How do I convert an overseas licence in NSW?
If you are moving to Australia to live in New South Wales, you need to get a NSW driver’s licenceTo be able to legally drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Australia, you must have a valid licence. For cars and motorcycles, there is no such thing as an ‘Australian’ driver’s licence; (or motorcycle rider’s licence). You must get a licence in the state or territory you live in. If you are living in New South Wales (NSW), you must get a NSW driver’s licence (category C) to drive a car, and/or a motorcycle licence (Category R) to ride a motorcycle.
Temporary overseas visitor licence
If you are a temporary overseas visitor to Australia (for example, you have a temporary Australian visa for study or work) and you arrived on or after June 1, 2023, you can drive in NSW for up to six months on your overseas licence. If you want to continue to drive after six months, you can apply for a NSW driver’s licence as a temporary visitor.
Permanent resident or Australian citizen licence
If you are going to live in NSW as a permanent resident, or you are an Australian citizen (returning from overseas, but with only a valid overseas driver’s licence), you can drive on your overseas licence for only up to three months from when you first land in Australia. You must apply for a NSW licence before you have lived in Australia for three months.
Finding out what category your overseas licence is to convert
Before converting your overseas driver’s licence to a NSW driver’s licence, you need to know what category your overseas licence is, according to the Australian transport authorities. Some categories of overseas licences are easier to convert than others.
Recognised Countries
Like all Australian transport authorities, NSW recognises that some overseas countries have similar driver licence standards as Australia. For those countries, called Recognised Countries (see country list below), most drivers who already have a full licence can exchange their overseas driver’s licence to a full NSW driver’s licence.
Experienced Driver Recognition countries
Experienced Driver Recognition status countries (see country list below) are those with driver licence testing standards that meet some but not all Australian licence testing requirements. If you are 25 or older with a driver’s licence from one of these countries, you may be able to exchange your overseas licence for a NSW one, without driver testing.
But if you are under 25 and have a driver’s licence from an Experienced Driver Recognition country, you will have to do theory and practical driving tests. If you pass these tests, your overseas licence will be converted, based on years of driving experience and age, to the same class of licence you would have been on if you started in Australia.
Other countries
If you come from a non-recognised country, you must do a driving theory test and a practical driving test. If you pass both these tests, your overseas licence will be converted to a NSW one, based on years of driving experience and age, to the class of licence you would have been on if you had started driving in Australia.
The licencing authority in NSW, Service NSW, uses the first-issue date of your overseas licence to work out what the equivalent NSW licence is. If your overseas licence does not show an issue date, and you are under 25 years of age, you will need a letter confirming your licence details from either the licence issuing authority (on its letterhead), or a relevant consulate or diplomatic office (based on information received from the overseas licence issuing authority).
How to apply for a NSW driver’s licence
To apply for a NSW driver’s licence, you need to visit the service.nsw.gov.au website and download the ‘Licence Application’ form. You need to fill out the form, take it to a Service NSW centre with your proof of identity, your overseas licence, your proof of Australian permanent residency and payment for the licence.
There are a few options for how long a licence is valid but, as an example, an unrestricted five-year driver’s licence in NSW at the time of writing is $208. Check service.nsw.gov.au for any price changes and different licence options.
If your documents are not in English, you will have to first get an approved translation. The details are in the links below.
For some overseas drivers, you will need to do a road rules knowledge test, a driving test, have a ‘fitness to drive’ medical and bring your contact lenses or glasses, if you need to wear them when driving. You cannot just go to a Service NSW centre to have a driving test (you have to make an appointment) and, if a medical is required, that also needs to be arranged beforehand.
Recognised countries and jurisdictions:
Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man (for licences first issued on or after April 1, 1991), Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Malta (for licences first issued on or after January 2, 2004),Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA.
Experienced Driver Recognition status countries:
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)*, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Republic of Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan.
To exchange a Hong Kong licence without driver testing, you must be 25 or older and have held a Hong Kong licence for at least one year.
Helpful resources:
Service NSW Transfer an Overseas licence
Service NSW Apply for NSW licence as a temporary visitor
Documents to prepare your licence application
Multicultural NSW
Department of Home Affairs
Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
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