singapore and our breakdown of driving school vs private instructor costs when you're ready to plan your learning journey.
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