Transfer your overseas driver's licence

If you have an overseas driver's licence or permit, you must get a South Australian driver's licence or permit within 3 months of becoming a permanent resident of South Australia.

Licences that are not in English

If your existing licence is not in English, you will need to provide an official translation as part of your application to transfer it to a South Australian licence.

Translations must be an original document and:

• translated by a National Accreditation Authority for Translators & Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) approved translator. The translation must be either:
  • stamped and signed by the translator or
  • have a NAATI digital stamp (QR code).
• translations provided by a consulate office in Australia signed and on official consular letterhead.  Please check with the consulate office that a translation service is provided.
• translations provided directly by, or with the endorsement of, the South Australian Government Interpreting and Translating Centre (Multicultural SA) or interstate equivalent.

Residency status and visitors

Permanent resident

A permanent resident is someone who has a visa that entitles them to remain in Australia indefinitely.

Overseas visitor with a temporary visa

Students, visitors and people working in South Australia on a temporary visa can drive with their overseas licence as long as that licence is current. You can drive the same type of vehicle as your overseas licence allows and must comply with any conditions on that licence.

You must carry one of the following at all times when driving and show it to police on request:

• a current overseas licence that is written in English
• a current overseas licence with an English translation or an international driving permit

If your licence expires while you are here and you are unable to renew it, you will have to apply to transfer your existing licence to a South Australian driver's licence.

If you're selected for a validation assessment

If you hold a licence from a non-recognised country, you may be randomly selected to undertake a further driving test prior to the issue of a South Australian driver’s licence.

Validation assessments help to ensure that Authorised Examiners who test drivers are following the correct process.

Surrendering your overseas licence

After transferring, you'll only need to surrender your overseas licence if it's from one of the following locations:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Ontario, Canada.

All other overseas licences can be retained after being transferred.