Moving to Australia, and settling into the Central West, comes with plenty of practical things to organise. If you’re planning to drive, understanding what you need to do with your overseas driver licence should be high on the to-do list.

The rules can seem a little confusing at first because what you need to do depends on your visa or residency status, the country that issued your licence and how long you have held your licence.

Here’s a simple guide from The Welcome Experience Central West team to help you get started.

Can I drive in NSW using my overseas licence?
Yes, provided your overseas licence is current and you meet the relevant NSW requirements. However, if you’re making NSW your home, there is a time limit on how long you can continue driving on it.

If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you can generally drive in NSW on your current overseas licence for up to three months from arriving in Australia. You’ll need to obtain a NSW licence within that period if you want to continue driving.

If you are a temporary visa holder and intend to live continuously in NSW for six months or longer, you generally need to obtain a NSW licence within six months to continue driving.
New Zealand licence holders have different arrangements and generally need to obtain a NSW licence within three months.

Don’t leave it until the last minute! Depending on the country that issued your licence, obtaining your NSW licence may involve several steps and could include both a knowledge test and practical driving test.

Does everyone have to sit a driving test?
No. This is where the country that issued your licence becomes important.

NSW recognises driver licences from a number of countries and jurisdictions. Eligible holders of licences from these recognised countries can generally convert an overseas car licence to a NSW licence without completing the NSW knowledge or practical driving tests.

Recognised countries and jurisdictions currently include countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Japan, Singapore, Germany, France, Italy and several other European countries.

If your licence was issued by a country or jurisdiction that is not on the current recognised list, you will generally need to pass the relevant NSW knowledge and practical driving tests before receiving the equivalent NSW licence.

The rules changed on 1 February 2026, so don’t rely on older information you may find online. Always check the current NSW Government list for your country.

What if I’m coming from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal or the Philippines?
We welcome essential workers to the Central West from many different parts of the world, so this is particularly important.

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Philippines are not currently included on NSW’s recognised country list for licence conversion.

If you hold a licence from one of these countries, you will generally need to complete the required NSW knowledge and practical driving tests to convert your overseas licence.
Your overseas driving experience can still be important, however, as the length of time you have held your overseas licence helps determine which NSW licence you may ultimately be eligible to receive.

What NSW licence will I receive?

NSW takes into account how long you have held your overseas licence when determining the equivalent NSW licence.

As a general guide:
– Licence held for less than 12 months: you may be eligible for a P1 provisional licence.
– Licence held for more than 12 months but less than three years: you may be eligible for a P2 provisional licence.
– Licence held for more than three years: you may be eligible for an unrestricted NSW driver licence.

You may still need to complete the required knowledge and driving tests depending on where your overseas licence was issued.

What documents will I need?
Before visiting Service NSW, get your documents organised.

You will generally need:
• a completed NSW Licence Application form
• proof of identity
• your original overseas driver licence
• an approved translation if your licence isn’t written in English
• proof of Australian permanent residency, if applicable
• a licence validation letter if required for your particular overseas licence
• payment for the applicable licence fees.

If you don’t have permanent residency, you may instead be issued a Temporary Overseas Visitor licence.

What if my licence isn’t in English?
If your overseas licence isn’t in English, you’ll need an approved English translation. Importantly, NSW doesn’t accept just any translated copy. Transport for NSW currently accepts translations from approved organisations including Multicultural NSW and the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, with specific arrangements also available for licences issued in South Korea and Taiwan. You will need to provide the original translation document rather than a photocopy. Check the current requirements before arranging a translation so you don’t spend money on one that can’t be accepted.

You may need to sit the Driver Knowledge Test
If your country isn’t exempt from testing, one of your steps will be passing the NSW Driver Knowledge Test. This tests your understanding of NSW road rules and safe driving practices.
Even if you’ve been driving for many years overseas, take some time to familiarise yourself with the NSW road rules before sitting the test. There may be road rules, signs and driving practices that are different from those in your home country. The NSW Road User Handbook is a great place to start.

The practical Driving Test
Depending on your licence and country of origin, you may also need to complete a practical NSW Driving Test. This assesses your ability to drive safely and apply NSW road rules in everyday driving situations. Even experienced drivers may find it helpful to book a lesson with a local driving instructor before their test. An instructor can help familiarise you with what NSW testing officers will be looking for and identify any driving habits that may be different from Australian requirements.

An important warning about the practical test
There is one rule overseas licence holders should be particularly aware of. If you’re required to sit a NSW practical driving test and you fail the test, your visiting driving privileges cease.
This means you can’t simply continue driving using your overseas licence after an unsuccessful NSW driving test. You will need to obtain a NSW learner licence and comply with the relevant learner requirements until you’re able to successfully complete another driving test. For this reason, don’t feel that you need to rush into your practical test. Take some time to become familiar with NSW roads and road rules and consider having a lesson with a local driving instructor beforehand.

IMPORTANT: Before you book your driving test
If you are converting an overseas licence and are required to complete a NSW practical Driving Test, consider booking a lesson with a local driving instructor before sitting your test, even if you have been driving for many years. If you fail the NSW Driving Test, you will no longer be able to drive in NSW using your overseas licence. You will need to obtain a NSW learner licence before you can drive again and follow learner licence conditions until you successfully pass another driving test. A lesson with a NSW driving instructor beforehand can help you become familiar with local road rules, testing requirements and what the examiner will be looking for. For essential workers living in regional NSW, where having access to a vehicle can be particularly important, a little preparation before your test is well worth it.

Visit Service NSW
Applications to convert an overseas driver licence are made in person at a Service NSW Centre. Depending on your circumstances, you’ll submit your documents, complete an eyesight test, have your photograph taken and undertake any required knowledge or driving tests. Once your NSW licence has been issued, it becomes your authority to drive in NSW and your overseas licence no longer provides you with driving authority here.

Following are the Service NSW offices in our Central West region. Some agencies are within Council and Post office locations.

Parkes Shire — Service NSW Parkes
51–55 Currajong Street, Parkes NSW 2870

Forbes Shire — Service NSW Forbes
139 Rankin Street, Forbes NSW 2871

Cowra Shire — Service NSW Cowra
97 Brisbane Street, Cowra NSW 2794

Weddin Shire — Service NSW Agency
Weddin Shire Council, corner of Weddin Street and Camp Street, Grenfell NSW 2810

Condobolin — Service NSW Agency
Lachlan Shire Council, 58–64 Molong Street, Condobolin NSW 2877

Lake Cargelligo — Service NSW Agency
Lachlan Shire Council, 35A Foster Street, Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672.

Bathurst — Service NSW Bathurst
Corner of Mitchell Highway and Bradwardine Road, Bathurst NSW 2795.

Orange — Service NSW Orange
122–124 Kite Street, Orange NSW 2800.

Oberon — Service NSW Agency
Oberon Council, 137 Oberon Street, Oberon NSW 2787.

Lithgow — Service NSW Lithgow
Valley Plaza, Shop 51, corner of Lithgow Street and Bent Street, Lithgow NSW 2790.

Give yourself plenty of time
Your ability to drive can be incredibly important when living and working in regional NSW. Distances between towns can be considerable and public transport options aren’t always the same as those available in metropolitan areas. For that reason, start investigating your licence requirements soon after you arrive rather than waiting until your three or six-month deadline approaches. Your Local Connector can help you find the relevant NSW Government information, locate your nearest Service NSW Centre and connect you with local driving instructors if you’d like some practice or assistance preparing for your driving test.

Getting behind the wheel can also be an important part of discovering your new home, and before long you’ll be navigating the roads of the Central West like a local!