OVERSEAS LICENCE HOLDERS
Overseas Licence Status in the ACT
If you hold a licence from another country, you must first determine the status of your licence. Licences from other countries fall into two categories: approved and non-approved.
You can check the status of your licence by clicking this button and scrolling to the bottom of the page where the overseas licence approval list is located:
Non-Approved Licence?
If your licence is not listed on the above page or you do not meet the stipulated requirements, your licence is considered non-approved and you will need to complete additional steps to obtain your full ACT licence. Please look at the FAQ section for more information.
New Information for Unapproved Overseas Licence Holders in ACT
As of Monday the 19th of April 2021, all holders of an overseas licences from an unapproved country who are applying for an ACT licence will now need to complete the Pre-Learner Course, before completing the knowledge test.
Once you have completed both the course and test, you can still book a driving test with Access Canberra directly.
If you pass the driving test, you will be issued a full licence.
If you fail the driving test, or choose to get a Learners permit, you must do the minimum driving hours and hold your learner licence for the minimum time for your age, the same as all learner licence holders.
Consideration may be made if you can get confirmation of holding your overseas licence for a substantial time, from your embassy.
You will need to complete the Competency Based Training and Assessment with a driving school, or a driving test with Access Canberra to get your P licence. You then have to hold your provisional licence for 3 years before getting your full licence.
If you have any questions in relation to these changes, or would like to find out if this applies to your country. Please contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
A: If you have a licence from a non-approved country, you are required to complete the ACT pre-learner course and pass both the driver knowledge and practical driving tests. For both tests, you are required to provide the following:
- Your overseas licence
- Primary Proof of Identity (such as a passport or territory photo I.D card.)
- Proof of Residency
- For the Knowledge Test you will also need to provide 2 passport photos or bring $5 for them to be taken by road ready staff.
A: The same documents provided for the knowledge test should be taken with the knowledge test certificate to any Access Canberra centre and the practical driving test can be booked.
A: Where an overseas licence holder fails a practical assessment with a Government examiner, the overseas licence is deemed to be invalid and the licence holder is required to take out a learner licence and abide by the conditions of that licence.
A: If the licence is to be obtained through the CBT&A (Logbook) system a learner licence will need to be taken out.
Note: If this is the case, the overseas licence becomes invalid for use in the ACT at the point the learner licence is issued.
A: Applicants requiring a heavy vehicle classification will be obliged to undertake the appropriate knowledge tests and a practical driver assessment.
A: If you have never held a drivers licence, you must abide by the normal requirements to obtain an ACT licence. Meaning the progression through the Road Ready Course, Knowledge Test, learner licence and provisional licence.
A:
You do not need to book ahead for taking the Knowledge Test, but you do need to arrive during our office testing hours. Details of the testing hours are shown on our contact page.
During these testing hours, you can simply request at reception to undertake the test. We provide the Knowledge Test at both of our Road Ready locations.
When asking to requesting to sit the Knowledge Test, you will need to provide:
- A primary proof of identity (such as a passport or state photo ID).
- Proof of residency documents.
- 2 passport photos, or bring $5 for them to be taken by road ready staff.
A: No, but an interpreter can be arranged for most languages, please contact the relevant location to book an appointment. Please contact us if you need and interpreter.
A: Prices depend on the number of tests taken:
- 1st appointment: $42.75 for each attempt (includes interpreter) a maximum of 2 attempts a day
- 2nd appointment: $42.75 for each attempt (includes interpreter) a maximum of 2 attempts a day.
Any further appointments will need to pay an additional fee for the interpreter:
- $180.31 for Monday to Friday
- $288.25 for Saturday
*Please note: All of our Road Ready offices are CASHLESS offices*
Any cancellation of bookings made without 24 hours notice will be taken as an appointment.
A: To obtain your ACT learner motorcycle licence you must:
- be at least 16 years and nine months old
- successfully complete a Road Ready Learner Licence Course, including a computerised knowledge test on the ACT Road Rules unless you already hold a driver licence
- Complete a government approved rider training course with Stay Upright
