Testing requirements to transfer your overseas licence
The steps to get a Queensland licence can be different, where your overseas licence was issued and the licence class you want to apply for.
If the equivalent licence class cannot be confirmed, you may need to provide extra information, or your licence may need to be transferred to a lower class.
New Zealand
Car or motorcycle licence
You will not need to pass a road rules test or practical driving test if you hold or have held within the last 5 years, a New Zealand driver licence that corresponds to a class C, RE or R driver licence and you are applying for a Queensland car or motorcycle driver licence.
If you hold or have held within the last 5 years, a New Zealand learner licence that corresponds to a class C, RE or R learner licence, you will not need to pass a road rules test to apply for a Queensland learner licence.
To be eligible for a class RE learner licence, you must have held a provisional or open class C licence for at least 1 year in the last 5 years.
Heavy vehicle driver licence
If you are applying for a Queensland heavy vehicle driver licence (class LR, MR, HR, HC or MC), and you hold, or have held within the last 5 years an equivalent heavy vehicle licence issued in New Zealand, you will need to pass a road rules test for heavy vehicles.
You will not have to take the practical driving test.
Multi-combination licence
If you want to transfer a multi-combination licence (MC), you will need to:
- meet the requirements for a heavy vehicle driver licence
- complete the multi-combination driving experience declaration form
- provide evidence of your ability to drive a B-double or road train, including evidence confirming the valid registration period and Gross Combined Weight (GCW) of the truck and trailer combination you drove most recently. This can be obtained by the registered operator emailing info@nzta.govt.nz.
Recognised countries and jurisdictions
The countries listed below are 'recognised countries'. The requirements to get a Queensland licence if transferring from a recognised country are as follows:
Obtaining Queensland learner licences
You will not need to pass a road rules test if you hold or have held within the last 5 years a learner licence that corresponds to a class C, RE or R licence issued from these countries and jurisdictions.
To be eligible for a class RE learner licence, you must have held a provisional or open class C licence for at least 1 year in the last 5 years.
Obtaining Queensland provisional or open licences
Car and motorcycle licences
You will not need to pass a road rules test or a practical driving test if you hold, or have held within the last 5 years, a driver licence (other than a learner licence), that corresponds to a class C, RE or R licence issued from these countries and jurisdictions.
Heavy vehicle licences (class LR, MR, HR, HC or MC)
You will need to pass a road rules test and a practical driving test.
Recognised countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Canada
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guernsey
- Ireland
- Isle of Man (for licences issued on or after 1 April 1991)
- Italy
- Japan
- Jersey
- Luxembourg
- Malta (for licences issued on or after 2 January 2004)
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
(External territories of these countries/jurisdictions are excluded)
Non-recognised countries and jurisdictions
If your overseas licence has been issued by a country or jurisdiction that isn't listed above, you will need to pass a road rules test (written test or PrepL) and practical driving test to get a Queensland licence.
After you pass your road rules test, you need to book a practical driving test. You don't need to get a Queensland learner licence to take your test—you can use your overseas licence.
If you fail your driving test
If you fail a practical driving test, your authority to drive on your overseas licence will be withdrawn. This means you can no longer drive with your overseas licence in Queensland.
If you need to practise before taking your next test, you will have to get a Queensland learner licence.
You will be able to use your overseas licence for the next practical driving test you take.
Heavy vehicle licences
If your overseas licence is equivalent to a heavy vehicle class and you want to apply for a Queensland heavy vehicle driver licence (class LR, MR, HR or HC), you will need to pass a road rules test and a practical driving test to get a Queensland car licence (Class C) first.
Once you have Queensland car licence, you will need to pass a road rules test for heavy vehicles and a practical driving test for the higher class of licence you are applying for.
Supporting documents
If your driver licence doesn't have an issue date, you may need to provide supporting documents from the Driver Licensing Authority that issued your licence when upgrading your licence class or applying for a Queensland motorcycle licence.
For example, if you are a Hong Kong licence holder who has obtained a Queensland class C licence and wish to upgrade to a Queensland heavy vehicle driver licence or Queensland motorcycle licence, you must supply an official Certificate of Driving Licence Particulars. Use TD—320 Application for a Certificate of Driving Licence Particulars to request the certificate.