Before you start

A valid foreign driving licence (and a certified Thai/English translation if it isn't already in English)
A long-stay visa or work permit — tourists generally can't convert
A residence certificate from Thai Immigration (or your embassy), dated within 30 days
A medical certificate from a Thai clinic/hospital, dated within 30 days

Step-by-step

1
Get a residence certificate
Obtain a certificate of residence from Immigration (free, but can take days/weeks) or from your embassy (faster, usually paid). Some DLT offices accept a work permit in its place — confirm with your office first.
In personWho: YouSame day (embassy) to a few weeks (Immigration)Free (Immigration) or embassy fee
2
Get a medical certificate
Visit almost any Thai clinic or hospital for a basic medical certificate confirming fitness to drive. It must be issued within 30 days of your DLT visit.
In personWho: You~15–30 min~100–500 THB
3
Book a DLT Smart Queue appointment
Bangkok DLT offices increasingly require an advance booking via the DLT Smart Queue system (gecc.dlt.go.th) or app — walk-ins are no longer guaranteed. Watch the DLT e-Learning driving video beforehand to get the certificate some offices ask for.
Mobile appWho: YouBook days aheadFree
4
Take the aptitude tests (road test waived)
At the DLT you sit short physical/aptitude tests — colour recognition, depth perception, reflex/reaction braking, and peripheral vision — plus a theory exam. Holding a valid foreign licence normally exempts you from the practical road test.
In personWho: YouA few hoursIncluded
5
Pay and collect your licence
Pass the tests, pay the fee, and you're issued a 2-year temporary Thai licence the same day. Renew it after 2 years to a 5-year licence.
In personWho: YouSame day205 THB (2-year) — see totals

Documents you’ll need

Passport (with visa page and entry stamp)
Valid foreign driving licence (+ certified translation if not in English)
Residence certificate (Immigration or embassy), within 30 days
Medical certificate, within 30 days
Passport photos
DLT e-Learning video certificate (if your office requires it)

Things most newcomers don’t know

No road test if you hold a valid foreign licence — but the tests aren't zero.

You skip the practical driving exam, yet you still do the colour/depth/reflex/peripheral aptitude checks and a theory exam. People expecting a pure swap are caught off guard by the reaction-time test.

Source: DLT / Thailand Starter Kit

The residence certificate is the real bottleneck.

From Immigration it can take days to weeks; from your embassy it's faster but costs money. It must be dated within 30 days, so don't request it too early. Some DLT offices accept a work permit instead — ask before queuing.

Source: expat-guide consensus

Your medical certificate has a 30-day shelf life.

A medical certificate older than 30 days will be rejected. Get it in the same window as your DLT appointment, not weeks ahead with the rest of your documents.

Source: DLT / guides

Book the Smart Queue — don't just turn up.

Bangkok DLT branches now run on the Smart Queue appointment system and can turn walk-ins away. Booking online or via the app a few days ahead saves a wasted trip across town.

Source: DLT Smart Queue / guides

Common mistakes to avoid

Bringing a medical or residence certificate older than 30 days
Assuming a valid foreign licence means zero tests — the aptitude and theory tests still apply
Arriving as a walk-in when the office requires a Smart Queue booking
Forgetting a certified translation when your licence isn't in English