Transfer your licence
If you are a visitor to Western Australia you may drive on your overseas/interstate licence until it expires. You must carry your licence at all times when driving and comply with any conditions (where reasonable) that are endorsed on the licence.
If you have a permanent residence visa and intend on living in WA you must obtain a WA drivers licence within 3 months of getting the visa. After this period your overseas authority to drive will not be recognised.
Learner permit holders from other Australian States and Territories are exempt from taking a theory test.
Proof of identity and residency
Completing your application
You can transfer your interstate drivers licence by personally attending a licensing centre (Cash, Cheque and EFTPOS only), or licensing agent (Cash and Cheque only) between the hours of 8:15 am and 4:30 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). A computerised theory test on WA road rules in not required if you produce your interstate licence.
When attending a licensing centre or agent to transfer your licence you must take the following documentation with you:
- your interstate drivers licence or a combination of driver licence details/letter from the interstate driver licence issuing authority.
- proof of your identity, one primary document and one secondary document (originals only). You must also produce your interstate drivers licence that is current or that has expired less than 5 years.
- proof of your WA residential address.
- one document that shows your signature.
- pay an application fee of
SSI - Transfer Application (overseas or expired interstate)
$36.20
(only required if your interstate licence has expired) together with the standard
SSI - Licence fee - 1 year
$36.60
(1 year) or
SSI - Licence fee - 5 year
$ 116
(5 year) licence fee.
- You will be required to have your photo taken which will be displayed on your new Western Australian licence.
You must also pass the appropriate eyesight standard tests and other WA requirements.
You must give us primary and secondary proof of your identity as well as proof of your residency in WA. At least one of the documents must include your signature.
Primary proof of identity can be such documents as your interstate licence (if it has a photograph), a current passport or a birth certificate. Secondary proof of identity can be such documents as an automatic teller machine (ATM) card issued by a finance institute, a credit card or a medicare card.
If one of the documents that you give us for your proof of identity has your WA address on it, you have already satisfied our proof of residency requirements. If not, you can use other documents that have your WA address on them to prove your residency. Examples would be a house rental agreement, a council rate notice or a bank statement. A place of employment cannot be used as a residential address.
Go to Proof of Identity if you want any further information.
When you have met all of the above requirements, you will then be required to:
- complete an application form that includes questions regarding;
- any medical conditions you may have that could affect your driving; and
- any traffic or criminal convictions that you have
- pass an eyesight test
- Have your photo taken for your new licence
| Origin |
Theory Test |
Practical
Test |
Hazard
Perception
Test |
Payment
Required |
Converted
Class
|
| Another State (NT, ACT etc) |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
All classes |
| External territory (Cocos, Norfolk & Christmas Islands) |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
All classes except Norfolk Island - C class only |
| Defence Forces |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
All classes |
Transferring your overseas drivers licence
Recognised countries
What if my licence is not in English?
What if I have a heavy vehicle licence?
How to obtain a WA driver's licence. Available in English and 11 other languages.
To transfer your overseas driver licence you must personally attend a licensing centre (payment by Cash, Cheque, EFTPOS or credit card) or a licensing agent (payment by Cash or Cheque only) between the hours of 8:15 am and 3:45 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
When attending a licensing centre or agent to transfer your licence you must take the following documentation with you:
- your current overseas drivers licence.
- proof of your identity, one primary document and one secondary document (originals only).
- proof of your WA residential address.
- one document that shows your signature.
- You must also pay an application fee of
SSI - Transfer Application (overseas or expired interstate)
$36.20
together with the standard
SSI - Licence fee - 1 year
$36.60
(1 year) or
SSI - Licence fee - 5 year
$ 116
(5 year) licence fee.
Cash, cheque, EFTPOS and credit cards are accepted.
- You will be required to have your photo taken which will be displayed on your new Western Australian licence.
Once you have presented your documentation you may be required to complete further assessments:
|
Type of assessment |
Who needs to complete the assessment |
| Undergo an eyesight test. |
All applicants. |
| Undergo a computerised theory test. |
Applicants from non-recognised countries or applicants applying for a class of licence not currently held.
The test comprises of 30 multiple-choice questions of which you must get 24 correct to pass. You can download a copy of the Drive Safe book containing the rules of the road or obtain a copy from a licensing centre.
|
| Undergo a practical driving assessment. |
Applicants from non-recognised countries or applicants applying for a class of licence not currently held.
There are further costs relating to driving assessments. Please see our driver licence fees section for more information. |
A full list of application fees including pensioner concessions is available.
| Origin |
Theory Test |
Practical Test |
Hazard Perception
Test |
Payment
Required |
Converted Class |
| New Zealand |
For classes MR and above a Heavy Vehicle Theory test is required |
NO |
NO |
YES |
All classes (except MC class) |
| Recognised Country |
For classes MR and above a Heavy Vehicle Theory test is required |
NO for C and R classes
YES for classes LR and above |
NO |
YES |
Only classes C and R (if held).
Licence holders must pass a practical driving assessment for any other class of licence required |
| Non - recognised Country |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
None.
Licence holders must pass a practical driving assessment for the class of licence required |
Holders of drivers licences from the following recognised countries are exempt from taking the computerised theory test on the road rules and may be also exempt from the requirement to undertake a practical driving assessment. Applicants who hold motorcycle class equivalents are also exempt from the motorcycle theory test.
Recognised countries are:
- 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 of America
|
Please note that driver’s licences issued by Malta and the Isle of Man are only ‘recognised’ where:
- Isle of Man - the licence was issued on or after 1 November 1991; and
- Malta - the licence was issued on or after 2 January 2004.
If your licence is not in English you must bring an official translation.
Translations of overseas driver's licences can be accepted from Consulates or from NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters).
Licences translated through a Consulate must be;
- On official consulate letterhead
- Title stamped with the official stamp of the consulate
- Signed by the Consul General or an authorised officer of the Consulate
Licences translated through NAATI must be;
- Completed by translators accredited to level 3 or 4 OR accredited to Professional, Advanced or Senior Advanced level.
- Declared as a true and correct translation by the translator and endorsed with a NAATI stamp advising their level of accreditation.
- You can locate a NAATI translator online at http://www.naati.com.au/. A fee is payable for this service.
Photocopies or faxes of the above documents are not acceptable.
Where you need to provide extra information about your licence i.e. its validity period, the type of vehicle you are authorised to drive, which is not shown on your drivers licence a letter from a relevant consulate or diplomatic office may also be accepted.
If one of the documents that you give us for your proof of identity has your WA address on it, you have already satisfied our proof of residency requirements. If not, you can use other documents that have your WA address on them to prove your residency. Examples would be a house rental agreement, a council rate notice or a bank statement. A place of employment cannot be used as a residential address.
Go to Proof of Identity if you want any further information.
What if I have a heavy vehicle licence
To transfer a heavy vehicle licence for classes MR and above, you must pass an oral test on specific issues relating to size and dimensions of heavy vehicles. The test comprises of 10 questions of which you must get 8 correct to pass. The heavy vehicle licence class questions and the Drive Safe book contain the rules of the road and can be download here or obtained from any Licensing Centre or Agent.
Applicants who hold HC (heavy combination), HR (heavy rigid) or MR (medium rigid) equivalents are still required to sit the heavy vehicle practical test (excepting those who are transferring a NZ licence).
Laws about Driving Legally in Western Australia - How to get a WA licence
There are very strict laws about driving legally in Western Australia. The following flyer provides key information on the requirement to hold a current drivers licence. It also outlines key steps on how to get a Western Australian licence.
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