Converting to a New Zealand driver licence

How to convert to a New Zealand licence

To convert your overseas driver licence to a New Zealand driver licence, you must apply at a driver licensing agent .

You will need to:

• fill out an application form
• present evidence of your identity
• prove your eyesight meets the required standard
• provide a medical certificate (if required)
• present your overseas driver licence (and a translation if it is not in English)
• let the agent take your photo and signature
• pay the application fee
• provide photocopies of all the original documents you have provided, as listed above (including any translation).

You may also need to pass theory and practical tests . If you do, you will also have to pay the test fees .

Find a driver licensing agent in your area

There is a minimum age

These are the minimum ages you must be before getting each type of driver licence:

Theory and practical tests required for drivers from some countries

Theory tests

You do not have to sit a theory test if:

• you have a licence from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, and
• your licence is current (or has expired within the last 12 months), and
• you are converting a car or a motorcycle licence only.

You do have to sit a theory test if:

• you have a licence from a country not listed above, or
• you are converting a heavy vehicle licence from any country.

Find out all about the driver licence theory tests

Practical tests

You do not have to sit the practical test if:

• you have a licence from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, and
• your licence is current (or has expired within the last 12 months), and
• you have held that licence for more than two years.

You may need to provide proof of the issue date of your overseas licence.

You do have to sit the practical test if:

• you have a licence from a country not listed above, or
• you have a licence from a country which is listed above but you have held that licence for less than two years, or
• you have a licence from Hong Kong or South Korea and you are converting a heavy traffic licence.

Find out all about the driver licence practical tests

You must follow the conditions

If your New Zealand driver licence has been issued with any conditions, you must follow them.

For example, if you are required to pass the practical test but have not yet done so, you will have a supervisor condition. This means you must be accompanied with a supervisor at all times while driving.

Who can be a supervisor?

If you are converting a motorcycle licence you will not have a supervisor condition on your licence. Instead, you will be given a learner licence. You must follow all the conditions of a motorcycle learner licence until you have passed your practical test.

Check out the conditions of a motorcycle learner licence

If you fail the test, you may not be able to drive

• If you fail the theory test, but you have been in New Zealand for less than 12 months, you can still continue to drive on your overseas licence.
• If you fail the theory test , and you have been in New Zealand for more than 12 months, you cannot drive in New Zealand. You can apply to sit the theory test again.
• If you fail the practical test, you must only drive with a supervisor. Once you have resat the test and passed, then you will be able to drive alone.

Different types of licence require different tests

Different types of vehicles are grouped into ‘classes’. There are different theory and practical tests for different classes:

• Class 1 covers cars and light-weight motor vehicles (eg vans and utilities)
• Classes 2–5 cover trucks
• Class 6 covers motorcycles.

Please note that New Zealand licence classes are not an exact match to those that apply overseas.

See the full definition of New Zealand driver licence classes

Most people will sit the theory and practical tests for a car licence.

If you want a motorcycle licence as well, you will have to sit another set of tests.  If you also want a truck licence, you will need to sit a different set of tests.

Make sure you tell the driving licensing agent which types of licence you want to convert.

Download Factsheet 72: Converting to a New Zealand licence