JPJ: Malaysia to Stop Converting Foreign Driving Licences Starting May 19 as Road Safety Rules Tighten

PUTRAJAYA, May 16 — The application process to convert foreign driving licences into Malaysian driving licences (LMM) will officially end on May 19.

According to Road Transport Department (JPJ) Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, foreign nationals wishing to obtain an LMM will now need to follow the same procedures as Malaysian citizens.

He explained that this move is part of JPJ’s efforts to ensure better adherence to road safety standards involving foreign drivers.

“This improvement reflects the Madani government's commitment to strengthening road safety, enhancing governance, and improving the quality of public service delivery,” he said in a statement today.

However, Aedy Fadly noted that the new policy does not apply to specific groups, including members of the diplomatic corps and participants of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

Malaysian citizens who had obtained a foreign driving licence before getting their Malaysian one are also exempt from the new rule.

Additionally, he said that foreign nationals staying in Malaysia temporarily for less than 12 months are subject to specific regulations.

For citizens from countries that are parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, they may drive in Malaysia using an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by their home country.

Meanwhile, nationals of ASEAN member states may continue to use their home country’s driving licences under the 1985 ASEAN Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences. — Bernama