Previously, we’ve talked about how the Philippine driver’s license is verified at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO); this is a necessary step towards getting a Taiwan driver’s license.
In contrast, this guide focuses on how a Taiwan driver’s license can be translated from Mandarin Chinese to English — a process that’s also facilitated by MECO. The translated license may then be used for converting a Taiwan driver’s license into a Philippine license.
Guide to Translating Taiwan Driver’s License
In the Philippines, a foreign driver’s license is usually valid for 90 days from the date of arrival in the country. However, for longer periods of stay, the license must be converted into a Philippine one.
For holders of Taiwan driver’s licenses, one of the requirements for getting a Philippine driver’s license from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) — is a translation of their license from Mandarin Chinese to English. But before discussing this process, let us take a closer look at the Taiwan driver’s license first.
About Taiwan Driver’s License
The Taiwan driver’s license is a document that allows motorists to drive on any road in the country. Written in Chinese traditional script, the license is issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).
Notably, the number on the Taiwan driver’s license is the same as the ID number of the license holder’s household registration. Since most of the information is the same as what is written on his/her National Identification Card, the driver’s license may also be recognized as a valid identification document.
Requirements for Translation
To apply for translation of a Taiwan driver’s license, the following documents must be prepared:
- Valid Philippine passport — original and 2 photocopies of the data page;
- Valid Taiwan driver’s license — original and 2 photocopies, with the front and back sides printed on a single page; and
- Valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) — original and 2 photocopies, with the front and back sides printed on a single page.
Procedure
After preparing the necessary documents, the applicant can proceed to the MECO office and apply for translation of his/her Taiwan driver’s license from Mandarin Chinese into English.
Conversion to Philippine Driver’s License
Getting an English translation of the Taiwan driver’s license is just one of the requirements for converting it into a Philippine license. For the complete list of requirements and procedure, visit the official website of the LTO for more details.
Furthermore, when getting a Philippine driver’s license, the applicant must personally appear at any LTO branch in the country. Depending on the validity of the Taiwan driver’s license, he/she may also need to take a written and/or practical exam.
In case the applicant has multiple licenses (e.g. one for motorcycles and another for cars), he/she can apply to convert only one vehicle category at a time. If he/she wants additional licenses, a separate application would have to be made for each category.
Contact Information: MECO Taipei
To know more about getting a translation of the Taiwan driver’s license, inquiries may be addressed to MECO Taipei through the contact details below. For those residing in Taichung and Kaohsiung, they can contact the MECO Extension Offices in their respective areas.
Address: 2F, Chang Hong New Era Building, 55 & 57 Zhouzi St., Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan
Telephone: +886 2 2658 8825
Website: https://www.meco.org.tw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MECO.official/
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