Under clause 88 of the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999, all overseas driver licence holders who hold a current and valid licence are allowed to drive in NZ for up to 12 months from the date of their last arrival. This is in line with obligations under the 1949 United Nations Convention on Road Traffic. At the end of 12 months, all overseas licence holders are required to convert their licence to a NZ licence if they wish to continue driving.
Pre-COVID-19, many overseas licence holders would travel overseas at some stage within the 12-month period and then return to New Zealand. This would effectively ‘restart the clock’ on this requirement and allow overseas licence holders to continue to drive with an overseas licence for a further 12-month period.
Due to COVID-19 border restrictions, a number of overseas driver licence holders are unable to travel home and are required to convert to a NZ licence. The process for converting to a NZ licence differs by exempt and non-exempt countries.
If the driver is from an exempt country and has held that licence for two years, they are not required to sit any theory or practical tests. Waka Kotahi has assessed the driver licensing system of the host country is of comparable standards to New Zealand. Drivers from exempt countries are only required to pay a conversion fee[1]
If the driver is from a non-exempt country, they must apply for a conversion at a specialist overseas conversion site. They are required to:
- fill out an application form
- present evidence of their identity
- prove their eyesight meets the required standard
- provide a medical certificate (if required)
- present their overseas licence
- let the agent take their photo and signature
- pay the application fee
- provide high-quality, colour photocopies of the original documents they have provided
- pass a theory (Class 1L) test
- if the application is approved, the driver must then pass a practical (Class 1F) test. In the time period between the driver passing their theory test and passing their practical test, they are only able to drive with a supervisor in the car, and can no longer use their overseas licence.
Because of the extensions granted through the Land Transport Rule: COVID-19 Response (No 1) 2020 and further Level 3 restrictions in Auckland in August, there is a system capacity issue which has impacted on the ability to undertake both counter-based applications and any required theory or practical tests for all driver licences.
Waka Kotahi has increased resources to accommodate those currently trying to convert their overseas driver licence. The proposed Rule will help manage the numbers and flow of applicants to the system, reduce bottlenecks in processing times, and provide people with more time to apply and progress their licence change.
Note
[1] Exempt countries include Australia, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, and the majority of the European Union.
