Converting Your Overseas Licence in Australia: A State-by-State Guide

The Short Version

Whether you can just swap your overseas licence or need to sit tests depends on two things: which country issued your licence, and which Australian state you live in.

If your country is on the recognised list — you walk into a service centre, hand over your documents, and walk out with an Australian licence. No tests.

If it's not — and that includes China, India, and most of Asia, Africa, and South America — you'll need to pass a knowledge test and a practical driving test. The process, costs, and difficulty vary a lot between states.

Quick Comparison

Recognised Countries

All states recognise the same core list of about 28 countries. If yours is here, you can convert directly with no tests:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.

Not recognised (tests required): China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and most countries in Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

2025-2026 EDR Reform — Major Change

The Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) category has been removed across all states. This is the biggest change to overseas licence conversion in years.

Previously, drivers aged 25+ from 16 "EDR countries" could swap their licence without tests. That's no longer possible anywhere in Australia.

EDR End Dates by State

Affected Countries

These 16 countries have lost EDR status: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan.

Drivers from these countries now must pass the same knowledge and driving tests as any other non-recognised country, regardless of age or experience.

State-by-State Details

New South Wales (NSW)

Authority: Service NSW

If recognised: Direct swap, no tests.

If not recognised (including China):

1. Pass the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) — $57
2. Pass the Practical Driving Test — $70

What licence you get:

Deadline: 3 months (PR) / 6 months (temporary visa).

Cost: DKT $57 + driving test $70 + 5-year licence $228 = $355 total.

Victoria (VIC)

Authority: VicRoads (Department of Transport and Planning)

If recognised: Direct swap at a VicRoads centre.

If not recognised (including China):

1. Pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test — free online (first attempt)
2. Pass the Hazard Perception Test — free online (first attempt)
3. Pass the Practical Driving Test — ~$52 + $21.50 appointment fee

Victoria is the most affordable state for overseas conversions. Your first knowledge test and HPT attempts are free through the Motorist Package, and VIC has the highest pass rate in Australia at 75%.

Temporary visa holders can drive with their overseas licence plus an English translation — no conversion required while visiting.

Deadline: 6 months for permanent residents.

Queensland (QLD)

Authority: Transport and Main Roads (TMR)

If recognised: Direct swap at a TMR centre.

If not recognised (including China):

1. Pass the Road Rules Test — ~$24
2. Pass the Q-SAFE Practical Driving Test — ~$67, 30-45 minutes

Warning: If you fail the Q-SAFE while driving on your overseas licence, your authority to drive in Queensland is immediately withdrawn. You cannot drive at all until you get a Queensland Learner licence and pass the test. This is unique to QLD — no other state does this.

Booking: Overseas licence holders can only book by phone (13 23 80), not online.

Deadline: 3 months for citizens and permanent residents.

Western Australia (WA)

Authority: Department of Transport (DoT)

If recognised: Direct swap.

If not recognised (including China):

1. Computerised Theory Test (CTT) — 30 questions, need 24 correct (80%)
2. Vision test
3. Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) — must pass 4 out of 5 sections

WA has Australia's lowest pass rate at 35%. The best centre (Success) has only 49%, and the worst (Mandurah) sits at 27%. Take this test seriously even if you're experienced — many people underestimate it.

If you pass in an automatic, you get an automatic-only licence. Manual requires passing in manual.

Cost: Theory ~$20, PDA ~$85, licence ~$164.

Deadline: 3 months for citizens and permanent residents.

South Australia (SA)

Authority: Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT)

If recognised: Direct swap.

If not recognised (including China):

1. Theory Test — ~$36
2. VORT (Vehicle On Road Test) — 45 minutes

SA is different from every other state: the VORT is run by private certified assessors, not government examiners. This means costs vary and you're essentially choosing your assessor.

VORT details:

• Five mandatory manoeuvres: angle parking, three-point turn, reverse parallel park, U-turn, hill start
• General driving through traffic, roundabouts, lane changes
• Pass mark: 90% — the highest in Australia
• Any traffic violation = immediate termination
• Your assessor cannot be the instructor who taught you

Cost: The most expensive state. VORT fees range from $340 to $430+ depending on the assessor. Some packages with pre-test lessons cost up to $1,200.

Coming in 2027: Government examiners will replace private assessors. Fees are expected to drop to around $240.

School zones: SA has the lowest limit at 25 km/h (vs 40 km/h in other states). Don't forget this if you're used to driving in other states.

Deadline: 3 months (PR). Temporary visa holders can use their overseas licence for up to 12 months with an IDP or translation.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Authority: Access Canberra

If recognised: Direct swap.

