Starting nationwide in April 2025, Australia’s policy changes allow overseas drivers to qualify for local driving privileges. These changes have been made with an emphasis on ensuring consistent road safety and placing greater focus on safety measures in the drivers’ home countries and making the process more streamlined. For new arrivals, we present a short, human-written summary of the most crucial updates, steps in the process, and important details.
Summary of the New Rules
Most Australian states, with the exception of certain conditions in Western Australia and Queensland, are removing the “Experienced Driver Recognition” status on April 30, 2025. For drivers coming to Australia from countries that had used this status, more assessments will likely be required in obtaining their licenses.
Process Changes by Country
The changes to the conversion process differ by country. For “Recognised Countries” such as the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Finland, Japan and Singapore, drivers typically qualify for direct conversion of their licenses, without extra testing. However, drivers from countries that have previously been designasted as “Experienced Driver Recognition” status such as South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Africa, will now be required to take the road knowledge and in many cases, the practical driving tests.
What Migrants Need to Prepare
To convert an overseas license, applicants must complete a driver’s licence application form, furnish proof of identity and residency, and, if the documents are not English, supply an official translation. Pre-registration for the knowledge and road driving tests is a requirement in some states. Additionally, if a manual vehicle is used during the practical driving test, it’s the test will restrict driving to automatics.
State-Specific Requirements and Deadlines
Different states have different rules and transition deadlines. For example, a temporary grace period for compliance is in place until 31 October 2025 for Western Australia and New South Wales, while Queensland is expected to implement changes later in 2025. Migrants should check rules in their specific state and apply as soon as possible to avoid last-minute testing to complete the driving requirements.
| Form Field | Example Data |
|---|---|
| Name | Maria Silva |
| Country | Brazil |
| License Type | Car (Full) |
| Issue Date | 12-Jan-2022 |
Advice for New Migrants
Regulations in place allow migrants to use their overseas driving license legally for up to three months while driving in Australia, after for which it is illegal to continue driving without obtaining an Australian driver’s licence. However, temporary visitors can continue driving under the same conditions if their overseas license is valid and their visa allows such use.
Questions That Are most Commonly Asked
Q1: As a new migrant, can I temporarily drive with my overseas license?
Yes, but you can only drive with it for the first three months after you arrive, afterwards, you must convert your license.
Q2: If my country had the Experienced Driver Recognition, does this mean I won’t have to take a test?
You will most likely need to take a test, especially after April 2025, most states will require applicants to take both a written and practical test.
Q3: I have a license, but it isn’t written in English; what do I do?
You will need to get your documents officially translated. This is a requirement for the application process.
