Transferring to a Queensland licence
If you have moved to Queensland, you will need to apply for a Queensland driver licence if you are:
- an Australian citizen and you've been living in Queensland for 3 months
- not an Australian citizen but you were given a resident visa before you moved to Queensland and you have been living in Queensland for 3 months
- not an Australian citizen, but you were given a resident visa after you moved to Queensland and you've been living in Queensland for 3 months since getting the visa.
A resident visa is a permanent visa or special category visa under the Migration Act 1958 (Commonwealth). These visas allow a person to stay indefinitely in Australia. These do not include temporary, business or guardian visas.
How to apply for a Queensland driver licence
You can apply for a Queensland licence for the same class as your interstate or overseas licence by visiting one of the following:
- transport and motoring customer service centre
- participating Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office
- licence-issuing police station (in rural or remote areas of Queensland).
You must meet the minimum age requirement for the type of Queensland licence you are applying for.
You do not have to complete a driver licence application form when visiting a transport and motoring customer service centre. You will need to complete a driver licence application (F3000) at police stations and most QGAP offices.
Your authority to drive on your interstate or overseas licence will be withdrawn when you have been issued with a Queensland licence. This means you can no longer drive with your interstate or overseas licence in Queensland.
Your Queensland licence will be the same class as your interstate or overseas licence. It will include any conditions that were listed on your interstate or overseas licence unless you provide documentary evidence that we can remove the conditions.
Interstate licence
If you are transferring an interstate licence you will need to:
- bring your interstate licence—you will have to hand it in to get your Queensland licence
- bring your evidence of identity documents—including proof that you live in Queensland
- declare that you are medically fit to drive the class of vehicle—you may need to provide a medical certificate
- pay the applicable fees.
Current interstate licence
If your interstate licence is current, you must pay the interstate licence transfer fee. The unexpired period left on your interstate licence will be transferred to your Queensland licence (to a maximum of 5 years). You can also choose to pay a fee to add additional time to your new Queensland licence.
If your interstate licence expiry date is within 12 months and you choose to give up the unexpired period, the interstate licence transfer fee will be waived. You will only pay the Queensland licence fee for the term of your choice (1 to 5 years). The unexpired period of your interstate licence will not be transferred to your Queensland licence.
Expired interstate licence
If your interstate licence is expired, you will only pay the licence fee for the term you have selected—you won't need to pay the interstate licence transfer fee.
Overseas licence
If you are transferring an overseas licence you will need to:
- bring your overseas licence
- bring a recognised English translation (if the licence is not in English) from an approved National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) translator
- bring your evidence of identity documents—including proof that you live in Queensland
- declare that you are medically fit to drive the class of vehicle—you may need to provide a medical certificate
- pass and pay the fees for a road rules test and practical driving test—unless your overseas licence is from an exempt overseas country
- pay the licence fee—the cost will depend on how long you want your Queensland licence for.
All documents must be originals—photocopies and certified copies are not acceptable. We may keep information about, or a copy of your evidence of identity documents. This is so we can verify these documents with the issuing agency or a document verification service.
Need help with the road rules test?
You can talk with your family and friends to help you complete PrepL online, but there are serious penalties if you have someone else do the course for you. If you can't complete the PrepL course online, we can arrange for an interpreter or a staff member to help you with a written road rules test in one of our licence-issuing offices .
You can get more information about this service by contacting your local licence-issuing office.
Exempt overseas countries
The requirements for getting a Queensland driver licence can vary, depending on where your overseas licence was issued and the licence class you want to apply for. Find out what the requirements are for your overseas licence.