Monday 12 September 2016

Update on Long Term Social Visit Pass (Spouse Visa) - September 2016

*** The information in this post may have been superceded. See my latest blog entries for most recent updates on renewal of LTSVP/Spouse Pass***

I had this information from a good friend recently; it sounds as if there may have been some changes to the spouse pass application process. This was for a renewal:

I recently renewed my Spouse Pass and there’s been a few changes to both policy and process. Firstly, it used to be something like 6-12  months pass was given for an initial application then 3-5 years for a renewal followed by 5-10 years for all subsequent passes.

But the new policy is dependent on whether the couple have children. So a 6-12 month initial pass is given then 1-2 years for all subsequent passes if the couple remain without children. The Immigration Officer told us the length of the initial pass depends on which Authorising Manager is working that day.

If the couple subsequently have children the applicants will be considered for longer passes of between 3-5 years. It seems there are no more 10 year passes available.

I asked if it was retroactive and if a couple without kids who had previously been given a 5 year pass would be moved down to rolling two year passes or if they would be allowed to stay on the old policy. Unfortunately the officer couldn’t tell me but bear in mind this may be the view of one officer only and another officer may have told us something different.

The other main change was in process. We got our renewal done all in one day, so the new process was:
1. Visit Commissioner of Oaths for signature and stamp on ground floor.
2. Go to 1st floor. Collect queue number from counter. Sit Down
3. Wait for number to be called (about 30 mins) to have documents inspected and hand in passport. Sit back down
4. Wait for number to be called (about 1 hour) to pay at cashier counter. Sit back down.
5. Wait for number to be called (about 1 hour) to collect passport with new pass. This number will be called amid a batch of other numbers collecting their passes so stay on your toes. Once collected, you can go.

Given it’s now a one day process, it is probably preferable to get there early in the morning. It may mean more queuing initially, but you should get done before lunch.

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Saturday 23 July 2016

Update on Long Term Social Visit Pass (Spouse Visa) - July 2016

There is a Facebook page dedicated to foreign spouses in Malaysia which has a lot of useful information – www.facebook.com/FSSGMY/

Today they have posted an update on their page regarding application processes and dates, as follows:


1) Renewal for LTVSP is being done only 3 days in advance in Klang Valley. This could be changed and could vary at the state immigration departments, we advise you to go three weeks earlier and collect the forms, checklists and check on the process and submission dates from the counter officials, they know best.


2) The verification by the Commissioner of Oaths should be done in the court premises and not elsewhere as previously.


3) There are forms for Endorsement to work for New Employer and Renewal of Employer - so if your contract is for one year, you get the endorsement to work only for one year.


4) Time Frame for Endorsement to work - New Employer 7 working days.

Their Facebook page is also a good place to raise any questions you may have over the process

If you have found this information useful, please say thanks by buying me a coffee by clicking on this link:

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Monday 30 May 2016

Driving in Malaysia - Do you need to ask JPJ to convert your driving licence / drivers license ?

**UPDATE January 2021**

According to recent social media posts, JPJ have changed the eligibility criteria for the conversion of foreign driving licences. For the past couple of years JPJ have only allowed foreigners on Diplomatic Passes and MM2H visas to convert their licences. With effect from December 2020 the following applicants are also being accepted:

Expatriates on Resident Pass (and their spouse)
Employment Pass I (and their spouse)
Employment Pass II (and their spouse)
Spouse of Malaysia Citizen (who may need to hold a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP))

The following Facebook posts have a lot of useful information on the process and the documents needed (you will need to join the 'Expats in Kuala Lumpur' Facebook group to read these posts):



If you hold a UK licence you will need to phone DVLA and ask them to send you a 'Certificate of Entitlement to Drive'. You should note that this certificate states that if you exchange it for a non-UK licence that your UK licence is no longer valid (even if JPJ return your UK licence to you!).

