If you’ve recently arrived in New Zealand, here’s a key update from the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency about overseas driver licences, and what it means for you as a migrant.
The new 18-month allowance
You can now drive on your valid overseas car licence for up to 18 months from your date of arrival. Previously it was 12 months.
After the 18 months you must either convert your overseas licence to a New Zealand one, or stop driving. This is a temporary measure for 2 years, to reduce pressure on driver licence test wait times.
If you hold an overseas motorcycle or truck licence, the limit stays at 12 months.
Exempt countries & licence conversion tests
If your overseas licence is from a country listed as an “exempt country”, the conversion process is simpler.
- Exempt countries are those whose driving systems are considered sufficiently similar to New Zealand’s.
- If your licence is from one of these exempt countries and you’ve held the licence for 2 or more years, you generally do not need to sit the theory test for a car or motorcycle licence.
- You may still need to sit a practical driving test if you’ve held your overseas licence for less than 2 years.
- Here’s a sample (non-exhaustive) list of exempt countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong*, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.
*Note: Hong Kong is recognised as a Special Administrative Region of China.
For licences from non-exempt countries, you’ll typically need to take both the theory and practical tests.
What this means for you as a migrant
If you’re from an exempt-country licence holder, you get quite a benefit: you can focus on settling in, without immediate pressure to study for a theory test.
If you’re from a non-exempt country, the extra 18-months gives you more time to prepare for conversion—so it’s still good news.
In either case, you’ll want to check exactly how long you’ve held your overseas licence (issue date) because that determines whether a practical test is needed for exempt country conversions.
If you plan to drive long-term in New Zealand, make sure you understand the conversion path and deadline well in advance.
Action checklist for new arrivals
- On arrival in New Zealand, note your valid overseas licence and ensure it meets the conditions (current or expired within 12 months etc.).
- Check if your licence is from an exempt country (see list above) and check how long you’ve held it.
- If exempt country + licence held for 2+ years → you may not need the theory test. Begin conversion preparations accordingly.
- If non-exempt country → start preparing for theory + practical tests, but benefit from the extra driving time (18 months).
- Keep track of your 18-month (or 12-month for truck/motorcycle) deadline and plan the conversion in good time.
- If your overseas licence is not in English, or your identity is from a different country than the licence, make sure you correct those issues early.
Bottom line for migrants:
The 18-month extension is a welcome win — it gives you breathing room to get settled in New Zealand’s driving environment. If your licence is from one of the exempt countries, you get the extra bonus of skipping the theory test (and possibly the practical test if you have 2+ years’ licence history). Either way, treat this as part of your settlement and mobility strategy: plan your licence conversion early, so you’re legally driving beyond the initial period without surprises.
