Transferring to a Queensland licence
If you have moved to Queensland, you will need to apply for a Queensland driver licence if you are:
- an Australian citizen and you've been living in Queensland for 3 months
- not an Australian citizen but you were given a resident visa before you moved to Queensland and you have been living in Queensland for 3 months
- not an Australian citizen, but you were given a resident visa after you moved to Queensland and you've been living in Queensland for 3 months since getting the visa.
A resident visa is a permanent visa or special category visa under the Migration Act 1958 (Commonwealth). These visas allow a person to stay indefinitely in Australia. These do not include temporary, business or guardian visas.
How to apply for a Queensland driver licence
You can apply for a Queensland licence for the same class as your interstate or overseas licence by visiting one of the following:
- transport and motoring customer service centre
- participating Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office
- licence-issuing police station (in rural or remote areas of Queensland).
You must meet the minimum age requirement for the type of Queensland licence you are applying for.
You do not have to complete a driver licence application form when visiting a transport and motoring customer service centre. You will need to complete a driver licence application (F3000) at police stations and most QGAP offices.
Your authority to drive on your interstate or overseas licence will be withdrawn when you have been issued with a Queensland licence. This means you can no longer drive with your interstate or overseas licence in Queensland.
Your Queensland licence will be the same class as your interstate or overseas licence. It will include any conditions that were listed on your interstate or overseas licence unless you provide documentary evidence that we can remove the conditions.
Drivers 75 years old and over must also obtain a medical certificate (form F3712) when applying for a licence. Find out more about the requirements for drivers aged 75 and over.
Transferring an interstate licence
If you are transferring a licence from another Australian state or territory you will need to:
- bring your interstate licence—you will have to hand it in to get your Queensland licence
- bring your original evidence of identity documents (no copies)—including proof that you live in Queensland
- declare that you are medically fit to drive the class of vehicle—you may need to provide a medical certificate if you have a condition that affects your ability to drive safely
- pay the applicable fees.
Before we can transfer your interstate licence, we need to confirm details of your licence and driving history. In some cases, we may need to submit a written request to the state or territory that issued your licence and wait for their reply. Once we have received the information, we’ll contact you so that you can arrange a day to come back to complete the transfer.
Current interstate licence
If your interstate licence is current, you must pay the interstate licence transfer fee. The unexpired period left on your interstate licence will be transferred to your Queensland licence (to a maximum of 5 years). You can also choose to pay a fee to add additional time to your new Queensland licence.
If your interstate licence expiry date is within 12 months and you choose to give up the unexpired period, the interstate licence transfer fee will be waived. You will only pay the Queensland licence fee for the term of your choice (1 to 5 years). The unexpired period of your interstate licence will not be transferred to your Queensland licence.
Australian Defence Force members and their immediate family
You may be able to continue using your interstate licence, if you are in Queensland because:
- you are on full-time permanent service with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) or the Defence Force Reserve
- you are an immediate family member of an ADF member stationed in Queensland.
Expired interstate licence
If your interstate licence is expired, you will only pay the licence fee for the term you have selected—you won't need to pay the interstate licence transfer fee.
Transferring an overseas licence
The requirements to transfer your overseas licence vary depending on whether your licence is from:
- New Zealand
- A recognised country or jurisdiction (such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore)
- An experienced driver recognition country or jurisdiction (such as Bulgaria, South Korea, Taiwan)—category ceases 30 April 2025
- A non-recognised country (such as China, India, Mexico)
Find out more about the testing requirements to transfer an overseas licence.
In all cases, you will need to:
- bring your overseas licence
- bring a recognised English translation (if the licence is not in English) from an approved National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) translator
- bring your original evidence of identity documents (no copies)—including proof that you live in Queensland
- declare that you are medically fit to drive the class of vehicle—you may need to provide a medical certificate if you have a condition that affects your ability to drive safely
- pass and pay the fees for a road rules test and practical driving test—unless you are exempt from the overseas driver licence testing requirements
- pay the licence fee—the cost will depend on how long you want your Queensland licence for.
All documents must be originals—photocopies and certified copies are not acceptable. We may keep information about, or a copy of your evidence of identity documents. This is so we can verify these documents with the issuing agency or a document verification service.
You may be asked to bring additional information if we cannot determine or verify your licence details or what class of vehicle you are permitted to drive.
Need help with the road rules test?
You can talk with your family and friends to help you complete PrepL online, but there are serious penalties if you have someone else do the course for you. If you can't complete the PrepL course online, we can arrange for an interpreter or a staff member to help you with a written car, motorcycle or heavy vehicle road rules test in one of our licence-issuing offices .
You can get more information about this service by contacting your local licence-issuing office.
Changes to the experienced driver recognition category from 1 May 2025
From 1 May 2025, the experienced driver recognition category will cease. Licence holders from these countries will be required to pass a road rules test and a practical driving test to get a Queensland licence, regardless of their age.
Until and including 30 April 2025, existing arrangements for transferring a licence from an experienced driver recognition country to a Queensland licence will continue unchanged.