Factsheet 65 - July 2007

Overseas travel by New Zealand driver licence holders

This factsheet gives advice to people who are planning to go overseas and may be driving, or are currently overseas and have New Zealand driver licences.

Most countries in the world will allow you to drive legally on your current and valid New Zealand licence for up to six or 12 months. You cannot drive legally if your licence has expired or been revoked.

What if I still have an older-style licence?

All New Zealand driver licence holders should have upgraded to photo driver licences, but if you've been living overseas, you may not have had the opportunity to do so.

Everyone needs to apply for a new photo driver licence in person. This is because the photo is taken on a secure digital camera linked to the driver licensing computer. All the Land Transport New Zealand agents authorised to upgrade driver licences are based in New Zealand.

What should I do if the status of my licence is queried?

If the status of your driver licence is queried by an overseas licensing agency or rental car firm, Land Transport NZ can advise them whether you're legally licensed and qualified to drive.

We'll confirm the classes of licence you hold and provide information such as the initial issue date of your licence.

What should I do when I come home?

If you come back to New Zealand with a paper driver licence (commonly known as a lifetime licence), you can upgrade it without penalty if you do so within 90 days of your return.

You must carry your driver licence with you whenever you're driving. The Police can ask to see it: if you still have a paper licence, you'll need to prove that you've been overseas and haven't had a chance to upgrade it to a photo driver licence. (We recommend that you upgrade your licence as soon as you return.)

What if my photo licence expires when I'm overseas?

Driver licences can only be renewed in New Zealand. If your licence expires while you're overseas, you may find it difficult - if not impossible - to drive legally in another country. For example, you may not be able to rent a car or convert it to an overseas driver licence. In addition, it will be illegal for you to drive when you return to New Zealand (permanently or on holiday) until you renew your licence.

Land Transport NZ can't provide evidence that you may still drive using your expired licence, as the law states that only holders of a current driver licence may drive on public roads.

In some cases you may be able to extend the validity of your driver licence if it expires while you are overseas. Your licence validity can be extended once, for a period of no more than 12 months from the original expiry date, provided that it has not already been expired for 12 months or more.

If you want to have your driver licence validity extended, you need to advise us in writing and apply for a replacement licence so that the new expiry date can be shown on your licence. Click here for an Application for replacement driver licence and/or extension of licence validity form (PDF). You will need to print it, fill it in and send it, with documentation and payment, to the address on the form.

Avoiding problems

To avoid these problems, Land Transport NZ strongly encourages you to renew your photo driver licence before you leave New Zealand, if it's due to expire while you're overseas. Usually, a renewed licence is valid for 10 years from the date of issue and costs $44.30.

Don't wait until the last minute to renew your licence. The licence takes two to three weeks to arrive in the mail, and you need to make sure you get it before you leave. Also, you may need time to get a medical or eyesight certificate for your application.

If you are an older driver, you can renew your licence up to 6 months before your 75th, 80th (etc) birthday. Your new licence will have an expiry date as if you had renewed on your birthday, eg if you renew your licence 3 months before your 80th birthday, then the new licence will expire on your 82nd birthday.

If you renew your licence more than 6 months before your 75th, 80th (etc) birthday, your licence will expire on your birthday, eg if you renew a licence seven months prior to your 82nd birthday, the new licence will expire on your 82nd birthday. You will need to take this into account if you want to drive overseas. (See Factsheet 57, Older drivers: licence renewal, for more information.)

Replacing a lost driver licence

If you lose your driver licence overseas, you can apply for a replacement. (This can take a few weeks to organise and receive, as the licence must be processed in New Zealand, paid for in New Zealand dollars and sent to a New Zealand address.

Click here for an Application for replacement driver licence and/or extension of licence validity form (DL2A) (PDF, 723 KB). You will need to print it, fill it in and send it, with documentation and payment, to the address on the form. Alternatively, you can contact the Transport Registry Centre (contact details are at the end of this factsheet).

Please note: Your application must include certified copies of two forms of identification. This means your photocopies must be signed by an official (eg, a lawyer or a representative at a New Zealand embassy) to confirm they're true and accurate copies of the original documents. Examples of acceptable forms of identification are listed on the application form.

You'll also need to pay by cheque - the fee is $31.10 and must be paid in New Zealand dollars.

Alternatively, you can have someone with power of attorney pick up a form at a driver licensing agent and apply for a replacement licence on your behalf. Photo driver licences will only be posted to a New Zealand address, so you'll need to make arrangements to have somebody send the replacement licence to you.

How can I prove my licence status or how long I've had my licence?

Some overseas agencies want to know how long you've had your driver licence. This information may not be shown on your photo driver licence if it was issued before 16 January 2006. You can obtain this information by applying for a certificate of particulars.

Note: Licences produced after 16 January 2006 will show the original date of issue (when you first qualified for the licence) and not the date when the card was produced.

You may also need a certificate of particulars to prove the status of your driver licence. It outlines what classes of driver licence you hold, the issue date of the licence and whether your licence is current and so on.

Applying for a certificate of particulars

To apply for a certificate of particulars, contact the Transport Registry Centre, using the contacts at the end of this factsheet.

There is a charge of NZ$9.10 for the certificate, which can be paid by either cheque or credit card. Please note, for security reasons payment by credit card can only be accepted by the call centre.  Credit card details should not be sent by post, fax, or e-mail. If your request is via post, a cheque will need to be enclosed.

Provide as many details as you can to ensure the right driver licence record is found - eg driver licence number, your full name, date of birth and the address you think is on the licence.

The certificate will be emailed, faxed or mailed to you.

Note: Land Transport New Zealand takes no responsibility for the transmission or postage of credit card details or cheques.

When you're travelling overseas …

Getting an overseas driver licence

If you're planning on being overseas for an extended period, you should consider obtaining a driver licence from the country you're staying in. Many countries only allow holders of overseas licences to drive on those licences for a limited period of time. After this, people are generally required to convert to a driver licence from that country.

If you're staying in one country for some time, you should check with the driver licensing agency there to find out how long you may drive on your New Zealand licence and what you need to do to get a licence from that country.

International driving permits

The New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) advises that international driving permits (IDPs) are recommended for most countries - check the AA website for an up-to-date list. (Note that an IDP is not a driver licence. It is a translation of your driver licence and is only valid while the accompanying driver licence is current.)

You can obtain an international driving permit from the AA. It will be valid for a maximum of one year from the date of issue.

• Apply at an AA centre or agent: Applying for an IDP at an AA centre costs $20. Take your current New Zealand driver licence, a recent passport photo and the fee.
• Apply by mail or online: If you're overseas and wish to obtain a new IDP, you can post the necessary documentation and fee, or apply online on the AA website (you'll need a credit card). The AA website tells you what documentation you need to provide and how to go about it. The fee is $30 for a mail application and $40 for an online application.

What if I return to New Zealand with an overseas licence?

The process for regaining a New Zealand driver licence can vary - it will depend on your circumstances. You can phone our Driver Licensing Call Centre (0800 822 422) to discuss this.

Where can I find out more?

• Email info@nzta.govt.nz
• Phone our Driver Licensing Call Centre on 0800 822 422 (within New Zealand) or +64 6 953 6200 (from overseas).
• Write to: Transport Registry Centre, Private Bag, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
• Fax +64 6 953 6267 (Attention: Driver licensing).
• Read driver licensing information on this website.