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 that has not been issued more than 3 months 

Note: A New Zealand driver licence holder is treated the same as a driver with an interstate licence, (see below)

 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
  • 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

You may drive in Tasmania

for up to 3 months

from the date your permanent visa was issued 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

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, see Transferring an Interstate Licence.

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 driving assessment.

Getting a Tasmanian Licence

You must get a Tasmanian licence within 3 months of a permanent residency visa being issued. 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 car learner licence, 16 years and 6 months to hold a Tasmanian motorcycle 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 are the recognised countries:

Austria Belgium Canada Croatia
Denmark Finland France Germany
Greece Guernsey Ireland Italy
Isle of Man Japan Jersey Luxembourg
Malta Netherlands Norway Portugal
Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland
United Kingdom USA Bosnia & Herzegovina  

    Experienced Driver Recognition

    There is also nationally agreed Experienced Driver Recognition of a driver's experience from certain countries when they are transferring a current car and/or motorcycle licence. Heavy vehicle licences are not recognised.

    'Experienced driver recognition' means that all Australian jurisdictions recognises a licence holder's experience from the following countries:

    • Czech Republic
    • Hong Kong
    • Republic of Korea
    • Taiwan
    • Bulgaria
    • Cyprus
    • Hungary
    • Latvia
    • Lithuania
    • Poland
    • Romania
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • South Africa

    The criteria surrounding this category are as follows:


    Licence holders under 25 years of age:

    • The licence holder is tested (knowledge test and practical driving assessment)
    • If the licence holder passes testing and has held a driver licence for the minimum Tasmanian provisional period they will be issued a full Tasmanian driver licence
    • If the licence holder passes testing and has held a driver licence for less than the minimum Tasmanian provisional period they will be issued with the equivalent driver licence for the time they have held their overseas licence (ie. P1 or P2) until they meet the necessary Tasmanian experience requirements.
    • If the licence holder fails the testing they will be issued a learners licence.

    Licence holders 25 years of age or older:

    • The licence holder is exempt from testing
    • If the licence holder has held a licence for the minimum Tasmanian Provisional licence period they are issued with a full driver licence
    • If the licence holder has held a licence for less than the minimum Provisional licence period they are issued the equivalent P1 or P2 licence for the time they have been licensed

    What you need to do to transfer your overseas Licence

    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, see table above for recognised countries or if required under 'Experienced Driver recognition' criteria)
    • pass a practical driving assessment (if not from a recognised country see table above for recognised countries or if required under 'Experienced Driver Recognition' criteria)
    • 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, however if you don't pass the practical driving assessment you will need to be issued with a Tasmanian learner licence and you are unable to drive on your overseas licence.

    Customer receives

    You will receive:

    • receipt for fees paid
    • receipted temporary licence, which is valid for 21 days
    • a photo licence through the mail, which you should receive within 21 days from the date the Tasmanian licence was issued.

    Payment

    You will need to pay: