Indonesians planning road trips across Southeast Asia will soon have one less thing to worry about. Starting June 1, 2025, a valid Indonesian driver’s license (SIM) will be officially recognized in several ASEAN countries, removing the need for an international driving permit in the region.
The new policy allows SIM holders from Indonesia to legally drive in nine ASEAN nations: the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia. This move follows an update by the Indonesian National Police (Polri), which has linked the national identity number (NIK) to the driver’s license to support better data integration.
“After June 1, 2025, Indonesian driver’s licenses will be valid in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. We are working on merging data from NIK, KTP, SIM A, SIM C, NPWP, and BPJS to make things easier,” said Brigadier General Drs. Yusri Yunus, Director of Registration and Identification (Dirregident) at the Traffic Corps (Korlantas) of Polri.
This initiative builds upon a longstanding agreement signed by ASEAN countries in Kuala Lumpur in 1985 — the Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licenses Issued. Initially limited in scope, the agreement expanded in 1997 to include additional countries, with Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia joining in 1999.
Yusri explained that linking SIM to NIK is part of an effort to synchronize citizens’ legal identities across multiple state-run services. These include tax records (NPWP), health insurance (BPJS), and national ID cards (KTP), making administration more efficient.
Although this policy marks a significant shift, several countries still apply specific regulations:
- In Singapore, Indonesian SIMs are valid for up to 12 months from the date of arrival.
- In Malaysia, both international and Indonesian licenses are accepted. However, Indonesians without an international driving permit must apply for a local Malaysian license. This regulation was clarified in an official circular issued by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
The move is expected to simplify cross-border travel and promote tourism and mobility within the ASEAN region, especially among Indonesians. More importantly, it marks a step toward greater regional integration and convenience for citizens using public services.
As of now, the policy will also benefit those interested in driving for short or extended stays abroad, particularly tourists and expatriates. With more people adopting eco-friendly travel methods and relying on official documents for digital services, the streamlined SIM system signals a major improvement in mobility for Indonesians abroad.
