Driving with an overseas licence
If you are visiting from overseas or recently moved here permanently, make sure that you are driving legally.
New permanent residents or citizens must apply for a licence and register their vehicle in South Australia within three months of arrival.
If you are not a permanent resident and you hold a current foreign driver’s licence, you may drive a vehicle of the same class in South Australia.
If you are working on a current temporary visa and your foreign licence expires, you must apply for a new licence in South Australia.
To drive using your foreign licence, you must also hold a current international driving permit unless your foreign licence is written in English or accompanied by an approved English translation.
You must not be disqualified from driving in any country.
You must carry your licence (and English translation or international driving permit) at all times while driving and produce it to the police on request. You may also
be required to produce your temporary visa as evidence of temporary resident status.
Applying for a South Australian driver’s licence
You may be eligible for the equivalent class of licence as your foreign licence. Minimum age requirements apply.
Go to any Service SA customer service centre and present the following documents:
If your licence is not written in English, you must bring an approved English translation of
your driver’s licence, or your International driving permit
evidence of identity – proof of your identity, signature, age and address
payment for your written test, if required
your medical certificate, if required
concession card, if entitled.
Recognised overseas licences
South Australia recognises the driver licensing and testing standards in the countries listed below. If you hold or have held a driver’s licence within the preceding
five years you are not required to undertake equivalent driving tests in South Australia.
- Austria
- Belgium
- 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
* New Zealand licence holders will be issued with the equivalent South Australian driver’s licence for all licence classes.
Over the age of 19 years:
If you hold a full foreign licence and you are aged 19 years or over, you must pass the Australian road rules theory test. You will be issued a temporary driving permit, which is valid for one month, during which time you are required to pass a practical driving test.
If you do not pass the practical driving test within that month or if you fail a validation assessment, you must then apply for a learner’s permit.
Sometimes after passing a practical driving test with a private authorised examiner, a further practical driving test with a government assessment officer.
(known as a validation assessment) is required before a South Australian licence is issued. There is no charge for this test.
When you have passed these driving tests, you will receive a certificate of competency.
Present your certificate of competency at a Service SA customer service centre to obtain your South Australian driver’s licence.
After you have paid the fee and had your photograph taken, a temporary driver’s licence will be issued, and your photo licence will be posted to you.
