LTO Driver's License Requirements in the Philippines

MANILA: Did you just get your first car as a gift after your school? Or, you have finally learned how to drive and are ready to bring home your favourite four-wheeler? In any of the cases, you should have your driver's licence with you before you can head out driving on the Philippines roads. But hey, getting a driver's licence in the Philippines is no cakewalk and you might end up frustrated and helpless if you are not familiar enough with the LTO driving test qualifications and requirements.

There are three kinds of driver's licence in the Philippines -

1. Student Permit,
2. Non-Professional Driver's License
3. Professional Driver's License

Before heading to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), make sure to know about the different kinds of driver's licence in the country and whether you meet the criteria to apply for one. Read on to know about all three driver's licence types and the qualifications and requirements you need to meet for getting your first driver's licence.

1. Student Permit

Student Permit Qualifications

• Must be at least seventeen (17) years old
• Must possess desired mental & physical fitness to drive a motor vehicle
• Must be able to read and write English, Filipino, or the applicable local dialect
• For foreigners, the applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old and must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) month and will stay in the country for at least one (1) year from date of application

Student Permit Requirements

• Duly accomplished Application for Driver's License (ADL)
• Original and photocopy of birth certificate and marriage contract (for married women) duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
• If below eighteen (18) years of age, original copy of parental/guardian's consent with original and photocopy of one (1) valid government-issued Identification Card with the signature of the consenting parent/guardian
• Electronically transmitted medical examination certificates
• In case of foreigners, original and photocopy of passport with entry date of at least one (1) month and visa duration of at least one (1) year from date of application, or if born in the Philippines, present original and photocopy of birth certificate duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

Fee for a new Student Permit

• Application Fee - Php 100.00
• Computer Fee - Php 67.63
• Student Permit Fee - Php 150.00
• Total - Php 317.63

For more details and the full procedure of obtaining your Student Permit, visit -

http://www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-issuance/283-student-permit.html

2. Non-Professional Driver's Licence

Driver's Licence Qualifications

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years old
• Must possess desired mental & physical fitness to drive a motor vehicle
• Must be able to read and write English, Filipino, or the applicable local dialect
• Must be a holder of a valid SP issued at least thirty (30) days before the application
• For foreigners, the applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old and must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) month and will stay in the country for at least one (1) year from date of application

Driver's Licence Requirements

• Duly Accomplished Application Form for Driver's License (ADL)
• Valid SP issued at one (1) month and one (1) day from date of application
• Electronically transmitted medical examination certificates
• In addition, for foreigners, original and photocopy of passport with entry of at least one (1) month and visa duration of at least one (1) year from date of application, or if born in the Philippines, present original and photocopy of birth certificate duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
• If the applicant is a holder of a valid Foreign Driver's License, the applicant may present the original and photocopy of valid Foreign
• Driver's License, if not in English language, original and photocopy of official English translation from Embassy of the issuing country

Fee for a Non-Professional Driver's Licence

• Application Fee - Php 100.00
• Computer Fee - Php 67.63
• License Fee - Php 585.00
• Computer Fee - Php 67.63
• Total - Php 820.26

For all the other details regarding obtaining a new or renewing an existing/expired Non-Professional Driver's Licence visit -

http://www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-issuance/284-non-professional-driver-s-license.html 

3. Professional Driver's Licence

Driver's Licence Qualifications

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years old
• Must possess desired mental & physical fitness to drive a motor vehicle (or work, in the case of applications for Conductor's License)
• Must be able to read and write English, Filipino, or the applicable local dialect
• For RC 1,2,4 and 6 - must be a holder of valid Student Permit (SP) issued at least six (6) months before the application
• For RC 3,5,7 and 8 - must be a holder of valid Non-Professional
• Driver's License (NPDL) at least one (1) year before the application or PDL holder with RC 1,2,4 and 6 for at least six (6) months before the application
• Must not have been cited for two (2) or more counts of reckless driving during the period of validity of his/her existing license
  In case of foreigners, the applicant must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) month with proof that he/she will stay in the country for at least one (1) year from date of application and is allowed to work in the Philippines

Driver's Licence Requirements

• Duly accomplished Application for Driver's License (ADL)
• For RC 1,2,4 and 6 - Must be a holder of a valid SP issued at least six (6) months before the application
• For RC 3,5,7 and 8 - Must be a holder of a valid NPDL issued at least one (1) year before the application or PDL holder with RC 1,2,4 and 6 for at least six (6) months before the application
• Electronically transmitted medical examination certificates
• A clearance that the applicant has not been convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude or reckless imprudence resulting from reckless driving from all the following:
  * National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
  * Philippine National Police (PNP)
• For foreigners, original and photocopy of passport with an entry of at least one (1) year from date of application, or if born in the Philippines, present original and photocopy of the birth certificate duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

Fee for a Professional Driver's Licence

• Application Fee - Php 100.00
• Computer Fee - Php 67.63
• License Fee - Php 585.00
• Computer Fee - Php 67.63
• Total -Php 820.26

For further details and information concerning the process of getting your Professional Driver's Licence, make sure to go through -

http://www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-issuance/285-professional-driver-s-license.html

Now that you know the criteria that you are supposed to meet and the documents that you need to produce while applying for your driver's licence, visit your nearest LTO Licensing Center and complete the formalities to get your driver's licence.

Also Read:- LTO to only accept online submitted medical certificates