Convert a Foreign Driving Licence to a Malaysian CDL

Step-by-Step

1. 1

   Confirm Your Eligibility Category and the Applicable Document Path

   1. Open the JPJ conversion-checklist page at jpj.gov.my/en/conversion-checklist/ and identify which of the four published categories applies: (a) Malaysian citizen with a non-Singapore foreign licence, (b) Malaysian citizen converting from a Singapore licence, (c) Diplomatic / non-diplomatic staff / consular / international organisation, (d) Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) pass holder.
   2. If you hold an Employment Pass / Spouse Pass / Student Pass / Long-Term Social Visit Pass — none of these are enumerated in the per-category checklist. The published path for unenumerated categories is the Exemption Application via the Appendix B-2 form ('Method 5'), granted at JPJ discretion. Verify your category with your state JPJ office (directory at jpj.gov.my/en/directory/) before assembling documents.
   3. Confirm whether your purpose is short-stay driving or full conversion. An International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by your home country lets you drive while you sort out other priorities; full CDL conversion is the long-stay path for residents. JPJ does not publish a Malaysia-side validity figure for foreign-issued IDPs on its English-mirror pages — verify the duration with your IDP issuing authority.

   💡 Tip: JPJ does not publish a public reciprocity list. Whether your origin country qualifies for theory-test (UPP) exemption is decided at the JPJ counter via the Appendix B-2 submission, not in advance from a public list. Do not bank on internet folklore naming specific countries — confirm at the counter.

   ⚠️ Watch out: If your category is not on the published list and the state JPJ office cannot confirm convertibility, JPJ may direct you to the new-licence pathway (LDL → PDL → CDL with theory and practical tests). The conversion-checklist document does not pre-commit JPJ to accept any non-listed category.

   JPJ — Foreign Licence Conversion Checklist (jpj.gov.my ↗) JPJ — State Office Directory (jpj.gov.my ↗)
2. 2

   Download JPJL1 and Appendix B-2 from JPJ

   1. Open the JPJ forms page at jpj.gov.my/en/forms/ and download two forms: 'Driving License Application Form (JPJL1)' (Borang Permohonan Lesen Memandu) and 'Application Form Exemption Application Method 5 (Appendix B-2)' (Borang Permohonan Pengecualian Pemakaian Kaedah 5 Lampiran B-2).
   2. Both forms are required by every conversion category — the JPJL1 records the licence transaction itself; the Appendix B-2 records the exemption application that any foreign-licence conversion implies.
   3. On JPJL1, foreigners use applicant-category code 9 (Bukan Warganegara Malaysia / Non-Malaysian Citizen), transaction-type code 05 (TUKAR LESEN / Conversion), and issuing-country code LLN for foreign country other than Singapore. Use ONE form per transaction type only — combining transactions on a single form is rejected at the counter.
   JPJ — Forms (JPJL1 and Appendix B-2) (jpj.gov.my ↗) JPJL1 form (PDF) (jpj.gov.my ↗) Appendix B-2 exemption form (PDF) (jpj.gov.my ↗)
3. 3

   Assemble Documents — Sequence the Embassy Letter Last

   1. Pull together originals and copies per your applicant category: identity document (MyKad for Malaysian citizens, passport plus pass / visa for foreigners), foreign driving licence (original and copy), proof of presence in the licence-issuing country during the licence's validity period (passport stamps, residence permit, employment letter, or tenancy records), and any category-specific letter (MM2H Confirmation Letter from Imigresen for Category D; Confirmation Letter from Wisma Putra plus Diplomatic Identification Card for Category C; Singapore Police Force Extract within 6 months of issue for Singapore-licence Malaysians).
   2. Request the Confirmation Letter of Driving Licence from your home-country embassy in Malaysia OR the Driving License Record / Extract from your home-country transport authority. Either is acceptable — pick whichever is faster for your nationality.
   3. Photocopy every original before queuing — JPJ's per-category checklist marks several documents 'Original & Copy', and the counter does not photocopy on the day of submission.

   💡 Tip: All conversion documents are valid for only 1 year per JPJ's checklist footer. Embassy letters often take weeks to obtain — get the embassy letter LAST so the 1-year clock starts after everything else is in place. Sequencing the embassy letter as one of the first moves during initial relocation paperwork — and then delaying submission for a year while work-pass, housing, and banking consume your calendar — is the most common way to find your confirmation letter has expired by the time you reach the JPJ counter.

