Sharing my experiences as a foreign spouse applying for Spouse Visa (Long Term Social Visit Pass), Permanent Residence (Permit Masuk) and Malaysian Driving Licence
I recently replaced my passport. Once I had received it I decided to transfer my LTSVP to the new passport at Jalan Duta (KL).
Some people suggest waiting until the LTSVP is expiring and then do the transfer and renewal in one go, but this could cause problems such as:
If travelling overseas the LTSVP should be in the new passport.
Renewing LTSVP online may not be possible, as it can't be done with a new passport number. If the old passport number is used it must have at least 6 months duration left.
If asked for ID by police or immigration they may insist that the LTSVP is in the new passport.
I went to Immigration at Jalan Duta to ask about the process and was told that I needed an STO appointment, my Malaysian spouse to be present and to complete Surat Akuan, Imm.55 & Im.38. Therefore I had a Surat Akuan attested at a Commissioner For Oaths (cost RM30) and completed the other forms.
However, when I returned on my STO appointment date with the Surat Akuan and the completed forms I was told they weren’t needed. The correct process is:
Make STO appointment. I used the ‘Kutipan Passport' option at Jalan Duta, but some state offices may require the transfer endorsement option to be used, or you might be lucky and not need to make an appointment at all. https://sto.imi.gov.my/STO/home.php
Complete the IM.12 form (and attach passport photo) and bring it to your appointment. You can get IM.12 from Immigration.
Bring the following documents to your appointment:
Old and new passports (plus copies of bio pages)
Marriage certificate (plus copy)
Spouse IC (plus copies of both sides)
Current LTSVP (plus copy)
It took under 3 hours from taking a number to collecting the passports.
I was not charged a fee for transferring my LTSVP, but apparently certain nationalities do need to pay a fee to have their multiple entry visa transferred. The immigration officer can advise you.
My new passport has now been registered on the Immigration system so I can use it for renewal of LTSVP.
I can also use it at the Autogates when travelling through KLIA and KLIA2, although the first time I travelled on my new passport the system did not recognise it so I had to go to the manual counter. On subsequent trips I was able to use the Autogates without any problems.
When I submitted my application in KL I was told by the Immigration officer that I must speak Bahasa Melayu (BM) in the interviews, and that there was no point applying for Permit Masuk if I could not. One of the conditions on the KL Immigration application checklist when I applied was the following:
My Immigration and Police interviews were both conducted in BM, as was the Home Visit, so I needed to understand the questions and respond in BM.
I had taken BM lessons in the past, but I did not speak it often and I wasn't very confident about answering questions in BM in the interviews. However I put in a lot of preparation and successfully passed both interviews. While the officers wanted me to only speak BM, they did not appear to expect me to be completely fluent in it.
This is how I learnt/improved my BM: 1) Took BM lessons
I had previously taken BM lessons once a week for 3 months which taught me the basics and gave a good foundation for understanding the language. Here are examples of available classes:
3) Revised interview questions and practiced answering them
I wrote and revised a list of likely questions and my answers, plus learnt the national
anthem (Negaraku) and national principles (Rukun Negara).
This Reddit thread has lots of useful links to resources for learning Malay - click here
Example Interview Questions:
I searched Facebook Groups to find questions other applicants said were asked during their interviews. I translated these questions and my answers into BM:
Questions
about the applicant and spouse:
Can you speak Bahasa Melayu?
What is
your name?
What
country do you come from?
What is
your address/where do you stay?
Do you own or rent the house?
What is
your age?
What is
your date of birth?
Where were
you born?
What is
your wife/husband’s date of birth?
What is
your religion?
What date
did you first come to Malaysia and what was your reason for visiting?
What was
the date of your first LTSVP?
How long
have you lived in Malaysia?
How and when did you
meet?
How long
you have been married?
What was
your marriage date?
Do you have
any children?
What are
your occupations?
Which
company do you/your spouse work for?
What are
your salaries?
What is your
wife/husband’s monthly salary?
How many
family members do you have?
Do you have
siblings?
Do you have
family in your home country?
What are
your family members occupations?
Where does
your family live?
