A license is a primary requirement while traveling anywhere. An International Driving Permit (IDP) or INTERNATIONAL LICENSE PHILIPPINES is one such requirement for traveling abroad. An IDP allows a person to travel to more than 140 countries, including the USA. It is not only treated as a legal document overseas, but if a person needs a car on hire or in case of an insurance claim, an IDP comes to the rescue. An IDP is valid for a time frame of 1 year.
Some countries require a driving license along with an IDP. These requirements differ for different countries.
The basic eligibility criteria for getting an IDP-
- One must have attained 18 years of age on the Date of Applying
- Having a valid and authorized, full UK driving license
However, for some countries, the age criteria go up to 21 Years for hiring a car on rent abroad.
Having everything from exceptionally beautiful weather to the most advanced technological infrastructure, a tour in this country is worth spending every penny. In this article, we’ll talk about international license Philippines.
INTERNATIONAL LICENSE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines, a Southeast Asian country, is located in the western Pacific Ocean. Quezon City is the country’s densely populated city, though, and the capital is Manila.
Whether it is needed for work or if road trips are something more than just a fascination for many people, having an International Driving Permit can make the ride cozy and free from any risks of getting into legal proceedings.
ROLE OF AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION PHILIPPINES (AAP)
Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) is a service organization with branches in Quezon City, Makati, Alabang, Lipa, Pampanga, Cebu and Davao. The association issues an international license Philippines. However, an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) can not be used as a substitute to the actual license but is a mandatory document that certifies the actual license. This document can be translated into multiple languages depending upon the requirement.
A person can also take an AAP Membership which provides emergency assistance from its affiliates throughout the time a person is abroad. Although, this depends upon a person’s own will.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
One can apply for IDP in both online and offline modes.
Online Mode-
Nobody wants to be a part of long queues, and with rising Covid-19 cases, this has become more challenging.
Follow the below-mentioned steps for applying the IDP online-
- Scan and upload the required documents.
- Fill out the form
- Submit the form
- Pay the application fee and take a printout of the receipt.
Offline Mode-
In case someone faces any trouble in fulfilling an online application or needs personal assistance, the option of visiting the nearby AAP office is available.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
The documentation process of applying for international license Philippines actually depends upon the applicant’s case. Yet, the few documents that are primarily required for every applicant are mentioned below:
- Original and Photocopy of valid Philippines Driver’s License
- Two pieces “2*2” colored ID picture of the applicant with white background.
FOR APPLICANTS APPLYING THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE
In such cases, the following additional documents are required:
- Letter of authorization
- ID issued by the concerned govt. authority
- In case of non-availability of original driver’s license, a Land Transportation Office (LTO) Certification along with original official receipt must be presented.
FOR DUAL CITIZENS
- Original Passport (and photocopies mentioning the last arrival are needed)
FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS
- Original Passport
- Alien Certificate RegistrationFOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER (OFW)
The availing a 20% discount on AAP Membership, the applicant needs to present the following document:
- Valid OFW ID
- Official receipt by POEA indicating OWWA Membership Fee
- Valid Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PROCESS AN APPLICATION
The processing time varies in accordance with the frequency of applications an AAP office receives in a day.
Nevertheless, AAP claims its Quezon City branch to be the fastest among all, according to which it takes just 1 hour to process a single application.
APPLICATION FEE
The advisable amount that one should carry at the time of application is P4000, where “P” stands for ‘Pesos.’ However, the actual fee structure is approximate P3290, which is dispersed among 2 components:
- Standard Processing Fee: P3500
- 12% VAT: P420
VALIDITY PERIOD
The validity period of an International Driving Permit (IDP) is 1 Year. It is noteworthy that it expires if the international license Philippines expires. That means the expiration of an international license is 1 year or the expiration date of the actual license, whichever is earlier. Keep in mind that an IDP is not the substitute for the actual license but is a supporting document.
The license can be renewed by applying for the same on its expiration. The renewal process amounts to almost the same as the processing fee at the time of applying.
INSIGHTS ON INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE FURNISHED FROM THE APPLICANT’S SIDE
At the time of filling the form, the applicant has to provide basic information like full name, date of birth, citizenship, occupation, home address, and pin code, destination, contact numbers, preferred AAP branch, license details, and vehicle details.
Apart from this, some other applicable information will be required if applicable, such as the ACR Number, name, and contact information of the authorized representative.
A QUICK LOOK ON THE GO
So far in this article, we’ve discussed the key elements and requisites of the international license Philippines. It is required whether a person is getting a job related to the travel industry, willing to drive on the roads of the Philippines, or planning to hire a car there. The AAP issues an IDP, which is a document certifying one’s license to drive along the roads of the country. Different sets of rules are applicable for cases of different nature.
This is a strict requirement that has to be fulfilled; otherwise can make a person face circumstances of landing behind bars or getting in a car fuss.
The document is valid for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance and loses its validity with the expiration of the actual license.
This article is written with the objective of resolving all the doubts that come up while applying for the international license Philippines.
