Expats: Convert Your Driving Licence into a Malaysian Licence

(disclaimer: this information has been obtained through personal accounts of expats and diligent web research. As is always standard, please double-check with your embassy for official information and the most up-to-date policies. We are actively updating this blog, so please be in touch with us if you have relevant info!)

Intro for Expats

In order to drive legally in Malaysia, you need to obtain a Malaysian driving licence. For many expats who have already been issued a driving licence in their home country, the idea of going back to driver's school seems a bit redundant. Thankfully, many expats can now convert their current licence into a Malaysian licence by following these steps. Note: If you have an International Driving Licence/Permit, it will be valid for 90 days upon entry to Malaysia.

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Who is eligible to convert their licence?

Expats on an MM2H, RPT visa, EP1 or EP2 visa, including spouses, are all eligible to convert their licence. You can convert your licence at any JPJ branch, or the headquarters in Putrajaya. One important note is that only driving licenses from 32 countries are allowed to be converted to a Malaysian driving license. This is based on the Two-Way Agreement between these selected countries and Malaysia. The countries allowed are:

1. Australia

2. Iraq

3. Papua New Guinea

4. Belgium

5. Italy

6. France

7. Holland

8. Japan

9. Poland

10. Brunei

11. Germany

12. Russia

13. China

14. Korea

15. Spain

16. Denmark

17. Laos

18. Singapore

19. Fiji

20. Libya

21. Switzerland

22. Philippines

23. Mauritius

24. Thailand

25. Finland

26. Egypt

27. Turkey

28. Hong Kong

29. New Zealand

30. Taiwan

31. Iran

32. Nigeria
    

Required documents to convert your licence

All copies must be clear and easy to read, so it's best to bring high quality, coloured versions of these documents, if possible.

1. Two JPJ forms, (provided by the JPJ or printed off their website (often slow or buggy))

2. Your Original Passport, with work visa inside

3. A copy of your passport info page

4. A copy of your work visa page

5. Your original driving licence from your home country

6. A copy of your driving licence

7. Original Extract of home country driving licence, obtained from your country's motor vehicle department, or online portal

8. Proof of residency/location in your home country while you lived there. This can be as simple as showing your passport travel stamps/dates. Be prepared to show JPJ your first entry date to Malaysia

9. Company offer letter, original

10. Company offer letter, copy

11. (some confusion here) Possibly could need an offer letter from Jabatan Immigration Malaysia (JIM). This has not been needed in person, but has been quoted as necessary.
    

Payment and Processing for your Malaysian licence

You will need to pay an RM30 yearly fee to maintain a Malaysian driving licence. You can pay to renew the licence for multiple years. We have not heard of any fees necessary to convert the licence, but have read that there is a RM20 fee to convert the licence. Best to come prepared with some extra cash in case they request this fee. The processing should take 30 days, though expats have told us this is a bit slower due to the pandemic. And that's it! Please get in touch with us at www.expatcarsaleskl.com/contact-us and let us know your experience so we can update this information to be as accurate as possible. Our goal is make auto life as easy as possible for all expats in KL!

Happy Driving! -The Expat Car Sales Team

www.expatcarsaleskl.com