How many
siblings does your wife/husband have?
Where does
your wife/husband’s family live?
How many
times do you go to your country in a year?
What are
your education qualifications?
What are
your wife/husband’s qualifications?
Why do you
want to apply for PR?
What do you
like about Malaysia?
What do you
like to do in your free time?
What does
your wife/husband like to do?
What food
do you like?
What is
your telephone number?
Have you had any problems with the police in your country?
Do you
follow politics? Foreigners are not allowed to get involved in Malaysian politics.
General knowledge questions about Malaysia:
What is the National Flower?
What colour
is the National Flower?
What is the
name of the Malaysian flag?
How many
colours does the flag have and what are they?
How many
stripes and what other symbols are on the flag?
When is Independence Day (Hari Merdeka)?
When is
Malaysia Day (Hari Malaysia)?
How many states and federal territories are there?
What are the names of the states and federal territories?
Who is the King?
Who is the Prime Minister?
Who is the Deputy Prime Minister?
Who are some
other cabinet ministers?
Who was the first Prime Minister?
Can you name
all the Prime Ministers?
What is the tallest mountain in Malaysia?
What is the longest river in Malaysia?
What is the national fruit of Malaysia?
Can you recite the national principles (Rukun Negara)?
Can you sing the national anthem (Negaraku)? You should stand up to show respect.
Applicants can be asked to recite Rukun Negara and sing Negaraku at one or both interviews.
I had my interview at Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontingen in KL, the process may be different at other police stations.
The immigration officer had said that the police would call us to arrange the interview between 6 months and 1 year after the immigration interview but we actually received a call after 5 months, and were asked if we could come to the police station the next day.
The police officer asked us to bring the originals and 2 copies of the following documents:
Foreign spouse passport (copy bio page)
Foreign spouse LTSVP
Foreign spouse birth certificate
Malaysian spouse IC (copy both sides)
Malaysian spouse birth certificate
Marriage certificate
Immigration confirmation letter (given to us after we submitted the application)
We also brought the original documents submitted as part of our Immigration application (current & old passports/IC/marriage certificate/birth certificate/ sponsor’s pay slips & employment letter/utility bill/bond receipt etc) in case we were asked to show them.
I also printed a list with the following information:
Family members of both spouses with name, age, occupation & address
Schools the foreign spouse has attended
Education qualifications of the foreign spouse
The police officer was pleased we had printed this list as it made her job a little easier.
Our interview was as at Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontingen (IPK), KL (near LaLaPort mall). We parked in the police compound and registered at the gate. We arrived very early ahead of our appointment, but there was no need to do so as we had to wait by the gate until we were collected by an officer at the appointed interview time.
The interview was conducted in Bahasa Melayu (BM) by an officer from Special Branch (Cawangan Khas), and both my wife and I were interviewed together. The officers were professional and made us feel at ease. Another couple had their PR interview at the same time as us, with a different police officer in the same room.
We were primarily asked about our relationship history, occupations and salaries, family members, education, and the reasons for my PR application. The police can also ask the same questions as Immigration, including requesting to recite the Rukun Negara and sing Negaraku.
See this post for how I improved my BM for the PR interviews, and questions that might be asked:
The interview took 90 minutes, including time the officer spent entering data into their system.
I was advised that my file will now be forwarded to Bukit Aman for background checks, a process that can take approximately 1 year. Following this, the file will be returned to Immigration for review before being sent to Putrajaya for a final decision.
The police officer said I should regularly follow up with Immigration to check the status of my file, and that I must continue to renew my LTSVP.
Arrange and attend Immigration Interview (November 2022)
I had my interview in KL, the process may be different at other state offices.
I was advised to arrange the Immigration interview for about 4 months after submitting my Permit Masuk application. I did this at https://www.imi.gov.my/ and chose Sistem Temujanji Online (STO) and [Visa] Permit Masuk options. Appointments are usually booked up 3 months in advance.
I printed out the appointment email to show to Immigration on the day of my appointment.
On the day of my interview I brought the original documents that were submitted as part of my application (current & old passports, IC, marriage certificate, birth certificate, sponsor’s payslips & employment letter, utility bill, bond receipt etc) plus the confirmation letter given to me when I submitted my application.