   ⚠️ Watch out: If a document expires while you assemble the rest of the set, you must re-source it. The 1-year window resets nothing — re-issue only the document that has lapsed.

   JPJ — Foreign Licence Conversion Checklist (jpj.gov.my ↗)
4. 4

   Submit Forms and Documents at a JPJ Office

   1. Bring the assembled set to a JPJ office. The state office directory at jpj.gov.my/en/directory/ lists Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak offices under the same federal organisational structure — there is no published East Malaysia procedural distinction for foreign-licence conversion.
   2. Submit JPJL1 (the licence-transaction form) and Appendix B-2 (the exemption-application form) together with all category-specific supporting documents.
   3. JPJ does not publish a counter-day SLA for conversion — same-day decisions are common but not guaranteed. The Driver Licensing Division 'Handles matters related to the conversion of foreign driving licenses and appeal processes', so any disputed ruling routes through the same division.

   ⚠️ Watch out: If a document is rejected as missing, expired, or insufficient, the counter will tell you which item is at fault. Re-source that item and re-queue. JPJ does not publish a counter-side rejection-code list — the on-the-day counter feedback is the source of truth.

   💬 Say:

   Saya nak tukar lesen memandu negara luar kepada lesen Malaysia.

   "I want to convert my foreign driving licence to a Malaysian licence."

   📋 Use when: Opening line at the JPJ counter when stating the purpose of your visit

   💬 Say:

   Borang Pengecualian Lampiran B-2

   "Exemption Application form (Appendix B-2)"

   📋 Use when: Naming the second of the two forms when the counter staff asks which forms you have brought

   JPJ — State Office Directory (jpj.gov.my ↗) JPJ — Driver Licensing Division (jpj.gov.my ↗)
5. 5

   Sit Theory or Practical Tests if JPJ Directs You To

   1. JPJ reviews your Appendix B-2 submission and decides whether to grant exemption from the theory test (Ujian Pra-Pemandu, UPP) and / or the practical test, OR to require either or both.
   2. If a test is required, book it through a registered Driving Institute. Theory-test and practical-test fees at Driving Institutes are operator-set, not JPJ-set — confirm pricing with the institute. Per JPJ's FAQ: 'Road Transport Department (JPJ) do not set the price to learn to drive at any Driving Institute'.
   3. If exemption is granted, skip directly to the CDL issuance step.

   💡 Tip: Whether a foreign-licence converter is exempted from the UPP / practical tests is determined at JPJ's discretion, not by your country of origin. JPJ does not publish a public per-country list. If your application is unusual (e.g. licence from a third country, motorcycle licence, commercial-vehicle classes), brace for the possibility of a test requirement and budget time accordingly.

   ⚠️ Watch out: If you fail a required test, you may re-sit at the same Driving Institute or another. Conversion cannot proceed until the required test result is recorded.

6. 6

   Pay the CDL Issuance Fee

   1. Pay the Competent Driver's Licence (CDL) issuance fee at the rate published on jpj.gov.my/en/competent-driver-license-cdl-application/. Non-citizens: RM 120.00 per year for all classes B2 / B / C / D / DA / F / G / H / I. Malaysian citizens: RM 2.00 per year for Class A / A1, RM 20.00 per year for Class B2 / B / C, RM 30.00 per year for Class D and above.
   2. JPJ does not publish a separate 'conversion fee' line — the conversion is implemented procedurally as issuance of a Malaysian CDL, billed under the standard CDL issuance schedule.
   3. JPJ does not specify accepted payment channels for the conversion CDL issuance fee — confirm with the counter when you reach the payment step.
   JPJ — Competent Driver License (CDL) Application (jpj.gov.my ↗) JPJ — Driving License Transaction Fee Rate (jpj.gov.my ↗)
7. 7

   Receive Your Malaysian CDL

   1. On approval and payment, JPJ issues the Malaysian Competent Driver's Licence covering the converted classes.
   2. Subsequent renewal follows the standard CDL renewal pathway: renewal periods are 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years only. The non-citizen renewal fee is RM 120 for all classes B2, B, C, D, DA, F, G, H, I per year. Plan ahead — your renewal cadence is now tied to your pass / visa validity in Malaysia.
   JPJ — Competent Drivers License (CDL) Renewal (jpj.gov.my ↗)