Driving Licence Translation Services in Singapore
Converting a foreign driving licence in Singapore? The Traffic Police (part of the Singapore Police Force) handles all licence conversions. If your licence is not in English, they ask for an official English translation by a Singapore-registered translation company. We are one. You do not need a notary or SAL for this. We translate every line, class and date, and we sign and stamp it on our company letterhead.
Quick answer: A certified driving licence translation starts from S$40 a page and takes 24 to 48 hours. Most card licences fit on 1 page, front and back. Need it today? Send a clear photo before 11am on a weekday. We can deliver the same day for +S$20 a page. Notarisation is only needed if another office asks for it in writing. That version starts from S$202.20 and takes 3 to 7 working days.
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Certified Driving Licence Translation for the Traffic Police: Do You Need a Notary?
Different offices want different kinds of translation. For a driving licence, most people only need the first one. Converting at the Traffic Police? You only need card 1.
1. Certified Translation (Traffic Police conversion)
- Who signs it: Our translator, checked by a second linguist, on our letterhead with our company stamp.
- Used for: Traffic Police licence conversion, driving on a foreign licence, car rental, insurers, employers.
- Time: 24 to 48 hours, or same day if sent before 11am on a weekday.
- From: S$40 per page.
2. Notarised Translation (only when asked)
- Who signs it: A Notary Public in Singapore (a senior lawyer), who signs and seals our certified translation.
- Used for: An office or embassy that asks for it in writing. The Traffic Police does not ask for it.
- Time: 3 to 7 working days.
- From: S$202.20 for a 1-page licence (S$40 translation + S$75 notary + S$87.20 SAL).
3. Going Abroad: Your Singapore Licence
- Who signs it: Our translator, plus a notary and the SAL apostille if the country asks.
- Used for: Driving, renting a car or getting a local permit abroad, for example a temporary permit in mainland China.
- Time: 24 to 48 hours for the translation; 3 to 7 working days with notary and SAL.
- From: S$40 a page for the translation; notary and SAL quoted if needed.
One thing we will always tell you straight
ICA does not endorse any private translation company, and no translation company can promise that any office will approve your file. The same is true at the Traffic Police: they decide every conversion. What we promise is a translation in the form the office asks for, checked twice, with honest advice on what you do and do not need.
Driving Licence Translation in 200+ Languages
Your licence may be a Chinese (PRC) licence 驾驶证, handled on our Chinese driving licence translation page; a Malaysian licence (Lesen Memandu) in Malay, plus the JPJ letter if it is not in English; an Indonesian SIM; a French permis de conduire, or a Swiss licence in French or German; a Japanese 運転免許証 (unten menkyoshō); a Dutch rijbewijs, a German Führerschein, or a Danish, Swedish, Czech, Polish or Hungarian licence; or a Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, Mongolian or Myanmar licence. We copy the layout of your card, keep every licence class code as printed, and write dates in a clear day-month-year format. If the issue date of your first licence is not on the card, the Traffic Police may also want an extract of your licence record, and we translate that too.
Also: Swiss (French or German), Danish, Swedish, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Arabic, Mongolian
Rare languages cost a little more. Tell us the language and we will confirm the price within the hour.
Using Your Singapore Licence Abroad
Your Singapore licence is in English, but some countries and rental desks still want more.
Most countries
Your Singapore licence is in English. Many countries want an International Driving Permit, which the Automobile Association of Singapore issues to Singapore licence holders.
Mainland China
An IDP is not accepted for driving on the mainland. Visitors usually apply for a local temporary permit, and the vehicle office asks for a Chinese translation of the licence. Some also want a notarised certified copy. We prepare both.
Car rental abroad
Some rental desks want a translation by a translator they list, for example an accredited translator in Australia. We check first and tell you honestly if a local translator is the better choice.
Sworn translation
Singapore has no state-appointed sworn translators. A "sworn translation" means a translator's affidavit of accuracy, sworn before a Notary Public in Singapore and then apostilled by SAL, or a translator on an embassy's own list. We check which one applies.
How to Get Your Driving Licence Translated From a Photo, Same Day if Urgent
No office visit needed. Everything starts from a photo of both sides of your licence.
Send a photo or scan
Both sides of the licence, any licence record or JPJ letter, and your passport page so names match.