Both I and my Malaysian spouse were interviewed at the same time. The officer who interviewed us was polite and professional. The interview was in Bahasa Melayu (BM). We were both asked questions about our relationship, and I was also asked general knowledge questions about Malaysia.
See this post for how I improved my BM for the PR interviews, and questions that might be asked:
I was asked the following questions in Bahasa Melayu:
Can you speak Bahasa Melayu?
When was the date of your first LTSVP?
When did you first come to Malaysia and why?
How and when did you meet your wife?
What are your occupations?
Who is the Prime Minister?
What is the national flower?
What are the colours of the Malaysian flag?
Do you know Rukun Negara? I then recited them.
Can you sing Negaraku? I stood up when singing it to show respect.
There is a specific space on the checklist the officer filled out to confirm I knew Rukun Negara and Negaraku, so learning them was very important!
The Immigration Officer confirmed that he was happy with our application and interview. He said that the police will contact us within the next 6 months to 1 year to arrange the police interview.
I applied in KL. The process, and the documents required, may be different at other state offices.
Completed all forms and gathered all information/documents requested 1) I collected original forms and checklist from Immigration Permit Masuk counter.
2) Made appointment to submit application: I was only able to arrange an appointment date for 3 months time. I did this at https://www.imi.gov.my/ and chose Sistem Temujanji Online (STO) option. Made appointment for [Visa] Permit Masuk and printed out the confirmation letter to bring to the appointment.
3) Completed all forms and put together all information/documents requested. This included recent passport photos (blue background), statutory declaration (witnessed by Commissioner for Oaths), sponsor’s payslips and employment letter, original LTSVP Security Bond receipt, e-Filing Income Tax statement, bank statements, proof of address etc. If you have children you also need to bring relevant documents for them; we don't have kids so didn't need to do that. I completed the forms in BM. I needed to allow plenty of time to do this as a lot of information is required.
This is the checklist I was given by KL immigration office:
Note that the foreign spouse must have their birth certificate certified by their Embassy.
I'm a UK citizen, but as the British High Commission do not certify documents I had to download a letter from the UK government website explaining their policy and then had my birth certificate notarised by a Notary Public in KL. I submitted the letter and the notarised copy of my birth certificate as part of my application. The UK government letter is available here:
Both the applicant and Malaysian spouse must attend. I brought the print out of my appointment email plus all original documents and copies requested.
Before I was allowed to submit my application the immigration officer asked me 'Siapa Perdana Menteri?' [Who is the Prime Minister?]. He advised me that I must speak Bahasa Melayu in the interviews and that there was no point applying for Permit Masuk if I could not.
With that advice from the officer, I committed to improve my BM language skills, in order to give my application the greatest chance of success. See this post for how I improved my BM, and examples of questions that might be asked:
After my application was accepted I was given a confirmation letter to bring to the immigration and police interviews. It had a reference number so I could check the status of my application online.
The officer then asked me to make an appointment for the immigration interview for 4 months time.
After 2 years of holding a PDL you can convert it to CDL (i.e. a full driving licence)
I did my conversion at JPJ Wangsa Maju. Driving licences are dealt with at Pintu 1. Queues can be long, it took me 3 hours from arriving (at 10am) to get my CDL issued. When I visited (March 2022) JPJ Wangsa Maju closed for sanitisation between 1pm and 2pm each day.
You can apply a maximum of 7 days prior to the expiration of your PDL. If you apply within those 7 days you will have no break in dates between PDL expiring and CDL becoming valid and can continue driving during that time.
You must apply for your CDL within one (1) year from the PDL expiry date or you will need to repeat the driving test.
At JPJ dress rules may be enforced e.g. no shorts/t-shirts/ slippers /short skirts. You may be turned away if you are not dressed correctly.
