As a visitor, can I get a NSW licence as soon as I arrive in Australia?
From 18 April 2008, new licensing arrangements apply to visiting drivers to NSW who want to obtain a NSW licence for the first time. If you are a new NSW licence applicant and are identified by the RTA as a temporary overseas visitor, you will only be eligible to convert your overseas licence to a NSW licence once you have been in Australia for a continuous period of at least six months immediately prior to applying for a licence (unless you are from New Zealand – see Question 3 for more information). If you are a temporary overseas visitor and do not hold an overseas licence, you may apply for a NSW learner licence without waiting six months. Your learner licence will display the ‘Q’ condition and will only be valid for 12 months. Once you have obtained a NSW learner licence all tenure and testing requirements must be met to progress through to an unrestricted licence. See Getting a car licence and Getting a motorcycle rider licence for more information.
