Convert a Foreign Driver’s License in the Philippines (2026)

Last updated: September 1, 2026

Foreign nationals who already hold a valid driver’s license from another country do not normally need to complete the full Philippine first-time licensing process.

Instead, they may apply to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for Conversion of Foreign Driver’s License to Philippine Driver’s License.

This is usually much faster than starting from a Student-Driver’s Permit because a valid foreign license can serve as proof of previous driving qualification. However, the applicant must still meet the LTO’s medical, immigration, identity, and document requirements.

Quick answer: A foreigner with a valid foreign driver’s license may apply for conversion to a Philippine non-professional driver’s license. The standard LTO checklist includes an APL form, an electronically transmitted medical certificate, the original foreign license and a photocopy, an official English translation when needed, and the passport pages showing the visa and latest Philippine entry. The current LTO qualification also requires a valid visa for at least 120 days upon the date of arrival.

Foreign License Conversion: Quick Facts

Question	Answer
Can a valid foreign license be converted?	Yes, if the applicant meets the LTO requirements.
Is a Student-Driver’s Permit required?	Not for the standard conversion of a valid foreign license.
Are the TDC and PDC required?	Not normally for a valid-license conversion. The foreign license category serves as proof for the equivalent Philippine DL code.
Is a written examination required?	Not normally for a valid foreign license. An expired foreign license requires theoretical and practical examinations.
Is a practical test required?	It is required for applicants from countries that use left-hand traffic or right-hand-drive vehicles.
How much are the standard LTO fees?	₱785, excluding the medical examination, translation, notarization, photocopies, and other incidental expenses.
Can the entire process be completed online?	No. Personal appearance is still required for verification, biometrics, payment, and license release.
How long may a visitor use a foreign license?	Up to 90 days from arrival, provided the person is duly licensed in the issuing country.

Who Can Apply for Foreign Driver’s License Conversion?

Under the LTO Citizen’s Charter, an applicant must generally:

Be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle
Be able to read and write in English, Filipino, or a major Philippine dialect
Hold a valid foreign driver’s license
Have no unsettled traffic violation
Meet any applicable practical-test requirement
Have a valid visa for at least 120 days upon the date of arrival

The standard conversion procedure is intended for a valid foreign driver’s license.

If the foreign license has expired, the applicant must pass the LTO theoretical examination and practical driving test.

How Long Can You Drive in the Philippines With a Foreign License?

Section 21 of Republic Act No. 4136 allows a bona fide tourist or similar transient who is duly licensed in another country to drive in the Philippines for not more than 90 days during the person’s stay.

After the 90-day period, the foreign license alone is no longer sufficient for continued driving in the Philippines.

A person who plans to keep driving must obtain and carry a Philippine driver’s license.

An International Driving Permit does not extend the 90-day period. It is also not listed as a standard document for converting a foreign license.

Required Documents

Prepare the originals and photocopies before going to the LTO.

1. Accomplished APL Form

Complete the Application for Permits and Licenses (APL) Form.

The form may be obtained from the LTO office or downloaded from the LTO website.

2. LTO-Accredited Medical Certificate

Undergo the medical examination at a clinic currently accredited by the LTO.

The clinic must electronically transmit the medical certificate to the LTO system. Ask for the printed original and make at least one photocopy.

Before leaving the clinic, check that the following match your passport and LTMS record:

Complete name
Birth date
Nationality
Passport details
LTMS Client ID

A printed certificate may not be enough if the clinic has not transmitted the record electronically.

3. Valid Foreign Driver’s License

Bring:

The original valid foreign driver’s license
At least one clear photocopy of the front and back

The LTO checklist requires presentation of the original and submission of a photocopy.

It does not list permanent surrender of the foreign license as a standard requirement.

4. Official English Translation, if Needed

If the foreign driver’s license is not in English, prepare the original official English translation issued or authenticated by the local embassy of the country that issued the license.

Do not rely on a self-made translation.

Even when some information appears in English on the card, it is wise to confirm with the selected LTO office whether an embassy-authenticated translation is still required.