Get a fixed price within an hour
We tell you the price, the time, and the version you need. For conversion, that is the certified translation only.
Translation and second check
A translator for your language prepares it. A second linguist checks every name, number, class and date against the original.
Delivery
You get a signed PDF on our letterhead with our company stamp, ready to print for the Traffic Police. A paper copy comes on request, by courier for a small fee or for collection from our office.
Why People Trust Us With Driving Licence Translation
What we check and handle on every licence.
Singapore-Registered Company
Our translation carries our registered company name, stamp and contact details, which is what the Traffic Police asks for.
Every Class and Date Checked
A second linguist checks licence numbers, classes, issue and expiry dates, and the back of the card.
Honest Advice on Notarisation
If you only need a certified translation, we say so. We do not sell you a notary step you do not need.
Honest Timelines
24 to 48 hours as standard, same day if you send it before 11am on a weekday. We tell you at once if your date is tight.
A Real Job: Malaysian Licence Translated From Malay for a Traffic Police Conversion
An Employment Pass holder from Johor needed to convert his Malaysian private driving licence after passing the Basic Theory Test. His card was in Malay, and he was worried about two things: the Malaysian class codes and the date format, which differ from the Singapore style. He sent a photo of both sides and his passport page in the morning. We translated the 1-page licence, kept each class code exactly as printed with a plain English description, and wrote every date in day-month-year form. A second linguist checked the licence number and expiry date against the card. He had the signed PDF on our letterhead the same working day and printed it for his Traffic Police submission. We also reminded him that the Traffic Police asks Malaysian applicants for a JPJ letter, so he could get it in time.
Malaysian Driving Licence Translation
Original: Malaysian licence in Malay
Class codes and dates in the Malaysian style, front and back.
What the client needed
Employment Pass holder converting his licence
- The Malaysian class codes
- The date format, which differs from the Singapore style
What we did
How we handled it
- Received a photo of both sides and the passport page in the morning
- Translated the 1-page licence, keeping each class code exactly as printed
- Wrote every date in day-month-year form
- A second linguist checked the licence number and expiry date against the card
- Delivered the signed PDF on our letterhead the same working day, with a reminder about the JPJ letter
How Much Does Driving Licence Translation Cost in Singapore?
One fixed price, no hidden fees. Most card licences are 1 page. Several documents, such as a licence and its record extract? Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Certified Translation
24-48 hrsStarting from · for Traffic Police conversion
- Signed and stamped on company letterhead
- Every class, number and date checked twice
- PDF to print, paper copy on request
Urgent
Same day*Extra charge
- *Same day if sent before 11am on a weekday (short documents)
- Ideal when your Traffic Police slot is close
Notarised (only if asked)
3-7 daysper 1-page licence, notary + SAL included
- Not needed for Traffic Police conversion
- Includes the notary fee (S$75) and the SAL fee (S$87.20)
- +S$40 for each extra page
Rare languages cost a little more. Tell us the language for an exact price.
What Drivers Say About Our Driving Licence Translation Service
Feedback from drivers who had their licences translated with us.
Real Client Experiences
Swipe to read more success stories
Converted My Overseas License Smoothly
"Recently moved to Singapore and needed my Indian driving license translated for Traffic Police submission. I was not sure about the format. They explained clearly what LTA needs. Very helpful..."
Accepted By Traffic Police
"Applied to convert my Korean driving licence in Singapore. Traffic Police asked for certified English translation. This team handled it properly. All details like issue date and class were correct."
Fast Help Before My Test Date
"I had a tight deadline before my BTT booking. Needed urgent translation of my Thai driving license. They responded quickly and delivered same day. Submitted to LTA without stress."
Clear Details For License Conversion
"For converting my Indonesian license, Singapore Traffic Police required proper English version. I did not want rejection. They checked every number and expiry date carefully. Translation looked neat."
Helped After First Rejection
"My earlier translation from another place was not accepted. I was frustrated. This team reviewed my Japanese driving licence again and corrected the format. They made sure all categories were..."
Smooth Process From Start To End
"Needed English translation of my Vietnam driving license for Singapore conversion. Communication was simple and fast. They confirmed spelling of my name before final copy."