If not recognised (including China) — rules changed July 2025:

1. Complete the ACT Pre-Learner Licence Course
2. Pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test
3. Pass the Practical Driving Assessment — 25-45 minutes, 23 competencies assessed

You get one shot. If you fail the driving test with your overseas licence, you must enter the full ACT graduated licensing system — which means a Learner licence, 50-100 hours of supervised driving, and starting from scratch.

Two paths to a licence:

1. Government assessment — one-off test with Access Canberra examiners
2. CBT&A — assessed by a certified instructor through a logbook system

Pass rate: Dropped from 60.8% (2021) to 47.7% (2025).

Cost: Driving test ~$129, P licence ~$160.

Tasmania (TAS)

Authority: Service Tasmania

If recognised: Direct swap.

If not recognised (including China):

1. Knowledge Test — ~$38
2. Hazard Perception Test
3. Practical Driving Assessment — ~$90

Good news: Tasmania has one of the highest first-time pass rates in Australia at roughly 86%. The roads are quieter, traffic is lighter, and many people with regular driving experience pass without difficulty.

The assessment includes U-turns, reverse parallel parking, merging and lane changes on 80+ km/h roads, plus six assessment sections.

Deadline: 6 months for permanent residents.

Northern Territory (NT)

Authority: Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR)

If recognised: Direct swap.

If not recognised (including China):

1. Theory Test — $20, 30 questions, need 26 correct (87%)
2. Practical Driving Test — ~$165-180 (varies by examiner), about 40 minutes, fully video recorded

What makes NT different:

• No minimum supervised driving hours — the only jurisdiction in Australia with none
• L-plate is only valid for 6 months — shortest in Australia
• Private certified examiners conduct tests (like SA)
• Fully video recorded for quality assurance
• After passing theory, you get an interim licence (1 year, 80 km/h limit) while preparing for the practical

Regardless of your overseas experience, you receive a P-plate licence after passing.

Cost: Theory $20, learner licence ~$22, practical test ~$165-180, P-plate ~$39-59.

Deadline: 3 months.

Documents You'll Need

Every state requires roughly the same paperwork:

1. Original overseas licence — not a copy, not a photo on your phone
2. NAATI-certified English translation — options include:
   • NAATI-certified translators (most reliable)
   • Department of Home Affairs Free Translating Service (free for permanent residents)
   • Some states accept tertiary-qualified translators
3. Passport (current)
4. Visa or residency evidence
5. Proof of address — utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement
6. Payment for tests and licence

Tip: Bring extra ID. Requirements can vary between individual service centres, and having backup documents saves you a wasted trip.

Common Mistakes Overseas Drivers Make

These are the reasons experienced overseas drivers fail the Australian driving test. Every single one is avoidable.

1. No head checks. In Australia, you must physically turn your head to check your blind spot before changing lanes, merging, or pulling out. Mirror checks alone aren't enough. This is the number one fail reason for overseas drivers across every state.

2. Not stopping at amber. You must stop on amber if it's safe to do so. Treating amber as "speed up" will fail you instantly.

3. Pedestrian right of way. Give way to pedestrians at marked crossings at all times. Also give way to pedestrians when turning into a side road, even if they haven't started crossing yet.

4. Rolling stops. Come to a complete standstill at stop signs. Count to three. Any rolling movement, no matter how slow, counts as a violation.

5. Overconfidence. Years of driving experience can actually hurt you if your habits conflict with Australian rules. Take a few professional lessons even if you've been driving for decades.

How to Prepare

• 3-5 professional lessons — An instructor will teach you the specific habits Australian examiners look for. Worth every dollar.
• Learn the local rules — Each state has quirks: U-turn laws in NSW, hook turns in Melbourne, 25 km/h school zones in SA
• Practice near your test centre — Familiarity with the area makes a real difference
• Choose your centre wisely — Pass rates range from 27% (Mandurah, WA) to 86% (Tasmania). Location matters.
• Book between 10 AM and 2 PM, mid-week — No school zones active, lighter traffic, less pressure

Language Support

If English isn't your first language:

• Tell the examiner at the start — they'll speak slowly and use hand gestures
• Some states allow an interpreter (check with your local authority)
• Practice the common examiner commands: "Turn left at the next intersection", "Pull over to the left when it's safe", "Change lanes to the right"

Practice Real Test Routes

AUDrive provides GPS-guided practice on real driving test routes across Australia. Visit audrive.net to find routes near your test centre and practice them before your test day.

Fees listed are current as of the latest available data (July 2025 for most states). Rules and costs change regularly — always verify with your state's transport authority before booking.