5. Passport and Immigration Records

Bring the original passport and photocopies of:

Passport biographical page
Current visa page or proof of authorized stay
Page showing the latest arrival in the Philippines

The LTO’s published qualification uses the wording “a valid visa for at least 120 days upon the date of arrival.”

Because visa stamps, extensions, and immigration documents can appear in different forms, confirm in advance how the selected office will verify the 120-day requirement.

6. TIN, if Employed

An employed applicant should bring the original and a photocopy of the Bureau of Internal Revenue Taxpayer Identification Number or supporting TIN document.

7. Additional Supporting Documents

An ACR I-Card is not listed in the LTO’s core standard checklist for every applicant.

However, bring it if one has been issued to you because an office may use it to verify identity or immigration status.

Applicants seeking heavy or articulated vehicle codes may need additional documents.

Foreigners applying for DL Codes BE, C, CE, or D must present a DOLE Alien Employment Permit stating that they are required or authorized to operate the relevant vehicle and must satisfy the applicable experience and training requirements.

Step-by-Step Conversion Procedure

Step 1: Check Your License and Visa Before Spending Money

Confirm that:

The foreign license is still valid
The license shows the vehicle category you want converted
Your passport and visa records meet the applicable LTO requirement
Your name appears consistently across all documents

If the foreign license is close to expiring, renewing it in the issuing country before applying may avoid the examination procedure for expired licenses.

Step 2: Obtain the Official English Translation

If the foreign license is not in English, obtain the required official translation or embassy authentication before visiting the LTO.

Bring both the original license and passport when completing the embassy procedure.

Step 3: Create or Update Your LTMS Account

Use the same spelling and order of names shown in the passport.

Save your LTO Client ID and make sure your account uses an active personal email address.

The Citizen’s Charter lists both walk-in and portal-assisted conversion services, but an online application does not remove the need for personal appearance.

Step 4: Complete the Medical Examination

Visit an LTO-accredited medical clinic.

Give the clinic your correct LTMS Client ID and check that the medical certificate has been electronically transmitted.

Keep the printed original and a photocopy.

Step 5: Visit a Full-Service LTO Licensing Office

Bring all originals and photocopies.

Although the current Citizen’s Charter identifies all licensing offices as service locations, smaller mall-based Driver’s License Renewal Offices may focus on renewals and may not process foreign-license conversion.

A full-service licensing center or authorized district office is usually the safer choice.

Call the office before visiting and ask specifically whether it processes Conversion of Foreign Driver’s License.

Step 6: Submit the Application for Evaluation

The usual office procedure includes:

Obtaining a queue number and checklist
Submitting the APL form and documentary requirements
Verification of the foreign license, passport, visa, and medical record
Payment of the ₱100 application fee
Photo, fingerprint, and signature capture

An officer may request additional verification if a document is unclear, inconsistent, or cannot be confirmed.

Step 7: Complete an Examination, if Required

For a valid foreign license issued in a country that drives on the right side of the road, the ordinary conversion procedure does not normally include theoretical and practical examinations.

Additional testing applies when:

The foreign driver’s license is expired; or
The issuing country uses left-hand traffic and vehicles are commonly right-hand drive

The foreign license category determines the equivalent Philippine driver’s-license code that may be granted.

An applicant cannot automatically receive a vehicle code that is not supported by the foreign license.

Step 8: Pay the License Fee and Claim the Card

After approval, pay the license charge and wait for release.

Before leaving the LTO office, check the card and Official Receipt for:

Correct full name
Birth date
Address
Driver’s-license number
DL codes or vehicle categories
Transmission or driving conditions
Expiration date

Report any error immediately.

LTO Fees and Processing Time

The detailed LTO Citizen’s Charter lists the following standard government charges for a valid foreign-license conversion:

LTO charge	Amount
Application fee	₱100
License fee	₱685
Total standard LTO fees	₱785

The ₱785 total does not include:

Medical examination
Embassy translation or authentication
Visa extension or immigration documents
Photocopying
Transportation
Other incidental expenses

The Citizen’s Charter gives a benchmark processing time of about 2 hours and 37 minutes for the complete standard transaction.