Reliable For Work Pass Holder
"As an EP holder, I wanted to convert my Malaysian driving licence. Traffic Police required certified translation. They delivered accurate English version with clear layout. Price was fair."
Same-Day Service Saved Me
"My appointment with Traffic Police was next morning. I needed urgent translation of my Chinese driving license. They completed it within hours. Soft copy arrived fast. I printed and submitted."
Clear Translation For Class Details
"Converting my German driving licence required proper explanation of vehicle classes. They translated every category clearly into English. Good and professional handling."
Affordable And Accurate Work
"I compared few options before choosing them. Needed translation of my Myanmar driving license. They quoted reasonable price. Delivery was quick. All numbers matched original document."
Other Papers You May Need
Several documents, such as a licence and its record extract? Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Helpful guides
Need more than one document translated?
Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Driving Licence Translation: Common Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most about driving licence translation and conversion.
FAQ Group
Will the Traffic Police accept your driving licence translation?
The Traffic Police asks for an official English translation by a Singapore-registered translation company when a licence is not in English. That is what we provide: a certified translation, signed and stamped on our company letterhead. The Traffic Police makes the final decision on every conversion, so no company can promise approval. We check every class, number and date twice to reduce the chance of a query.
How much does driving licence translation cost in Singapore?
A certified translation starts at S$40 a page, and most card licences fit on 1 page. Same-day service costs S$20 more a page if you send it before 11am on a weekday. A notarised version, only needed if another office asks, starts at S$202.20. Rare languages cost more. Send us a photo and we will give you a fixed price within an hour.
Do I need notarisation or an SAL apostille to convert my licence?
No. For Traffic Police conversion, a certified translation by a Singapore-registered company is enough. A notary and SAL are only needed if another office, such as a foreign embassy, asks for them in writing. If that happens, we arrange both, and the S$87.20 SAL fee is included in our notarised price.
My Traffic Police appointment is in a few days. Can you still help?
Yes. Send a clear photo of both sides before 11am on a weekday and we can deliver the signed PDF the same day for +S$20 a page. Otherwise it takes 24 to 48 hours. Since no notary is needed, nothing else adds days. Message us on WhatsApp and we will confirm the time before you pay.
Do I get a paper copy as well as the PDF? And do you need the original?
A clear photo or scan is enough, and your licence stays with you. You get a signed PDF that you can print for the Traffic Police. If you want a stamped paper copy, we can courier it for a small fee, or you can collect it from our office. Bring your original licence to the Traffic Police.
Can I convert a Malaysian driving licence to a Singapore licence?
Yes. You need to pass the Basic Theory Test, hold a valid Malaysian licence, and get a letter from JPJ (the Road Transport Department Malaysia). If your licence or JPJ letter is in Malay only, the Traffic Police wants an official English translation, which we can do the same day. See our guide to converting a Malaysian licence.
Can I drive in Singapore with my foreign licence?
Yes, if you have lived here for less than 12 months. Carry your valid licence with an International Driving Permit, or an official English translation if you have no IDP. ASEAN licences, such as a Malaysian one, need no IDP. After 12 months, you must convert. Work Permit and S Pass holders who drive for work must convert within 6 months of the pass. New PRs and citizens may drive on a foreign licence for 3 months.
Can I translate my licence myself or use Google Translate?
No. For conversion, the Traffic Police wants an official translation by a Singapore-registered translation company. A self-made or machine translation will not be accepted. The Traffic Police also accepts a translation from your embassy or high commission, if it offers one.
What else might the Traffic Police ask me to translate?
If your licence does not show the date you first got it, they may want an extract of your licence record. If you got your licence after receiving PR or your first pass, they may ask for proof that you lived in the issuing country, such as tax or employment papers. Malaysian drivers need a JPJ letter. We translate any of these in the same order.
Do I need a translation for car rental or insurance in Singapore?
Usually yes, if your licence is not in English and you have no IDP. Rental and car-sharing companies and insurers want to read your licence class, dates and number. One certified translation normally works for the Traffic Police, rental firms and insurers, so you do not need to pay twice.
Get Your Driving Licence Translated for the Traffic Police
Send a photo of both sides of your licence. You get a fixed price within the hour and a signed translation in 24 to 48 hours, or the same day if you send it before 11am on a weekday.