Transferring your overseas licence

Laws about driving legally in Western Australia

If you hold a permanent resident visa granted under the Migration Act 1958 you can drive in WA provided you hold a valid overseas licence until you have resided in WA for three months since the granting of the visa.

For example:

• a person who is granted a permanent visa while overseas, may drive on their overseas licence upon arrival in WA until they have resided in WA for three months; or
• a person who is granted a permanent visa while in WA, may continue to drive in WA on their overseas licence until they have resided in WA for three months following the granting of the visa.

During this time, you will need to apply for a WA driver's licence using the procedure below.

Once have held a permanent visa for three months whilst residing in Western Australia, or your overseas driver's licence has expired or been disqualified, you cannot drive on your overseas licence.

Experience requirements

Please go to Vehicle classes to find out more about the age and experience requirements for the different vehicle classes.

Eyesight test (all applicants)

This will be conducted at the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) Centre or regional agent when you apply for your licence. If you use any visual aids to pass the eyesight test, your licence will be endorsed to show that you must wear those aids when driving.

Proof of identity

When applying for your first driver's licence, you must supply a number of documents as proof of your identity. Driver's licences are legal identification documents, and thus proof of identity is required when applying for one.

The name on your documentation should provide a clear link to the name on your overseas driver's licence; if the name on your overseas driver's licence does not match the name on your identification documents a Western Australian licence cannot be granted.

If you have changed your name you will need to provide documentation relating to your name change (e.g. divorce papers, marriage certificate, change of name certificate or licence to change name documentation).

Please go to Proof of identity for more information.

Non-English language driver's licences

If your overseas driver’s licence document is not in English, you must present an official translation of your overseas driver's licence document, along with your original overseas driver's licence.

You can send an email containing a photograph, photocopy or electronic scan of your original overseas driver's licence to a NAATI translator. The photograph, photocopy or electronic scan must:

• include the front and rear of the driver's licence including all edges;
• be completely legible; and
• be in colour.

Once you receive your translation from a NAATI translator, you must then attend a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent with the following documents:

• the original overseas driver’s licence;
• the photograph, photocopy or electronic scan of the driver's licence that was sent to the NAATI translator;
• the accompanying translation; and
• all other required documents for the transfer of the overseas driver’s licence.

Translations of overseas driver's licences are accepted from:

• NAATI Certified translators (see National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters NAATI).
• Department of Home Affairs (DHA) ‘Free Translating Service’ (for eligible customers, for further information see translating.homeaffairs.gov.au).
• Translations by Consulates or Embassies may only be accepted where the language required to be translated is not provided by NAATI.

Translations of overseas driver's licences by NAATI certified translators should be endorsed with an official NAATI stamp. When an official NAATI stamp is not available the translation can still be accepted provided that:

• The translated document includes the details of the translator (NAATI registration number, name of translator, level of certification and signature); and
• Those details have been verified by the Department of Transport.

Accreditation

Note: All document pages must be endorsed with an official NAATI certification or recognised practising credential stamp and signature. These endorsed pages must include the translation and a copy of the translated document. You must also present the original licence document.

Prior to the start of the NAATI Certification system in January 2018, NAATI issued translator stamps under the old accreditation system. These stamps are no longer issued.

Photographs

You will need to have your photograph taken for your driver's licence. Your photograph will be taken at a Driver and Vehicle Services centre or regional agent or Photo Point location. Your signature will also need to be captured.

If you have concerns regarding the photograph, please refer to our frequently asked questions.

Driver's licences from the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong or the Republic of Singapore

If your overseas driver’s licence has been issued in the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong or the Republic of Singapore, you do not need to obtain a verification letter from your Consulate. The Department of Transport will contact the road safety authority in the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong or the Republic of Singapore on your behalf to verify your licence details.

Hong Kong driver’s licence holders will need:

• to complete a Customer Consent to Obtain Information from Hong Kong Licensing Authority (E56C) form at a Driver and Vehicle Services centre or regional agent,
• the Hong Kong identity documents (passport and/or identity card) used when the Hong Kong driver licence was obtained, and
• the number on at least one of the identity documents must be the same as the number issued to the driver licence.

The Hong Kong Transport Department will not release information to DoT without sighting a certified copy of the identity documents used to apply for the Hong Kong driver licence.

Driver’s licences from New Zealand

If your overseas driver’s licence has been issued in New Zealand and you are unable to produce your New Zealand driver’s licence document, a 'Certificate of Particulars' or a letter verifying your licence details will be accepted. The Department of Transport will contact the New Zealand Traffic Authority on your behalf to confirm your driver’s licence details before it can be accepted.

Driver's licences issued in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iraq and Pakistan

If you hold a driver's licence issued in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iraq, or Pakistan you are required to obtain a Letter of Verification from your high commission, embassy or consulate validating the authenticity of the driver's licence.

The Department of Transport will only accept verification of an Afghanistan driver’s licences from the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra.

The verification process will take about four weeks to complete. Please ensure that this letter of verification has been sent to the Department of Transport before applying for your driver's licence.

Note: If you have been granted Australian Citizenship, the consulates of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Iraq may not verify a driver's licence issued in their respective country.

Please use the contact information below to locate the nearest consulate in your area.

Please note:

• NAATI, WAITI, and AUSIT maintain an online directory of practitioners and do not provide the actual translation service.
• The Department of Transport only accepts driver licence translations provided by the DHA, 'Free Translating Service' where the translation has been performed by a NAATI certified translator.

Applications for a new driver's licence must be submitted in person at a Driver and Vehicle Services centre or regional agent.

Please ensure you take the following documentation with you:

• Current overseas driver's licence.
• Proof of identity
• Proof of your WA residential address.
• One document that shows your signature.
• Application fee

Note:

• If you’re a visa holder and the name on your visa application does not match your passport, we will request an update to your name on Department of Home Affairs records before you’re issued a driver’s licence. This may take 1-2 weeks. 
• If you have not held your overseas driver's licence for more than 2 years, or you are under the age of 19 years of age, you are considered a Novice Driver. You will be issued with a provisional licence ('P' plates). Your new driver's licence will show when the provisional driving period ends.

All applicants will be required to take the eye test when applying for a driver's licence. If required, medical and other tests must also be completed before issue of the licence.

Eyesight test (all applicants)

This will be conducted at the Driver and Vehicle Services centre or regional agent when you apply for your licence. If you use any visual aids to pass the eyesight test, your licence will be endorsed to show that you must wear those aids when driving.

Medical test (if necessary)

When applying for your licence you must declare on your application whether you have any medical conditions and/or take any medication that may affect your ability to drive. We will let you know if you need to undertake a medical examination.

Other tests

Additional tests and assessments that may be required include:

• Road rules theory test.
• Motorcycle theory test.
• Heavy vehicle theory test.

Upon passing the necessary tests you will be issued with a learner's permit ('L' plates) until you pass a Practical Driving Assessment (PDA).

You can drive on your overseas driver licence until a WA driver’s licence is granted, provided that:

• You drive only vehicles for which you hold the appropriate authorisation on your overseas licence; and
• The overseas licence remains valid (i.e.) it has not expired or been disqualified; and
• You have not resided in WA for more than three months since the grant of your Permanent Resident visa, and
• You abide by the conditions applicable to holding a learner’s permit when learning to drive a vehicle of a higher class.

For more information on undertaking a Practical Driving Assessment please go to Pass a Practical Driving Assessment.