Netherlands Worldwide

Renewing your Dutch driving licence in Singapore

If you live in Singapore and your Dutch driving licence has expired (or has almost expired), you can exchange it for a Singaporean one. You will need a Singaporean driving licence if you live in Singapore and wish to drive a car or ride a motorbike there.  

Applying for a Singaporean driving licence

You can apply to the Singapore Police Force for a Singaporean driving licence. Do this as quickly as possible and in any case within your first year of living in Singapore. 

What do I need?

You will need to take the Basic Theory Test before you can apply for a Singaporean driving licence. This is a multiple-choice test, in English. After you pass the test you can log in to the website of the Singapore Police Force to submit your application.

You will need to submit various documents, including: 

  • your Dutch driving licence 
  • your international driving permit 
  • a certificate of authenticity (echtheidsverklaring) from the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). It shows whether your driving licence is listed in the Central Driving Licences Register. Visit the website of the RDW for information on how to apply for a certificate of authenticity. There is a fee for this service. Once you have paid you will receive the certificate of authenticity by post at your address. The certificate is in English. 

Visit the website of the Singapore Police Force to find out which other documents you will need. 

Attention: Please note: Your Singaporean driving licence may be valid for longer or shorter than your Dutch driving licence.

Renewing your Dutch driving licence

You can also choose to renew your Dutch driving licence via the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW), even if it has already expired. Follow the steps to apply for a new driving licence.

Attention: Please note: If you deregistered from a municipality in the Netherlands before 1 October 1994 you will need a certificate of residence in addition to the documents referred to in step 2 (see below). Find out how to apply for a certificate of residence from the embassy in Singapore. You will not need the certificate if you deregistered after 1 October 1994.

Renewing your driving licence

Do you have the Dutch nationality? Or the nationality of another EU/EEA country? Then you can renew your Dutch driving licence at the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). Even if your driving licence has expired. However, you must have a (correspondence) address in the Netherlands. You will need this to receive the application form and your driving licence. The RDW does not send mail abroad.

Attention: Do you have a valid foreign driving licence in addition to your Dutch driving licence? Then it is not necessary to renew your Dutch driving licence. If you are visiting the Netherlands, you may drive with your valid foreign driving licence. Are you living in the Netherlands again? Then you can exchange your foreign driving licence back for a Dutch driving licence.

Follow the steps to renew your driving licence:

Step 1: Request an application form

You can request an application form for renewing your driving licence from the RDW's website.

Step 2: Collect the right documents

You will need the following original documents:

  • your Dutch driving licence
  • a photocopy of your valid travel document, e.g. a passport or identity card 
  • a completed and signed application form
  • 1 colour passport photo that meets Dutch passport photo requirements and is less than 6 months old. 

In the following situations you will need to supply additional documents. Click on the situation(s) that applies (apply) to you for more information.

Step 3: Submit your documents

Send all the documents needed for your application to the RDW: 

RDW, Unit Rijbewijzen
Postbus 9000
9640 HA Veendam
Nederland

Step 4: Pay the fee

Pay the fee for your application for a new driving licence. Scroll to ‘Kosten’ on the RDW's website to find out what the fee is and how to pay it. 

After your payment has been assessed, the RDW will process your application within 10 working days.

Does RDW approve your application? Then it will take 5 working days before you receive your new driving licence at your correspondence address in the Netherlands.

If your application is rejected you will receive a letter explaining why.