Recognition of licences from certain countries

The recognition of licences from certain countries was agreed nationally and commenced in NSW on 20 May 2002.

When converting your overseas licence to a NSW licence, if you hold an acceptable driver or rider licence from one of the recognised countries below, you will be exempt from:

• The driver/rider knowledge test, and 
• The practical driving/riding test.

Note: The exemptions only apply to applicants for Class C (car) and Class R (rider) licences.

Recognised countries

• Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, 
• Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, 
• Ireland, Isle of Man (licences issued since 1 April 1991), Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, 
• Malta (licences issued since 2 January 2004), Netherlands, New Zealand (except where a paper licence is presented), Norway, Portugal, 
• Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA.

If you do hold a licence from a recognised country above and are exempt from licensing tests, it is recommended that you read the Road Users' Handbook and/or the Motorcycle Riders' Handbook to familiarise yourself with the current road rules in NSW.

The RTA reserves the right to require customers to undertake a knowledge test or driving/riding test, and may not issue a licence until it is satisfied that the overseas licence is valid.

Overseas learner licence holders

If you hold a car learner licence issued form an overseas licence issuing authority and you wish to obtain a NSW class C learner licence, you must:

• Be 16 years of age or older
• Provide proof of your NSW address
• Prove your identity
• Pass an eyesight test
• Pass a knowledge test
• Pay the licensing fee, and
• Have your photo taken by the RTA for your driver licence photo card.

The licence testing exemptions do not always apply:

• If you hold a licence from an external territory of a recognised country above you will not be exempt the licensing tests.
• If you hold a licence from a recognised country and failed a NSW driver/rider knowledge test prior to 17 January 2005, you must re-sit and pass the driver/rider knowledge test before a NSW licence can be issued to you.
• If you hold a licence from a recognised country and failed a practical driving/riding test prior to 20 May 2002, you must re-sit and pass a practical driving/riding test before a NSW licence can be issued to you.
• If you hold a licence from a recognised country and you are applying for a class of licence other than a NSW car or rider licence, you must sit and pass both a knowledge test and a practical driving test.