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Motor vehicles and driving licenses

1. RENEWAL OF ITALIAN DRIVING LICENSES

(For AIRE-registered Italian citizens residing in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos)

Eligibility and Conditions

The renewal of Italian driving licenses may be carried out exclusively for Italian citizens who are:

  • duly registered with AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad) and resident in Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos;

  • holders of a driving license that is due to expire (within four months of the expiry date) or has expired for no more than five years.

Further details:

  • The renewal takes effect from the original expiry date of the license.

  • The renewal is issued in the form of a certificate of validity, and not by affixing a new endorsement on the license itself.

  • Once the holder has re-established residence or domicile in Italy, the confirmation of validity must be finalized at the Ufficio della Motorizzazione Civile (Italian Department of Motor Vehicles).

  • It is not possible to request the issue of a new license or a duplicate in cases of loss, theft, or destruction.

Procedure

To apply for the renewal of an Italian driving license, eligible citizens shall:

  1. Undergo a medical examination (including eyesight test) for the renewal of the Italian driving license.

    It is recommended to contact BNH Hospital in Bangkok, which already uses the medical certificate format required by Italian law.

    Address and contact details:
    BNH Hospital
    9/1 Convent Road, Silom, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
    Tel: +66 (0)2 686 2700
    Fax: +66 (0)2 632 0573

    At the end of the examination, the hospital will issue a duly completed medical certificate.

    Alternatively, the medical examination may be carried out at any other hospital or clinic, provided that the physician in charge completes the Italian medical certificate form in full compliance with Italian regulations.
    The form — which can be downloaded and presented at the hospital if required — is available at this link.

    Important: All sections of the medical certificate must be completed in full. Incomplete forms will not be accepted and the renewal procedure cannot be processed.

  2. Book an appointment through the Prenot@mi portal and appear in person at the Consular Office bringing the following documents:

    • the Italian driving license (expired or expiring);

    • a valid Italian passport;

    • two recent passport-size photographs (frontal view, white background);

    • the duly completed medical certificate.

    Upon verification of the documentation, the Consular Office will issue the certificate of renewal.
    A consular fee is applicable for this service.

2. OBTAINING A THAI DRIVING LICENSE

To apply for a Thai driving license, Italian citizens must first have their Italian license translated into English or Thai.
(See here for a list of translation agencies.)

After obtaining the translation, applicants shall book an appointment through Prenot@mi and appear at the Consular Office with:

  • the original Italian driving license;

  • the corresponding translation.

The Consular Office will verify and certify the conformity of the translation. The service is subject to a fee of EUR 20, payable in THB at the applicable quarterly exchange rate.

Subsequently, applicants must present themselves at the local Department of Land Transport (DLT) and follow the procedure established by the Thai authorities — under their exclusive competence. Please note that the Thai authorities generally require the applicant to hold a long-term Thai visa in order to obtain a local driving license.