Getting your student permit or driver’s license is necessary if you want to drive a car legally in the Philippines. First things first, there are three types of driver’s licenses that you can get, depending on your driving skills and goals. These are:

  • Student driver’s permit
  • Non-professional license
  • Professional license (for professional drivers only)

Likewise, each of these license types have a different set of requirements and processes. If you’re just a newbie driver, then a student driver’s permit is what you need.

Student Driver’s Permit

A student driver’s permit is necessary before you can get either a non-pro or pro driver’s license. Here are the qualifications and requirements when applying for a student license as mandated by the Land Transportation Office (LTO):

Qualifications

  • Must be at least seventeen (17) years old.
  • Must be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle.
  • Must be able to read and write in Filipino or English or the applicable local dialect; and
  • In addition, for foreigners, the applicant must be eighteen (18) years old and must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) year from date of application.

Student Permit Requirements for Filipinos/Foreigners

Duly accomplished Application form for Driver’s License (ADL);

  • Original and photocopy of birth certificate duly authenticated by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
  • If below eighteen (18) years of age, original copy of parental/guardian’s consent with original and photocopy of one (1) valid government issued Identification Card containing the signature of the consenting parent/guardian; and
  • Medical Certificate issued by any licensed practicing physician stating that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise stating his/her impairment.
  • In addition, for foreigners, original and photocopy of passport with entry date of at least one (1) month and visa duration of at least one (1) year from date of application, or if born in the Philippines, present original and photocopy of birth certificate duly authenticated by the PSA.

Procedure:

  • The applicant shall submit all the documentary requirements to the receiving personnel
  • Receiving personnel shall check only the completeness of the documents required and transmit the same to an evaluator.
  • The Evaluator shall evaluate the qualifications of the applicant and, if qualified, encode the application in the system.
  • After encoding, the application shall be approved by the Approving Officer.
  • Upon approval, the applicant shall be called for photo and signature taking.
  • The applicant shall be called to pay the required fees to the Cashier.
  • The SP Card with the Official Receipt shall be released to the applicant, who shall be required to write his/her name and affix his/her signature in the appropriate Release Form.
  • A reviewer containing all possible questions in the examinations for issuance of an NPDL, PDL and Conductor’s License shall be given to the applicant together with SP Card.

Venue: The application and issuance of an SP shall be done at any LTO Licensing Center and District/Extension Office.

Now that you have a student driver’s permit, you may now qualify for the two other licenses.