Converting Irish driving license to Oz driving license

paulieeye

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to get a oz driving license based on my full irish license that i've had for more than 3 years. I'm in Melbourne. I've looked it up on http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au and it says i can swap it over but doesnt say anything about how much or how long to wait.

Anyone do this? If so how much was it and did it take long, could you just walk in and get it done? I need this for work.

Many thanks
Paul

The Sweeper

You need to make an appointment with your local vic roads office, come in at the predestined time, they take a picture of you with a digital camera and they make you a new licence on the spot.

I can't remember how much a three year licence is... $70? That's a guess mind, but I think the three year one is about that and the 10 year one is over $100.

Don't let them physically take the Irish licence off you. I have both a UK licence and my Australian one; for some reason the bloke working when my husband and mother in law got theirs done thought it was appropriate to punch a hole with a hole punch in both my husband's and MIL's UK and Irish licences respectively. He probably thought you're only allowed hold one from any one country.

paulieeye

Cheers sweeper, i'll give em a buzz 2moro.

CabanSail

They do the same thing in Ireland. I wanted to get an Irish Licence when living there but they required proof that my Australian License was cancelled first. So I just continued to use my Australian Licence. It was allowed for 12 months or longer if there is an ongoing relationship with the other country. I think having a Job and a house here should be enough.

I did want an Irish License but I guess I was immune from points while on my other one.

FreeAnd..

Handy to switch it over - some countries like Canada dont recognise (when required to switch over) the Irish licence but do the Australian and NZ (as far as I'm aware) - i'm sure there must be other countries as well

m83

Is it the same procedure with an Irish Learners Permit in Victoria?

hussey

m83 wrote: »

Is it the same procedure with an Irish Learners Permit in Victoria?

No only full licence I'm afraid

C0N0R

So can someone confirm you don't need to surrender your licence when getting one? In my case it would be new zealand

Zambia

That would depend on who you see at the desk at the time it seems.

mandrake04

In Oz (NSW) they punch a hole in it and you get it back, probably so you can only transfer it once.

Might be also that if stopped by the law they will know you have transferred to an Oz Licence.

C0N0R

I assume when they punch a hole in it it is still useable back here in Ireland? Ie it's not a massive hole

mandrake04

They use an office hole punch. Licence is still usuable.

Zambia

Worst comes to worst you can order a relacement Irish licence.

Next time I am chatting to Vicpol TMU I will ask what the procedure is when someone hands them an Irish Licence. Do they check the details for an Aussie one.

hussey

mandrake04 wrote: »

In Oz (NSW) they punch a hole in it and you get it back, probably so you can only transfer it once.

Might be also that if stopped by the law they will know you have transferred to an Oz Licence.

This didn't happen to me ...

mandrake04

hussey wrote: »

This didn't happen to me ...

It did to me, maybe they couldn't find a hole punch for yours.

Zambia

hussey wrote: »

This didn't happen to me ...

+ 1 me neither.

ballooba

Mine wasn't punched in either NSW or QLD. Now if only I could find the bloody thing. But my NSW licence was taken when I got my QLD one.

myhorse

First time around, years ago, I had the Irish license punched. Last time I had to sign a form saying I would no longer use my Irish one.

I *think* in NSW you can use the Irish license for 3 months on arrival after that you are expected to have swapped over.

mandrake04

I never had to sign that form, but when I got mine punched it was back in '05

hussey

myhorse wrote: »

First time around, years ago, I had the Irish license punched. Last time I had to sign a form saying I would no longer use my Irish one.

I *think* in NSW you can use the Irish license for 3 months on arrival after that you are expected to have swapped over.

No that is not true, it is a common misunderstanding though, you only need to swap if a permanent resident. if on a WHV or 457 you don't need to swap.

Please note not all cops know this rule, so it could be handy if you print out this link.

A friend of mine was fined by a cop a few years ago for this offence, she eventually got it back/wiped, but a lot of hassle!

daftdave

hussey wrote: »

This didn't happen to me ...

didnt happen to me either , i got me NSW liscence about 2 months ago

mandrake04

I had no choice but to get an Aussie Licence while on my WHV, I went for a job interview and was told that they would only accept an Australian full Licence (no Probationary) and that if I could manage to get that they would call me back for a second interview.

Went straight to the RTA and got it swapped over.

Zambia

Did you get the Job?

mandrake04

Zambia232 wrote: »

Did you get the Job?

Sure did and they sponsored me as well.

irishturkey

Walked into the licence place in WA, told them I wanted to get a WA licence, filled out a form, got me picture taken, a week later it arrived in the post