Featured Blog Posts & Quick Links

Here are quick links to some of my blog posts:

My PR Journey

Details of my successful PR application

Frequently Asked Questions About PR

Answers to questions about Permit Masuk

Improving my Bahasa Melayu

How I improved my BM for the PR interviews

Renewing Spouse Visa (LTSVP) online

Information on renewing LTSVP online

Transferring LTSVP to a new passport

Transferring the Spouse Visa sticker

Driving in Malaysia: 2025 Updates for foreign licence holders

Information on using a foreign driving licence

Using the Autogates at KLIA & KLIA2

Information for LTSVP & PR holders

Driving overseas with a Malaysian Licence: Getting an International Driving Permit (IDP) from JPJ

To drive overseas using a Malaysian driving licence, some countries require an International Driving Permit together with the Malaysian domestic licence. 

Note: Many websites offer an "International Driving Licence," but these are not official documents. Only an International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid, and it must be issued in the same country where the domestic driving licence was issued. If you hold a Malaysian driving licence, you must apply to JPJ for an IDP. If you get an IDP from another source you risk a fine for driving with invalid documents, see:  https://internationaldrivingpermit.org/fake-idp-websites-to-avoid/ 

JPJ Requirements to apply for an IDP:

• Applicant must hold a Class B2 or D Competent Driving Licence (CDL).

• CDL must have been held for over 1 year.

• CDL must have at least 1 year left until expiry.

• A fee of RM150 is payable for an IDP, which is valid for 1 year.

• Note: the applicant must have a plastic physical driving licence. The paper 'slip' that has been issued for licence renewals since February 2024 is not valid for overseas use. A physical licence can be requested when renewing the licence. Evidence of forthcoming travels will need to shown. See: https://paultan.org/2024/02/09/jpj-driving-licence-renewal-slip-faq/

Documents Required to apply for an IDP:

• Passport (plus copy of bio page and visa)

• Competent Driving Licence (CDL) (and copy of both sides)

• 1 passport photo (white background)

• Completed Form JPJL1, which can be downloaded here:  https://www.jpj.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Borang-Permohonan-Lesen-Memandu-JPJ-L1.pdf 

• I also brought evidence of upcoming travels (my flight itinerary) but I wasn't asked to show it.

Application Process:

The JPJ website says that an application for an IDP can be made at any JPJ State or Branch Office:
https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/web/main-site/pemandu-en/-/knowledge_base/driver/application-for-idp-international-driving-permit  so it should be possible to apply at UTC branches, but I decided to go to Wangsa Maju JPJ state office. 

These notices are from JPJ UTC Pudu, explaining which services are limited there:

At JPJ dress rules may be enforced e.g. no shorts/t-shirts/ slippers /short skirts.

I arrived at 745am on a Tuesday and joined the queue at Pintu 1 (Ground Floor). There are now 2 queues, a priority lane for Malaysians and another lane for foreign passport holders. The doors opened at 8am and I queued to take a ticket at the counter. The JPJeQ app was not in use.

Because of the new 2 queue system, the process seems to be slower for foreigners. I got a ticket at 845am and my number was called at 1030am. However it then only took 5 minutes for me to hand over the documents, pay the RM150 fee and be given the IDP, so that part is very efficient and I was finished just after 1030am. By contrast, a Malaysian who arrived at JPJ at the same time as me collected their IDP at 915am.

Be aware that the fee can only be paid using a local debit or credit card or via the Touch 'n Go app. Cash and international bank cards are not accepted by JPJ.

Driving in Malaysia: 2025 Updates for Foreign Licence Holders

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has announced that from 19th May 2025 they will no longer convert foreign driving licences to Malaysian licences.

The only exceptions to this policy are for diplomats, Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) participants, and Malaysians who only hold foreign licences.

Foreign spouses, permanent residents and others will no longer be eligible for licence conversion.

More information is available here:

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/05/16/no-more-conversion-of-foreign-driving-licences-from-may-19-says-jpj

JPJ's announcement also provided guidance for individuals who use their foreign licence to drive in Malaysia:

• Those from countries party to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968 may drive using an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by the relevant authority in their home country.
• Nationals of ASEAN countries may use their home driving licence, in accordance with the 1985 Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences Issued by ASEAN Countries

However, the JPJ announcement reported in The Star (see link above) also says that foreign driving licences, whether from ASEAN nations or other countries, can only be used for a maximum of 12 months.

After that time a Malaysian driving licence should be obtained by taking a driving test. This is similar to the practice in some other countries, such as the UK.

I took the Malaysian driving test in March 2020 during a period when licence conversions were similarly restricted (September 2018 to December 2020). Details of the process are here: 

https://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2020/03/malaysian-driving-lessons-test-for.html