License Conversion October 2021

[FlyAway]

This is a brief write up of my experience with converting my valid California drivers license to Philippine license. 

First off, our local LTO office told us we had to go to the Main LTO office in Quezon City. We started out by thinking we would be proactive and get a medical clearance before going to LTO. Cost on that was P500 each.

We arrive at LTO with our medical certificates, California drivers license, passports and copies of my passport bio and VISA stamp pages. We arrived in Philippines late February and I was given a 1 year Balikbayan VISA. Wife is dual citizen so we took both her passports. First window, the lady looks over our documents. Our medical was not LTO certified. I had inquired about this in the first place but of course was told it would be valid.

So we need a new medical. We were given a location down the street to get a new LTO Certified medical. OK, another P500 for each. Less involved than the first exam. We go back to LTO and finish up filling out the applications. Wife's fee was P785 mine was P785 + P100 application fee. What ever, no big deal to me.

Next you go back and forth between fingerprint and photo windows. We arrived at 9:30am and were out with our hard copy license by 11:30am. Thought we would be there all day. All in all, not a bad experience. License is good for 5 years.

[Jollygoodfellow]

4 hours ago, FlyAway said:

So we need a new medical. We were given a location down the street to get a new LTO Certified medical. OK, another P500 for each. Less involved than the first exam. We go back to LTO and finish up filling out the applications. Wife's fee was P785 mine was P785 + P100 application fee. What ever, no big deal to me.

The LTO site says

Presentation of copy of the medical certificate. (Electronically transmitted to LTO by the accredited medical clinic)

4 hours ago, FlyAway said:

First off, our local LTO office told us we had to go to the Main LTO office in Quezon City.

Did you check other offices as again LTO site says, 

OFFICE OR DIVISION

Licensing Centers
Authorized District Offices / Extension Offices
Central Office - License Section

Yes I know info on some outdated sites are just that, outdated but might have saved some minor issues to check first. 

 

Just to edit, the LTO site also says, Last Updated: 12 August 2021 so probably mostly correct.

Edited October 23, 2021 by Jollygoodfellow