Bring the following documents:
Original passport
Photocopy of passport
Original driving licence
Photocopy of driving licence (front AND back)
Passport photo (white background)
If you need to change address or passport number on the licence, let the staff know at the registration desk and they will give you form JPJL7 to fill in. You will need to bring your old passport (and a photocopy of it) if you are changing your passport number. The sections to be completed are:
B: Old passport number
C1: Name and date of birth
C2: Address
C3: New passport number
E: Date and sign
Foreigners can choose a licence length of up to 5 years dependent on passport expiry date. The date of your CDL licence expiration will be the date of your birthday.
The fee for foreigners was Rm60/year, payable by debit or credit card only. However, JPJ later expanded the options to allow payment by e-wallet.
Register to use the system. Choose "SOCIAL VISIT PASS (SPOUSE OF MALAYSIAN CITIZEN)". Fill in the requested information; "Identification No (NRIC)" is for the Malaysian spouse's information, the rest (Spouse Full Name, Applicant Passport No, Applicant Nationality, Spouse Date Of Birth, Spouse Gender) is for the foreign spouse's information.
Log in, change password and start your application. You can make an application when your current pass has less than 3 months before it expires
For passes that have already expired (or have less than 14 days left) you will need to visit Immigration (some states need you to make an STO appointment at https://www.imi.gov.my/)
The online process is as follows:
Documents needed for online renewal:
Statutory Declaration that the marriage is still valid with 1 photo each of the applicant & Malaysian spouse affixed to it. Both the applicant and the Malaysian spouse must sign the Statutory Declaration in front of a Commissioner for Oaths. You can use the Commissioner for Oaths at immigration or elsewhere.
Form Imm.38
Form Imm.55
Marriage Certificate
Malaysian Spouse IC (both sides)
Applicant's Passport (bio page)
Current LTSVP
Some of the forms are different depending on which office you are renewing at, so check you are using the correct ones.
Once your application
has been submitted download and save a copy of the application confirmation as
Immigration may ask to see it.
Approval and payment process:
Once the renewal application has been approved Immigration will send an email confirmation. The email will come from admin_epls@imi.gov.my so check your spam folder if you have not received it. In my case the approval process was quick and took only about 3 working days after submitting the application.
The email will ask you to make payment of the visa fees (RM90/year) at https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/myimms/main?visapas and you should make payment before going to collect your pass. The total fee may include an additional amount for a multiple entry pass, as some nationalities need to pay extra for it.
Collection of Pass:
If your immigration office uses the STO appointment system then you will need to make an appointment to collect your new pass at https://www.imi.gov.my/. Select the 'Sistem Temujanji Online (STO)' option and on the next page click on 'BOOK MY APPOINTMENT':
Choose the correct office, the ‘Kutipan Passport / social visit pass collection’ or ‘Kutipan Pelekat ePLSI’ option and your preferred time and date. Normally an appointment for collection can be made in a few days time. For immigration offices that don't use STO you should walk in to collect your pass.
Both the applicant and the Malaysian spouse must go to Immigration with the information listed below. Dress rules may be enforced e.g. no shorts/t-shirts/ slippers /short skirts. You may be turned away if you are not dressed correctly.
Confirmation of appointment date for visa collection (if using STO system)
Email of approval from Immigration
Receipt for the payment
Your application confirmation after you have submitted it online
Documents that you submitted for your application (Statutory Declaration, Imm.38 & Imm.55)
Marriage Certificate (and a copy)
Applicant's Passport (and a copy of bio page)
Malaysian Spouse IC (and a copy of both sides)
Current LTSVP (and a copy)
If you have children you should also bring copies of their birth certificates/passport/IC.
Note: You may also want to bring a copy of foreign spouse’s birth certificate, the deeds/tenancy agreement for your house and a utility bill in case you are asked for them.
Notes for those collecting from Putrajaya:
There is a car park diagonally opposite the Immigration building.
The building entrance is across the road from Suruhanjaya Tenaga.
Take the escalators up to Level 3 to get a ticket.
We started queuing at 730am, the desks opened at 830am and we got our pass at 1015am
Notes for those collecting from KL (Jalan Duta):
The gates open at 715am and there is a large car park at the rear.
Join the queue at the upstairs office until the doors open at 730am.
We got our number at 8am and received the pass just after 930am
If you need more information check out the websites and Groups in the ‘Useful Links’ section.
or visit the Facebook Groups shown in the 'Useful Links' section.