If you do not fall into any of the above visa categories, or you do not wish to convert your foreign licence, then you can still drive on your foreign licence providing you also hold a current International Driving Permit (IDP). However, you may only be permitted to do this for a limited period of time. To be certain that you are complying with the law (and that your insurers won't refuse a claim!) you should get a Malaysian driving licence.

You can also choose to take the JPJ driving test. I took the test in March 2020 - see my post herehttps://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2020/03/malaysian-driving-lessons-test-for.html


**UPDATE November 2020**

I have recently seen a lot of social media posts asking if a UK (or other country’s) driving licence can still be used with an International Driving Permit (IDP). 

Some people have stated that ‘the rules changed last year’ but provide no evidence of what ‘rules’ they are referring to. The Road Transport Act 1987 (which sets out the rules for driving in Malaysia) is still in force, and has recently been amended to bring in stricter penalties regarding dangerous driving and drink driving.

I decided to email JPJ to check for certain and I received a response from them on 30 October 2020 confirming you “can use UK Valid Domestic Driving License and International Driving Permit (IDP) (According to the defined format on the Convention on Road Traffic Geneva 1949) to drive in Malaysia.” 

If you hold a licence other than from the UK you will need to check with JPJ, but my understanding is that for many countries you will be able to use your home licence and an IDP.

There is more detail on the Road Transport Act 1987 here:


**UPDATE March 2020**

As getting an IDP from my home country can be inconvenient and/or costly I have now taken the JPJ driving test. See my post herehttps://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2020/03/malaysian-driving-lessons-test-for.html


**UPDATE August 2018**

The JPJ website has been amended, but still confirms that, subject to certain criteria, a foreign driving licence can be used in Malaysia, providing the licence was issued in a country that is a party to the "UN Conference on Road and Motor Transport, Geneva, 1949 & 1968" 


The new link to the JPJ website is: 

http://www.jpj.gov.my/en/web/main-site/pemandu-en/-/knowledge_base/driver/recognition-of-driving-licenses-of-foreign-countries 

Details of countries which are party to the UN Conference can be found here:


UN Convention on Road Traffic 1949 


UN Convention on Road Traffic 1968 


I keep a print out of the JPJ web page in my car plus a print of this page confirming my home country is party to the UN Conventions.


If your home country is not party to the UN Conventions and you wish to convert your foreign licence to a Malaysian licence, details of how to do this are here:

http://www.jpj.gov.my/en/web/main-site/pemandu-en/-/knowledge_base/driver/application-for-conversion-of-foreign-driving-license-non-automatic-

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It used to be the case for many non-Malaysian citizens that in order to legally drive in Malaysia for an extended period (over 3 months in my case as a UK citizen) that either:

1) Your non-Malaysian drivers licence was converted to a Malaysian licence, or
2) You obtained an International Driving Permit from the licencing authorities in your home country

There was added confusion, because some countries (Group A) could automatically have their licence converted without problem, whilst the remainder (Group B) had to go through a more complicated process

The good news is that JPJ (the Malaysian licencing authority) have amended their website to show that nationals of many countries are now permitted to drive in Malaysia using their home licence, apparently without any restrictions. According to JPJ the only requirements are:

a) your licence remains valid in your home country, and
b) if it is in a language other than English you will need to have it translated into English or Malay

Further details can be found on the JPJ website:

**Note - this link has been superceded - see top of page** http://www.jpj.gov.my/web/eng/acceptance-of-foreign-driving-license

The list of countries is not completely in alphabetical order (it appears that the Group A countries from the old system have been added to the bottom of the list of Group B countries). Also, some countries names are in Malay rather than English - so check the list carefully for your country!

I have had confirmation from the UK Foreign Office of these new rules, and these are reflected on their Malaysia travel advice website (scroll down to the section headed 'Road travel')

I now keep a printed copy of the JPJ website in my car in case I ever need to provide details to the police

If you have found this information useful, please say thanks by buying me a coffee by clicking on this link:

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Thanks!