How to Translate an Overseas Driving License for New Zealand

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Translate Your Driving License Before You Go to New Zealand

To be legally able to drive in New Zealand, you must have your driver license from your home country as well as a translation of your driver license in English. The best way to get a translation before leaving your country to come to New Zealand is to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP), which acts as a legal translation for your driver license.

The International Driving Permit, accompanied by your normal driving license, is valid for one year once you arrive in New Zealand. After that, you will need to apply for a New Zealand driver license.

How to Get Your International Driving Permit

The method of getting an International Driving Permit varies between countries. In most cases, you can apply for your IDP through your country’s driving license authority or through their website. You can also apply at your local government or prefecture. For the International Driving Permit, you will need:

• A copy of both sides of your driver license
• A recent ID photograph
• A filled out application form

Some countries will require you to also provide copies of your national identity cards. While some applications are free, others may involve a small fee.

Applications can take up to a month to process, so be sure to not leave the application until the last minute!

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How to Translate Your Driving License in New Zealand

If, for some reason, you did not manage to get an International Driving Permit before leaving home, then never fear! You can get your driving license translated in New Zealand.

How to Get Your Overseas Driving License Translated in New Zealand

There are three ways you can get your overseas driving license translated in New Zealand:

• a New Zealand Transport Agency-approved translator
• a diplomatic representative at an embassy, high commission or consulate (they are based in Wellington and it is likely that you will have to go there in person)
• or the authority that issued your overseas driving license.

The easiest way to get your driving license translated is to use one of the approved translation services by the New Zealand Transport Agency. These translation services exist all across New Zealand. For a complete list and contact details of the approved translators, check the NZ Transport Agency’s website.

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Converting Your Overseas Driving License to a New Zealand Driver License

Another way to legally drive in New Zealand is to get a New Zealand Driver License. If you are in New Zealand for more than 12 months, your overseas driver license and its translation are no longer valid. You will have to get a New Zealand Driver License. Nevertheless, this is a pretty quick and simple process of converting your overseas driving license, along with the valid translation, into a New Zealand Driver License.

If you are from one of the following countries, you will not need to take a theory or practical test: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, United States of America.

The New Zealand Driver License is also a legal form of ID in New Zealand, so a New Zealand Driver License is certainly handy to have.

How to Get a New Zealand Driver License

For the full guide on converting your license to a New Zealand Driver License, see Converting Your Driver License into a New Zealand Driver License.