Transferring to a Queensland Licence: What You Need to Know

Transferring to a Queensland Licence: What You Need to Know

So, you’re making the move to the state of sunshine and beautiful coastlines and you want to take in the scenery by being able to drive around.

Well, in Queensland, depending on the type of visa that you obtain, there will be a couple of things you need to do if you would like to drive.

Before arriving, you should have everything in place so that you don’t have too much hassle when you arrive.

What are the rules and regulations?

In the case of migrants who are not Australian citizens, he or she must transfer their licence to a Queensland driving licence once they have been living in the state of Queensland for three months.

There are two categories relating to this transfer, so be sure you know which category you fall under:

1. If you are not a citizen of Australia but you were given a resident visa before you actually took up residence in Queensland, and you have now been residing in Queensland for three months, you then need to transfer your overseas licence.
2. If you are not a citizen of Australia but you were provided with a resident visa after you arrived in Queensland and you have now been living in Queensland for more than three months, then you must also transfer your overseas licence.

Temporary Visas:
A resident visa is a permanent type of visa and this does not include a temporary, business or guardian visa.

For example, if you are a backpacker on a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417), then you will be eligible to drive in Queensland with your valid open overseas licence.

It is only when you are no longer temporary, that you need to change your licence.

For example; if you have arrived in Queensland on a backpacker’s visa and after some months you then become employed and sponsored and stay in Queensland, you then need to change your licence to a Queensland licence, because you are then considered as a permanent resident.

Driving Licence Application:
In order to go about applying for a driving licence in Queensland, you need to be sure that you are applying for a licence in the same class as your current foreign licence.

It is a straightforward application and you can complete this via the Transport and Main Road customer services centre, or you can also go to a Queensland Government licence issuing centre where they will be happy to assist with all of your queries.

In the regional areas of Queensland, you can apply through a licence-issuing police station.

For your application, you are required to apply for your licence by completing the driver licence application (Form 3000).

This can be downloaded as a PDF file.

You will also need to take with you your overseas licence in English, or translated to English if it is in a foreign language.

The translation on your foreign language licence needs to be approved by the NAATI - National Accreditation Authority and Interpreters, before it can be processed.

Proof of your residency in Queensland will need to be shown, as well as a declaration of being medically fit to drive.

You will also need to know what the fee if for transferring your licence, and depending on your circumstances this fee can range
from $70.00 to $165.00.

Finally, one crucial piece of information to remember is that once your Queensland licence has been issued, it will then become illegal for you to drive in the state with your non-Queensland licence.