Malaysia endorses Maldivian driving licence

Malaysia on Friday approved the Maldivian driving licence for use. 

The first bilateral Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) that Malaysia has made with a foreign country following the changes to its Malaysian Road Transportation Law, this MRA will allow drivers holding licences of both countries to drive motor vehicles in each other’s country with the driving licences issued by the respective countries.

The Maldivian transport ministry and its Malaysian counterpart began work on this agreement in November 2021.

In a post on his official Facebook page on Friday, Malaysian Transport Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said, "Through this MRA, citizens of both countries can continue to use their respective domestic Driver's Licences and drive motor vehicles permitted in their respective regions without having to go through the process of obtaining a local driver's licence or making any changes to their existing driver's licence”.

Maldivian transport minister Aishath Nahula stated that this agreement would facilitate mobility for Maldivians living in Malaysia, and that no other documentation will be required for domestic transport in Malaysia. She highlighted that the Malaysian citizens in the Maldives would have the same ease of transport and that this agreement symbolises the strength of the relationship between the two nations.

Thousands of Maldivians live in Malaysia. Apart from Sri Lanka, Malaysia is the most visited and migrated country for Maldivians.