Which overseas driver licences convert to an Australian licence without a test?
Under Austroads' Recognised Overseas Licences Scheme, licences from 42 countries and territories can be transferred to an Australian licence without further training or testing, including the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and most of the European Union. Fourteen were added in 2026, among them South Korea, Taiwan, Poland and Hungary: recognition started in Western Australia and Queensland on 31 October 2026, and starts in the Northern Territory, South Australia and NSW on 1 January 2027 and in Tasmania on 1 February 2027. The former Experienced Driver Recognition arrangements ended in early 2026. Licences from other countries, such as India, China, Nepal or the Philippines, can still be transferred, but the state may require tests.
The 42 recognised countries and territories
Licences from these jurisdictions can be transferred to an Australian driver licence without completing training and testing, according to Austroads. Applicants must still meet the other requirements of their state or territory.
| Austria | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bulgaria (new) | Canada | Croatia |
| Cyprus (new) | Czech Republic (new) | Denmark |
| Estonia (new) | Finland | France |
| Germany | Greece | Guernsey |
| Hungary (new) | Ireland | Isle of Man (licences first issued on or after 1 April 1991) |
| Italy | Japan | Jersey |
| Latvia (new) | Lithuania (new) | Luxembourg |
| Malta (licences first issued on or after 2 January 2004) | Netherlands | New Zealand |
| Norway | Poland (new) | Portugal |
| Romania (new) | Serbia (new) | Singapore |
| Slovakia (new) | Slovenia (new) | South Korea (new) |
| Spain | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Taiwan (new) | United Kingdom | USA |
When the 14 new countries are recognised, state by state
| State or territory | Start date (Austroads) |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | 31 October 2026 |
| Queensland | 31 October 2026 |
| Northern Territory | 1 January 2027 |
| South Australia | 1 January 2027 |
| New South Wales | 1 January 2027 |
| Tasmania | 1 February 2027 |
| Victoria, ACT | Not stated on the Austroads page: check with VicRoads or Access Canberra |
Until the start date in your state, a licence from one of the 14 new countries is treated as not recognised.
If your country is not on the list
India, China, Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colombia and most other countries are not on the list. You can still transfer your licence: the difference is that your state or territory may require tests, such as a knowledge test, a hazard perception test or a practical driving assessment. Each state sets its own requirements and deadlines.
Recognised does not mean no translation
Recognition removes the tests, not the paperwork. If your licence is not in English, you still need an English translation for the transfer:
- In Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, a translation by a NAATI translator is accepted, each with its own conditions. See the rules by state.
- In NSW, only the Free Translating Service, Multicultural NSW and, for Korean and Taiwanese licences, the Korean Consulate-General and TECO Sydney are accepted. See what NSW accepts.
- Western Australia does not ask for a translation of Irish or Maltese licences in the EU plastic card format, nor of UK licences in English and Welsh.
Most licences on the list that are not in English, such as French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish or Taiwanese licences, therefore still need a translation.
FAQ
Is my Indian, Chinese or Nepali licence recognised?
India, China and Nepal are not on the list of recognised jurisdictions published by Austroads. You can still transfer your licence, but the state or territory may ask you to pass a knowledge test, a hazard perception test or a practical driving test.
When can I transfer a South Korean or Taiwanese licence without a test?
According to Austroads, recognition of the 14 jurisdictions added in 2026 starts in Western Australia and Queensland on 31 October 2026, in the Northern Territory, South Australia and NSW on 1 January 2027, and in Tasmania on 1 February 2027. Check with your state for Victoria and the ACT.
Do I still need a translation if my country is recognised?
Yes, if your licence is not in English. Recognition removes the tests, not the need for an English translation. In NSW the translation must come from the Free Translating Service, Multicultural NSW or, for Korean and Taiwanese licences, the Korean Consulate-General or TECO Sydney.
Does this change anything for visitors?
No. These arrangements concern transferring to an Australian licence. Visitors driving on a valid overseas licence follow separate rules.
What happened to Experienced Driver Recognition?
Until 2025, holders of licences from some other countries who were over 25 could get an Australian licence without testing. That status ended for all states and territories in early 2026.
Sources
- Austroads, Applying for a Licence in Australia or New Zealand (list of recognised jurisdictions and start dates)
- Austroads, Recognised Overseas Licences Scheme
- Western Australia DTMI, Changes to overseas driver's licence recognition from 31 October 2026
- Western Australia DTMI, Transfer a licence from a recognised jurisdiction (translation exemptions)
Rules change. Check with the authority you are applying to before you submit. We re-read these pages regularly and log changes below.
Change log
- 4 November 2026: First version, based on the Austroads list of recognised jurisdictions and start dates read on 4 November 2026.