Guide to
Renewing Long Term Social Visit Pass in Malaysia 2021
(otherwise
known as a Spouse Visa or Spouse Pass) I renewed my pass in April 2021 at Jalan Duta in
KL; the process may be different if you are using another state office. The
Immigration website says that LTSVP are granted for up to 5 years. However, at
Jalan Duta (KL) the maximum granted is currently only 1 year, even if you have previously
been given a longer pass. For
the LTSVP renewal process the following forms need to be completed:
Statutory Declaration that the marriage is still valid (1 copy) with 1
photo each of the applicant & Malaysian spouse affixed to it
Form Imm.38 (1 copy)
Form Imm.55 (1 copy)
You
can get the forms from Immigration. You
will also need to bring the following to your appointment:
Applicant's
Passport
Malaysian
spouse’s IC
Photocopy
of applicant’s Passport data page
Photocopy
of last entry stamp into Malaysia from the applicant’s Passport
Photocopy
of current LTSVP
Photocopy
of Malaysian spouse’s IC (both sides)
Photocopy
of Marriage Certificate (also bring the original as Immigration may want to see
it)
Hard copy of the email from immigration confirming the date and time of your appointment
If you have children you need to bring
copies of their birth certificates.
Note that the Immigration website previously
stated that the husband’s/wife’s birth certificate needs to be submitted as well.
Other people have also said that a copy of the deeds/tenancy agreement for your
house/apartment and 3 months of utility bills are needed. I was not asked for
any of these but it is worth bringing them in case you are.
Step
by Step guide: 1) Make an appointment online at https://www.imi.gov.my/ Try to do this 3 months in advance of the date you need it
as they book up early. I chose an appointment date 3 weeks before my current
LTSVP was due to expire. If
you have difficulty finding an available appointment try logging on just after midnight
when the next day’s appointments are released. Choose STO and select [VISA] - LANJUTAN PAS (JANGKA PANJANG) / LONG TERM VISIT PASS
EXTENSION and not any of the ‘PENGUATKUASA’ options, or you will be turned away
when you arrive for your appointment! 2) Complete all the forms. Both the
applicant and the Malaysian spouse must sign the Statutory Declaration in front
of a Commissioner for Oaths. To save time it is best to do this before you
attend your appointment. We used one in Lucky Garden for RM15. 3) Both the applicant and the Malaysian
spouse go to Immigration with all of the requested documents. Dress
rules may be enforced e.g. no shorts/t-shirts/ slippers /short skirts. You may
be turned away if you are not dressed correctly. 4) We had an 830am appointment so
arrived at 745am and parked inside the compound in front of the building. Join
the queue on the left hand side of the doors (the queue on the right is for JPN). 5) The doors were opened shortly before
8am. The officers will check your appointment
letter (you must bring a paper
copy of your appointment email). Go upstairs to have your forms checked.
Only the foreign spouse will be allowed to go past this point and so must take
all of the documents, including the Malaysian spouse’s original IC, and a credit card or debit card to make
payment as cash is not accepted. The Malaysian spouse needs to wait outside.
6) At the second desk your documents will
be stamped and at the entrance to the visa department your appointment letter will
be checked again and you will be given a queue number.
7) Once inside your number will be
called and you submit your forms and supporting documents. Wait for your number
to be called again so that you can make payment (RM90 per year). Be aware that
tickets for the payment counter are not called in order.
8)
Your number will be
called again and you will get your passport back with a new LTSVP. Check the correct pass and period has been
given. The whole process took less than 1 hour from the doors being opened to
getting the new pass.
If you need more information check out the websites and Groups in the ‘Useful Links’ section.
or visit the Facebook Groups shown in the 'Useful Links' section.
Guide to
Renewing Long Term Social Visit Pass in Malaysia 2020
(otherwise
known as a Spouse Visa or Spouse Pass)
I went through the renewal process in June 2020 at Jalan Duta in
KL, the process may be different if you are using another state office.
The Immigration website says that LTSVP are granted for up to 5 years. However, at Jalan Duta (KL) the maximum now granted is 1 year, even if you
have previously been given a longer pass.
