Print

Transferring an overseas licence

Driving on your overseas licence

You can drive in Tasmania on your overseas licence if you –

  • are a visitor OR
  • have a temporary visa (e.g. international students, refugees, working, holiday) OR
  • have a permanent visa and have been in Australia for 3 months or less

Note: A New Zealand driver licence holder is treated the same as a driver with an interstate licence.

 When driving in Tasmania:

  • you must carry your current overseas licence with you
  • if your licence is NOT in English, you must also carry either an official translation of your licence OR a current International Driving Permit
  • your overseas licence and International Driving Permit must be current (not expired, suspended or cancelled)
  • you must not be disqualified from driving

Learner and provisional drivers

If you’re a provisional driver, you must obey the Tasmanian provisional rules, including:

  • displaying P-plates
  • zero blood alcohol content
  • 80 km/h maximum speed limit
  • motorcycles - no pillion passengers for the first continuous 12 months
  • motorcycles - restricted to Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) motorcycles for the first continuous 12 months 

If you’re a learner driver, you must obey the Tasmanian learner rules, including:

  • displaying L-plates
  • zero blood alcohol content
  • 80 km/h maximum speed limit
  • car have a supervisory driver seated next to you who holds a full Australian licence and had no suspensions or disqualifications in the past 2 years
  • motorcycles - no pillion passenger can be carried unless the learner is under instruction and the instructor (pillion) has held a motorcycle licence (other than a learner licence) for a continuous period of at least 3 years and continues to hold such a licence
  • motorcycles - restricted to Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) motorcycles for the first continuous 12 months
  • motorcycles - hold a motorcycle learner licence for a continuous period of at least 6 months as a pre-requisite to obtaining a provisional motorcycle licence.

Permanent Visa Holders

As a permanent visa holder, you may drive in Tasmania for up to 3 months if your overseas licence is current and you carry it while driving.  If your overseas licence is not in English, you must also carry either:

  • An International Driving Permit

    or

  • An English translation of your licence by a person accredited to translate

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles may authorise an extension of the 3 month visitor's exemption.  An application for an extension must be made in writing to the Registration and Licensing Branch.

International Driving Permit or English translation

If your overseas licence is not in English, you must also carry either:

  •   An International Driving Permit

    or

  • An English translation of your licence by a person accredited to translate

Please note that you must pay the cost of the translation.

Some people may be eligible for a free translation of their driver licence from the Translating Interpreting Service if they are a migrant and hold a permanent visa less than 2 years old.

For more information see www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/help-with-english/learn-english/client/translation_help.htm

If you cannot produce your overseas licence a letter is required from the licensing authority in the country of issue or the appropriate consul or diplomatic mission.

Australian armed forces and Consular Officials

If you hold a Driver Identification Document issued by the Department of Defence, you are exempt from the requirement to obtain a Tasmanian driver licence.

Members of the Australian Armed Forces and consular officials are not subject to licence fees. Immediate family members who live with them do not have to transfer to a Tasmanian licence until their licence expires.

New Zealand drivers

If you hold a New Zealand licence, you can transfer to a Tasmanian driver licence in the same way as interstate licence holders, except you must pay the licence fee.

Ex-Australian licence

An Australian returning from overseas, who previously held a licence in Tasmania or other Australian jurisdiction within the past five years, is not required to undertake a knowledge or practical test.

Getting a Tasmanian Licence

You must get a Tasmanian licence within 3 months of becoming a permanent resident.  If you don't, you will be driving unlicensed.

Minimum age requirements

You must meet the Tasmanian minimum age requirements for holding a licence –

  • 16 years to hold a Tasmanian learner licence
  • 17 years to hold a Tasmanian provisional licence
  • 20 years to hold a Tasmanian full licence

If you don’t meet the age requirements, you cannot be issued with that licence type.

Exemption from licence tests

There is nationally agreed recognition of licences from certain countries that have similar licensing standards to Australia.

If you hold a current car or motorcycle licence from one of these countries, you will not have to take a knowledge test or an on-road driving test.

The following is a list of recognised countries:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Channel Islands
  • Denmark
  • Croatia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Guernsey 
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Isle of Man
  • Japan
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Singapore
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

What you need to do

To get a Tasmanian licence, you need to undertake the following in person at Service Tasmania shops or designated police stations:

  • provide Full Evidence of Identity
  • provide your overseas licence (and International Driving Permit or English translation if required)
  • complete a licence application form
  • pass a knowledge test on the Tasmanian road rules (if not from a recognised country)
  • pass a practical driving test (if not from a recognised country)
  • have your photograph taken and provide your signature

If you cannot produce your overseas licence a letter is required from the licensing authority in the country of issue or the appropriate consul or diplomatic mission.

You do not have to take out a learner licence provided your overseas licence is current.

Customer receives

You will receive:

  • receipt for fees paid
  • licence.

Payment

You will need to pay: