The Land Transportation Office in the Philippines has amended its rule on validating expired driver’s license of Overseas Filipinos. In the past, only overseas Filipino workers can renew driver’s license through authorized representatives while working abroad. With the new regulation under Administrative Order No. RIB-2007-011, all Filipino citizens abroad who are holders of authentic Philippine driver’s license can already renew their license through a duly authorized representative in the Philippines.

The amendment came after reports of inconvenience by other Filipinos overseas, mostly students and family members of OFWs who are forced to return to the Philippines to renew their license because they are not covered by LTO Administrative Order No. 88-002 dated 8 November 1988 which allows only OFWs to renew through authorized representative.

Applications for renewal of license within the National Capital Region will be accepted only at the License Section of the Central Office where a fast lane for the processing of licenses of foreigners and overseas Filipino workers is available. Applications outside NCR may be filed at any field office at the option of the representative

The authorized representative shall present to the LTO documents from the licensee such original driver’s license with one photocopy, photocopy of Philippine passport with visa, and letter addressed to the LTO requesting the renewal and authorizing his representative to renew on his behalf. In no case should any other agency take the photograph of the licensee.

Upon payment, LTO will issue to the licensee a Driver’s License Receipt (DLR) stamped at the right portion with “LICENSEE ABROAD FOR PHOTOTAKE WITHIN 30 DAYS UPON ARRIVAL.”

Within 30 days upon arrival in the Philippines, the licensee shall present himself to the same office where renewal was made for photograph taking, to present his original DLR and passport, to submit a valid drug test result and medical certificate, and to surrender his expired driver’s license. The licensing center will retrieve applicant’s previous files and incorporate with other requirements for evaluation and approval, production of the license and eventual release to the licensee.
           
The fee for renewal of license is Php180.00 for non-professional or Php240.00 for professional driver’s license. Penalty will apply for holders of expired license at the following rate: