Tourist stays: French license or international license?
The international license is necessary to be in good standing. It is free and can be obtained very simply, by post, by filling out the form that you will find here . The international license is based on your French driving license, it is essentially its official English translation (you must always keep both).
The international permit is valid for 3 years, provided you are carrying out tourist stays and are not considered a resident of Thailand.
Residents in Thailand: need for a Thai permit
Once recognized as a resident in Thailand, you must drive with the local license (source: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and French Embassy in Thailand ).
Your national or international license cannot be renewed upon expiry or replaced in the event of loss if you are a resident of Thailand.
The international license can, in certain countries, be exchanged for the local license, but this is not the case in Thailand, because Thailand has not signed a license exchange agreement with France (source: Ministry of French Foreign Affairs ).
How to obtain a Thai license?
We help all our French-speaking customers who wish to obtain this Thai, car and/or motorbike license, by assisting them with all the procedures and documents requested.
Equipped with the documents required by the Thai authorities (nothing complicated), and with the help of a translator approved by the French Embassy with whom we work (for the translation into Thai of your French license which has recently become necessary) , this process is very easy, takes two hours, and is very inexpensive. Contact us if you would like to know more.
Tip: If you plan to be a resident in Thailand, it is more than recommended to hold this Thai license.
Useful information
We can also advise you if you wish to rent or buy a vehicle: what insurance to take? How to renew the sticker? What is the equivalent of the registration document? Without forgetting some tips for adapting to the specificities of local driving! Practical information Thailand
