If you are living outside South Africa and need to convert your South African driving licence to a foreign licence, the authority in your new country may ask for an official Driving Licence Confirmation Letter.
This letter is issued through the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and confirms the South African driving licence information recorded on NaTIS. It can be particularly useful when your physical licence card has expired, been lost or is no longer accepted as sufficient proof for an overseas conversion.
Certificate Assistance can help with a South African Driving Licence Confirmation Letter application and collection process if you prefer private assistance.
What Is a South African Driving Licence Confirmation Letter?
A Driving Licence Confirmation Letter is an official RTMC document used to confirm that a person holds, or held, a South African driving licence as reflected on NaTIS.
RTMC states that the letter may be used as proof of a valid South African driving licence for conversion to a foreign driving licence in the country where the applicant currently lives. The letter is not itself a driving licence.
Who May Need the Letter?
- You are living outside South Africa and converting your licence overseas
- Your South African licence card has expired
- Your licence card was lost or stolen
- The foreign licensing authority wants official confirmation of your South African licence record
- You need proof of when your South African licence was first issued
What Information Does the Letter Confirm?
The RTMC confirmation process uses the information recorded on NaTIS. RTMC specifically notes that the letter reflects the date on which the driving licence was first issued.
See our guide on what information is shown on a South African Driving Licence Confirmation Letter.
What Documents Are Usually Required?
According to RTMC guidance, applicants should provide identifying and contact information together with proof of identity or driving licence details. Typical requirements may include your South African ID number, a copy of your ID or driving licence, contact details, and the country where the letter will be used.
If you hold a Traffic Register Number rather than a South African ID number, additional Home Affairs verification may be required before RTMC can continue.
How Long Does a Driving Licence Confirmation Letter Take?
RTMC has published guidance indicating an approximate processing time of 3–4 weeks for RSA ID holders during periods of high request volumes.
Certificate Assistance currently advises clients to allow approximately 4 weeks, subject to RTMC processing and a complete application.
How Much Does a Driving Licence Confirmation Letter Cost?
RTMC states that the application for a Driving Licence Confirmation Letter is free to members of the public. RTMC does not charge an administration fee. Courier costs may apply if collection and delivery are arranged.
Certificate Assistance is a private document assistance service. Our current fee is R1,500 for professional assistance and handling. This is our service fee and is not an RTMC government fee.
Can You Apply While Living Overseas?
Yes. RTMC provides for applicants outside South Africa who need confirmation of their licence record for overseas conversion.
Read our guide on getting a South African Driving Licence Confirmation Letter while living overseas.
Can the Letter Be Used to Convert Your Licence Overseas?
The confirmation letter is commonly requested as supporting evidence when converting a South African licence in another country, but the receiving authority decides which documents it accepts.
See our guide to using a South African Driving Licence Confirmation Letter for overseas licence conversion.
Does the Confirmation Letter Replace Your Driving Licence?
No. RTMC specifically warns that a confirmation letter cannot be interpreted as a driving licence when presented to law-enforcement officials.
Need Help With a South African Driving Licence Confirmation Letter?
Certificate Assistance helps South Africans locally and abroad with Driving Licence Confirmation Letter applications and related document support.
View our Driving Licence Confirmation Letter service.
Certificate Assistance is a private document assistance service and is not affiliated with RTMC, NaTIS or any South African government department.