Due to the COVID-19 movement control
restrictions the process was completely different from previously and is much
better as you can now make an appointment online and the LTSVP is issued the same day
you submit your application.
For
the LTSVP renewal process the following forms need to be completed:
Statutory Declaration that the marriage is still valid (1 copy) with 1
photo each of the applicant & Malaysian spouse affixed to it
Form Imm.38 (1 copy)
Form Imm.55 (1 copy)
You
can get the forms from Immigration.
You
will also need to bring the following to your appointment:
Applicant's Passport
Malaysian spouse’s Identification Card
Photocopy
of applicant’s Passport data page
Photocopy
of last entry stamp into Malaysia from the applicant’s Passport
Photocopy
of current LTSVP
Photocopy
of Malaysian spouse’s Identification Card (both sides)
Photocopy of Marriage Certificate (also bring the original as
Immigration may want to see it)
If you have children you need to bring
copies of their birth certificates.
Note that the Immigration website previously stated that the husband’s/wife’s birth certificate needs to be submitted as well. Other people have also said that a copy of the deeds/tenancy
agreement for your house/apartment and 3 months of utility bills are needed. I
was not asked for any of these but it is worth bringing them in case you are.
Step by Step guide:
1) Make an appointment online at https://www.imi.gov.my/. Choose STO option and choose [VISA] -
LANJUTAN PAS (JANGKA PANJANG) / LONG TERM VISIT PASS EXTENSION and not any of
the ‘PENGUATKUASA’ options, or you will be turned away when you arrive for your
appointment!
2) Complete all the forms. Both the
applicant and the Malaysian spouse must sign the Statutory Declaration in front
of a Commissioner for Oaths. To save time it is best to do this before you
attend your appointment. We had previously used the one downstairs at Jalan
Duta, but this time we used one in Lucky Garden for RM20.
3) Both the applicant and the Malaysian
spouse go to Immigration with all of the requested documents. Dress
rules may be enforced e.g. no shorts/t-shirts/slippers/short skirts; you may be
turned away if you are not dressed correctly.
4) We had a 730am appointment so arrived
at 645am and were able to park on the road leading to the main gate. Join the
queue in the middle of the gate (not the one to the right of the gates which is
for JPN). If you arrive later you may need to park in the car park at the Syariah Court and join the queue which can stretch round the corner!
5) When the gate is opened the officers
at the gate will check your appointment letter (you must bring a paper copy of your appointment email) and passport/IC. Youthen go to the main building to have your
temperature taken before going upstairs to have your forms checked. You will be asked to fill in a health declaration and, if your LTSVP expired during
the MCO, a form to explain why. Only the foreign spouse will be allowed to go
past this point and so must take all of the documents, including the Malaysian
spouse’s original IC, and a credit card
or debit card to make payment as cash is not accepted. The Malaysian
spouse needs to wait outside.
6) At the entrance to the visa
department your documents will be checked again and you have to turn off your
phone. Your temperature is taken again and you will be given a queue number.
7) Once inside your number will be
called and you submit your forms and supporting documents. Wait for your number
to be called again so that you can make payment (RM90 per year). Be aware that
tickets for the payment counter are not called in order.
8)
Your number will be
called again and you will get your passport back with a new LTSVP. Check the correct pass and period has been
given. On this occasion I only received a 1 year renewal despite previously having a
5 year pass. The whole process took 1 hour from the gate being opened to
getting the new pass, but if you do not get there early it will take longer.
If you need more information check out the websites and Groups in the ‘Useful Links’ section.
I took the JPJ driving test, which can be done in English (although some BM is still useful). It is not difficult to pass if you already have driving experience, but you will need to spend time on the process and must take
lessons through an approved driving school. Foreigners must hold a valid long term visa to be allowed to apply for a Malaysian driving licence. The driving school applied for the Learner 'L' licence for me.
From my
experience I think that the minimum time needed is as follows:
Theory
Class (6 hours, done in 1 day).
Theory
computer test (around 10 minutes, but needs to be taken on a separate day).