This assumes complete documents and does not include long queues, system interruptions, document verification delays, or practical testing when required.

Do You Need a Student Permit, TDC, or PDC?

Not for the standard conversion of a valid foreign driver’s license.

The LTO treats the vehicle category shown on the foreign license as the practical-driving-course basis for the equivalent Philippine DL code.

If you do not hold a valid foreign license, use the full first-time process instead:

How Foreigners Can Get a Philippine Driver’s License From Scratch in 2026

That process includes the TDC, Student-Driver’s Permit, PDC, waiting period, and LTO examinations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming an Ordinary Short Tourist Stay Is Enough

The conversion procedure has a specific visa-duration requirement.

Check the passport, visa, and extension records before starting.

Waiting Until the Foreign License Expires

An expired foreign license triggers theoretical and practical examinations.

Using an Unofficial Translation

For a non-English license, prepare the official English translation or embassy authentication required by the LTO.

Going to a Renewal-Only Satellite Office

Confirm that the chosen branch handles foreign-license conversion.

Using Different Name Formats

The passport, foreign license, translation, LTMS account, and medical certificate should use matching personal details.

Leaving the Clinic Without Checking the LTMS Transmission

Ask the clinic to confirm that the medical certificate was successfully transmitted electronically.

Assuming the International Driving Permit Replaces Conversion

An IDP may support short-term driving, but it does not extend the 90-day limit and is not a substitute for a Philippine license after that period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a tourist convert a foreign driver’s license?

Only if the applicant’s authorized stay satisfies the LTO visa requirement.

A normal short initial tourist admission may not be sufficient. Applicants using visa extensions should confirm how the chosen LTO office will calculate and document the required period.

Can I drive with my foreign license after 90 days?

No.

Republic Act No. 4136 allows qualified tourists and similar transients to use their foreign license for not more than 90 days during their stay.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for conversion?

No.

An IDP is not included in the standard LTO conversion checklist. The original foreign driver’s license is the essential license document.

Will the LTO keep my original foreign driver’s license?

The published checklist requires the applicant to present the original and submit a photocopy.

Permanent surrender of the original foreign license is not listed as a standard requirement.

Do I need to take the LTO written and practical tests?

Not normally when converting a valid foreign license from a country that uses right-side traffic.

The theoretical and practical tests are required for an expired foreign license, while a practical test applies to applicants from countries using left-hand traffic or right-hand-drive vehicles.

Can an expired foreign driver’s license still be converted?

Yes, but the applicant must pass the LTO theoretical examination and practical driving test and comply with the applicable conversion procedure.

Is an ACR I-Card mandatory?

It is not included in the LTO’s core standard checklist for every conversion applicant.

Bring it if one has been issued because it may help verify immigration status, and some office- or nationality-specific guidance may request it.

How much does conversion cost?

The standard published LTO fees total ₱785:

Application fee: ₱100
License fee: ₱685

Medical, translation, authentication, and incidental costs are separate.

Can I complete the conversion online?

No.

The LTMS Portal may be used to create the client record or begin the transaction, but the applicant must still appear in person for document verification, biometrics, payment, and license release.

Final Checklist

Before going to the LTO, make sure you have:

Accomplished APL form
LTMS Client ID
Original and photocopy of the LTO medical certificate
Confirmation that the medical certificate was electronically transmitted
Original valid foreign driver’s license
Photocopy of the front and back of the foreign license
Official English translation or embassy authentication, if required
Original passport
Copies of the passport bio page, visa or authorized-stay record, and latest Philippine entry
TIN document, if employed
ACR I-Card, if issued
Extra photocopies
Confirmation that the selected LTO office processes foreign-license conversion

The conversion process is much shorter than applying as a new driver, but visa eligibility and document consistency are critical.

Confirm the current checklist with the selected LTO licensing office before your visit because local implementation and document-verification practices may change.