Driving Licences in New South Wales

Consulate-General of Ireland, Sydney

Information Sheet

Information sheet for holders of Irish driving licences who

need to obtain NSW driving licences.

IMPORTANT NOTE

NSW Driving Licences are issued by the NSW Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) through Service NSW

locations throughout the state. The Consulate-General provides this information for guidance only, and

though every effort is made to ensure this information is correct, it cannot be held responsible for any errors

or omissions. Full details on NSW Driving Licences can be found at:

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au

About Irish & NSW Driving Licences

Holders of Irish driving licences who are in Australia as temporary visitors may drive the vehicles covered by

their licences in NSW indefinitely, provided that their visa remains temporary, their licence is current, and their

driving privileges in NSW have not been withdrawn.

However, the Consulate-General of Ireland advises holders of longer stay temporary visas, such as 415 and 457

visas, to consider obtaining a NSW driving licence. Since October 2013 the process for obtaining Irish driving

licences changed. Applications for Irish licences can no longer be made by post and applicants for driving licences

must present themselves at a National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) office where a photo will be captured. The

new licences are in a plastic credit card sized format. If you lose your credit card sized licence, you need to

contact the NDLS to obtain a replacement.

However, if you lose your licence and your licence was an old style paper licence, you cannot be issued with a

replacement licence unless you are physically present in Ireland. This means that your Irish driving licence is a

particularly valuable and difficult to replace document. Details on how to apply for a NSW driving licence can be

found at http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au

Obtaining a NSW Driving Licence if your Irish licence has been Lost or Stolen

If your Irish driving licence has been lost or stolen, and you require a replacement driving licence, unless you

attend a NDLS office in Ireland you cannot obtain a replacement. If you wish to obtain a NSW driving licence in

these circumstances you will need to contact the NDLS to obtain an NDLS Driver Statement. The NDLS can be

reached on +353 (0)761 087 880 during Irish office hours or by email at info@ndls.ie. The NDLS Driver Statement

is a certificate which confirms your driving licence history. You will need either your driver number or PPS

number to hand when contacting the NDLS, and a fee of €15 is applicable. They are sent by post from Ireland

and cannot be emailed. In order for it to be posted to your address outside of Ireland, you will be required to

Consulate-General of Ireland, Sydney

Information Sheet

provide proof of address outside of Ireland. It is not a driving licence; however, it can be used at any branch of

Service NSW to obtain a NSW driving licence on presentation of a valid passport and visa status letter, and

provided you fulfil other criteria as set out by NSW RMS.

Branches of Service NSW are able to authenticate NDLS Driver Statements without reference to the Consulate.

However, if you do have difficulties having your NDLS Driver Statement accepted, the Consulate can provide a

letter stating that the NDLS is the appropriate authority in Ireland to issue Irish driving licences and Driver

Statements. The Consulate can be contacted at sydney[at]dfa[dot]ie or on (02) 9264 9635.