Lessons on a closed circuit test track (6 hours, can be done in 1 day but some schools insist on 3 lessons in 2 hour blocks).
Lessons
on road (If you have previous driving experience you may not need to do much of this,
but it can take up to 10 hours with some schools insisting on 5 lessons in 2 hour
blocks).
Qualifying Test at Institute (QTI) (1 hour, this is for
your instructor to check you are ready for the test).
Driving Test (took around 3.5 hours,
including a lot of waiting time).
There seem to be compulsory waiting times between some of the stages, but if you already have
driving experience then I think the process could be done in about 3 months.
Cost:
There are a
wide variety of charges by different driving schools, which seem to range from RM1,500 to
RM2,500 for a manual driving licence, with the most expensive including services such as
free pick up and drop off and no fee to re-sit in case you fail the test.
Check where your driving school carries out the mandatory circuit lessons and driving test, as the circuits can be in places such as
Subang, Gombak, PJ etc.
The Driving Test: There are 3 elements to the Driving Test. Part I is done in advance of the practical driving test, whilst Parts II and III are done on the same day at the driving school:
Part I (Highway Rules Test)
This is the KPP01 theory computer test, which can only be done after attending the theory class. There are apps on Apple Store and Google Play Store to help revise for the test. This is my test result, the pass mark is 42 out of 50:
Part II (Slope & Parking Test - on a closed circuit test track)
The driving elements are done on your own whilst being observed by examiners around the circuit. My test centre (SKEM in Gombak) supplied Perodua Viva and Axia cars to take the test in:
RPK (Vehicle Inspection Routine): Carry out the following visual checks - under bonnet, road tax, windscreen, tyres, external damage, boot for spare tyre/warning triangle/jack.
RSM (Routine Before Driving): Check the following - handbrake, gear is in neutral, seat, seat belt, rear view mirror, side mirror, indicators, wipers, hazard lights and horn.
Slope Test: Stop on a slope with front wheel on yellow line, and then move away when asked to do so by examiner.
Zeds & Esses: Manoeuvrability test through a zig zag and curved road layout.
Side Parking: Reverse parking into marked box.
3 Point Turn: Reverse/turn around in 3 smooth movements.
Part III (Road Test - on public roads)
If you pass Part II then you will carry out the Road Test with a JPJ examiner who will assess your road driving skills.. The requirements of this will depend on where you take your test, but generally it is a drive of 3km or 5km.
Other drivers starting the Slope & Parking Test:
Waiting to be called for the RPK (Vehicle Inspection Routine):
After the Test:
Once you have finished your test you will be given a test results certificate:
If you have passed you can visit JPJ to apply for a Probationary Driving Licence (PDL) and must then display 'P' stickers for 2 years. The cost of a 2 year PDL for a foreigner is RM120. Applications for a PDL must be done at a JPJ state office and not at a JPJ UTC.
There are other driving schools available, check online reviews before signing up with one!
**2023 Update**
A video was posted to YouTube in 2023 showing the circuit test process. This is slightly different to the one I did, possibly because it was a few years later and at a different test centre:
**2024 Update**
The driving test is evolving, so get the most recent information from your driving school:
With effect from 19th May 2025 foreign driving licences can no longer be converted to Malaysian licences, except for specific groups of individuals. See more in this post:
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 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 hold a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP))
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 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 are better to get a Malaysian driving licence.
JPJ have announced that with effect from 24 September 2018 conversion of foreign driving licences to Malaysian licences has been suspended, except for diplomatic pass holders and Malaysians who had converted to Singapore licences.
They advise that foreign licence holders can drive using their foreign domestic licence plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) from their home country. Alternatively they may take the Malaysian driving test to get a local licence.
It used to be the case for many foreign citizens that in order to legally drive in Malaysia for an extended period that either:
Your non-Malaysian drivers licence was converted to a Malaysian licence, or
You obtained an International Driving Permit from the licencing authorities in your home country
JPJ have amended their website to show that nationals of many countries are now permitted to drive in Malaysia using their home licence. According to JPJ the only requirements are:
Your licence remains valid in your home country, and
If it is in a language other than English you will need to have it translated into English or Malay
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')
