If you have a valid overseas motorcycle licence from a non-exempt country you can convert it to a New Zealand motorcycle licence (class 6).
What is a valid overseas licence
Check if your licence is from a non-exempt country
You must apply at a specialist overseas conversion site.
You'll need to:
You can't convert to a New Zealand licence using only an international driving permit. You must present your physical overseas licence.
Find a specialist overseas conversion site in your area
All riders must know the road rules, what the road signs mean and how to drive safely.
You'll need to sit a theory test to prove that you're familiar with our road rules.
To prepare for the test, you can read our road rules in the New Zealand road code.
You'll also need to sit a practical riding test to prove that you can safely ride.
About the practical riding tests
You can book the practical test once you've passed your theory test. You can book it at a driver licensing agent or online.
Change, cancel or rebook your practical driver licence test(external link)
You'll need to pay an application fee of $93.10.
The tests are included in your application fee. There's no fee to change, cancel or rebook your test.
If your overseas licence is the equivalent of a New Zealand learner or restricted licence, you follow the same process but your fees and tests will be slightly different.
If you're converting to a learner licence, you'll just need to pass a theory test. You'll pay an overseas conversion learner licence application fee of $90.60.
If you're converting to a restricted licence, you'll need to pass a theory test and a restricted practical driving test. You'll pay an overseas conversion restricted licence application fee of $99.90.
Once you've passed the theory test, you'll get a New Zealand learner motorcycle licence.
This New Zealand licence over-rides your overseas licence. You must follow all the conditions of a New Zealand motorcycle learner licence until you've passed the practical driving test.
You then need to pass your practical riding test. You can book this online or at a driver licensing agent.
Once you’ve passed your practical test, you'll get a full New Zealand driver licence.
You must only ride a LAMS-approved motorcycle.
You must not carry passengers on the motorcycle or in a sidecar
You must not ride between the hours of 10pm and 5am
You must not tow another vehicle.
If your licence is from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan or Tonga, you'll need to provide evidence that your licence is valid when you apply for an overseas conversion.
Evidence of validity requirements
These are the minimum ages you must be before getting each type of driver licence:
|
Class |
Minimum age (years) |
|
Learner licence |
16 |
|
Restricted licence |
16 ½ |
|
Full licence (without an approved course certificate) |
18 |
|
Full licence (with an approved CBTA course certificate) |
17 ½ |
This means that if you're under 18 years of age, you can only convert your overseas licence to the equivalent age-related New Zealand licence class.
If you want a car licence (class 1) as well, you'll have to sit another set of tests. If you also want a truck licence (class 2-5), you'll need to sit a different set of tests.
Converting a car licence from an exempt country
Converting a truck licence from an exempt country
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi runs an auditing programme for overseas licences that were converted to New Zealand licences.
If we find that a converted licence was fraudulent, then we'll revoke the New Zealand licence.
Download Factsheet 72: Converting to a New Zealand licence [PDF, 278 KB]
