Can you drive in New South Wales using a foreign licence?

Driving in NSW with a foreign licence is allowed if you meet all the following conditions:

• You are a temporary overseas visitor (tourists, people with a working visa, people on a temporary business trip, people visiting friends or relatives).
• Your foreign licence or driver permit is current and valid.
• Your foreign licence is in English, or you must carry an English translation of your licence or your International Driving Permit.
• You have not been given a suspension or disqualification to drive in NSW or elsewhere.

What are the licensing rules in NSW for temporary foreign visitors?

A temporary foreign visitor is eligible to apply for a NSW driver licence after residing in Australia for a continuous period of 6 months immediately prior to the licence application. Your most recent date of arrival in Australia must be declared in the licence application form.

Licences for temporary foreign visitors will have the letter code ‘Q’ marked in the conditions area on the front of the licence, with the text ‘Evidence of permanent resident status not provided to Roads and Maritime Services’ on the back of the licence.

Licences with a ‘Q’ mark are valid for only 12 months. This applies to Learner, P1, P2, and unrestricted licences.

Ensure you use this site to learn the traffic signs and other road rules to drive safely in Australia. Ignorance of the rules is no defence in court, and you can still be fined for not adhering to the rules, even with a foreign licence.

Who is exempt from these licensing rules?

• Those transferring an Australian interstate licence into a NSW licence or those who have already been issued a NSW licence.
• New Zealand driver licence holders or New Zealand citizens.
• Temporary foreign visitors applying for a NSW learner licence.

Australian citizens not permanently residing in Australia do not need to renew or apply for a NSW driver licence. They are allowed to drive in NSW as international visitors provided they have a current foreign licence.

If you hold a New Zealand licence, you must obtain a NSW driver licence within 3 months of residing in NSW or stop driving. This applies to both permanent and temporary residents from New Zealand.

New Zealand citizens or licence holders’ exemptions

Exemptions apply to customers presenting a New Zealand driver licence or New Zealand passport to Roads and Maritime Services.

You are exempt from all temporary overseas visitor licensing arrangements and may be issued a licence with a normal validity period. Your licence will not be under the Q condition, and you will not be required to adhere to the 6-month waiting period.

You will not be considered a visitor if you intend to reside in NSW with a permanent visa under the Commonwealth Migration Act 1958 or if you are already a permanent resident of Australia. With a current foreign licence, you may drive for a maximum of 3 months after arriving in Australia.

How to convert your foreign licence to a NSW licence

To acquire a NSW driver licence, you must:

• Be at least 17 years old.
• Visit a Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) registry.
• Provide proof of identity – two proof of identity documents (one from List 1 and one from List 2).
• Provide additional proof of your NSW address if your List 1 and List 2 identity documents do not show your address.
• Present your foreign driver licence. If your foreign licence is not in English, you must provide an official translation from one of the following:
  • NSW Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW.
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship (the free translation service is only provided to eligible people).
  • Translation from the Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea verified through the relevant South Korean driver licence authority (applicable for South Korean driver licences only).
• If you cannot provide your foreign licence: You must provide a licence status and details confirmation letter from the overseas licence issuing authority or a relevant consulate or diplomatic office (based on gathered information from the overseas licence issuing authority).
• Pass the eyesight test.
• Have your photo taken.
• Pay the licence fee.
• Take and pass the Multi Language DKT and the driving test for the required licence class. Below are the exemptions from the knowledge or practical driving test:
  • You hold an Australian driver licence that has expired for no more than 5 years and is verifiable through the issuing authority.
  • You hold a current foreign licence, or one that has expired for no more than 5 years, from a country with comparable licensing standards to Australia (see licences from recognised countries).
  • You hold a current New Zealand driver licence (learner licence or paper licence are considered invalid).

If you pass the driving test, you will be issued one of the following licences:

• P1 licence if you have held your overseas driver licence for no more than 12 months.
• P2 licence if you have held your overseas driver licence for more than 12 months.
• Unrestricted licence if you have held your overseas driver licence for more than 3 years.

If you fail the driving test, you will need to obtain a learner licence to attempt the driving test again.