Exchanging your foreign driving licence

EU/ EEA, UK Group 1 licence still valid

If your EU/ EEA driving licence is still valid, you do not need to exchange it at this time. You may continue to drive until your licence expires. An EU/ EEA driving licence may be exchanged even if it has expired. 

EU/EEA Group 2 licence still valid - driver under 65

If your EU/ EEA driving licence is still valid, you do not need to exchange it at this time. You may continue to drive until you reach the age of 66 years, or for a period of five years from the date you became resident in the United Kingdom, whichever is the earlier, if your licence is still valid. An EU/ EEA driving licence may be exchanged even if it has expired. 

Designated countries

If your exchangeable driving licence is still valid, you do not need to exchange it at this time. You may continue to drive for a period of one year from the date you became resident in Northern Ireland, if your driving licence is still valid. From 25th March 2024, Ukrainian licences may be used for a period of three years from the date you became resident in Northern Ireland, if your driving licence is still valid. An exchangeable licence can be exchanged within a period of five years from the date you became resident.

Driving licences from other countries which are exchangeable

Northern Ireland will exchange driving licences issued by the following countries on a like for like basis:

• Great Britain (including Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man)
• EU/ EEA countries
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

Northern Ireland will also exchange driving licences issued by Gibraltar and 21 designated countries. The designated countries are:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands
• The Provinces and Territories of Canada
• The Cayman Islands
• Falkland Islands
• The Faroe Islands
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Principality of Monaco
• The Republic of Korea
• The Republic of North Macedonia
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Ukraine
• The United Arab Emirates
• Zimbabwe

Motorcycle entitlement from the Faroe Islands, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of North Macedonia, Taiwan and Ukraine is not exchangeable.

Motorcycle entitlement from the Cayman Islands and the United Arab Emirates is limited to small motorcycles (category A1).

Designated country licence exchange

To make sure you have continuous driving entitlement you must apply for a Northern Ireland licence within 12 months of the time you became resident in Northern Ireland. If you do not do this you must stop driving until you are issued with a Northern Ireland licence, although you may still exchange your licence within five years of becoming resident.

From 25th March 2024, Ukrainian driving licences may be used for up to a period of three years from the date you became resident in Northern Ireland, provided your licence remains valid.

Australian driving licence

Some Australian driving licences do not show whether the driving test was taken in a car with manual transmission or automatic transmission.

If you are issued a Northern Ireland driving licence in exchange for a licence from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania or Victoria it will restrict you to driving vehicles with automatic transmission only. That is unless you can give documentary evidence to prove that the driving test was taken in a vehicle with manual transmission.

Canadian driving licence

A Canadian driving licence does not show whether the driving test was taken in a car with manual transmission or automatic transmission.

If you are issued a Northern Ireland driving licence in exchange for a licence from Canada it will restrict you to driving vehicles with automatic transmission only. That is unless you can give documentary evidence to  prove that the driving test was taken in a vehicle with manual transmission.

South African driving licence

South African driving licences can only be exchanged if they are in the new style credit card format.

Also, the following rules apply:

• the South African licence and photograph must be valid - since 18 March 2009, if the photograph has expired the application will be rejected
• licences must be exchanged within five years of being resident in Northern Ireland
• other types of licences issued in Transkei, Ciskei, Venda, KaNgwane, KwaNdebele, Gazankula, Lebowa and Bophuthatswana are not acceptable for exchange
• if you only hold a letter of entitlement from the South African Driving Licence Authority, this must show an expiry date and be valid for six months from the date of issue

If you are exchanging your South African photocard driving licence, this will be returned to the South African licensing authority.

Ukrainian driving licence

From 25th March 2024, Ukrainian driving licences may be used for up to a period of three years from the date you became resident in Northern Ireland, provided your licence remains valid.

Ukrainian driving licences issued before 28 December 2021 do not show whether the driving test was taken in a car with manual transmission or automatic transmission

If you are issued a Northern Ireland driving licence in exchange for a licence from Ukraine it will restrict you to driving vehicles with automatic transmission only. That is unless you can give documentary evidence to prove that the driving test was taken in a vehicle with manual transmission.

If you are able to provide proof of your test pass after you have been issued with a Northern Ireland licence, you can apply to have the automatic transmission restriction removed free of charge.

Zimbabwe driving licence

Zimbabwe driving licences are only exchangeable if you have passed a Zimbabwe driving test in a class 4 or 5 vehicle, or a category BE vehicle.  Licences which show start dates for higher categories (including class 1 or 2, or categories CE or DE) being the same as the start date for smaller categories of vehicle cannot be exchanged.

Vocational designated licence holders

If you are a new resident you may not drive medium or large vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles until you have passed the relevant Northern Ireland driving test. If you hold a Gibraltar vocational licence you can drive for 12 months and can exchange a valid vocational licence within five years of date of residency.

Applying for the exchange of your foreign driving licence

If you want or need to change your driving licence for a Northern Ireland driving licence, you must fill in the application form DL1 that is available from the main Post Office branches. If you are exchanging a Swiss licence with entitlement to drive goods vehicles or passenger-carrying vehicles, you must use application form DL1.

You will need to include original paperwork confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and suitable proof of residency (see 'identity documents and photographs' link below for further details).

Send your filled in application and the right fee to DVA driver licensing at the address at the link below:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing
   
• Identity documents and photographs
• The cost of a driving licence

You can find notes to help you fill in the DL1 application form at the link below:

• Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes

If your vocational licence was issued in an EU/ EEA country or Switzerland you will need to include a medical report form if, at the time of your application, you are 45 years of age or over. 

• Medical form DLM1

Rules for exchange

The following conditions must be met before a licence can be granted in exchange for a NI one:

• you must be normally resident in NI and have a permanent address here
• licences from the designated countries must be current at the time the application for exchange is received by DVA
• if your driving test was not passed in the country that issued your current driving licence you may not be able to exchange it - ou should contact DVA for advice
• licences from the designated countries must be exchanged within five years of being resident in NI
• except in the case of licences issued in Switzerland, DVA do not exchange any bus or lorry entitlements from licences issued in a designated country - this also applies if you passed any lorry/ bus tests in a designated country
• licences from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands are acceptable for exchange if issued after 1 April 1991 - those issued in any EU/ EEA country may be valid for exchange even if they have expired, but must be supported by a Letter of Entitlement from the issuing authority which they have obtained within the last two months
• when exchanging a licence from a designated country to get a NI driving licence which confers entitlement to drive vehicles with manual transmission, DVA must be satisfied that the driving test was passed in a vehicle with manual transmission - or the NI licence will be restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission
• you must surrender your foreign licence which will be returned to the issuing authority
• international driving permits are not exchangeable
• test pass certificates are not exchangeable except for those issued in Great Britain or Gibraltar when the test was passed within two years of the date of the licence application
• Japanese licences must come with an official translation, available for a fee from one of the Consulates below

Republic of Korea licences must come with an official translation from the:

You may have to pay a fee to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea for this service. Translations from other sources are not acceptable.

Taiwanese licences must come with an official translation, available from the Taipei Representative Office below

Taipei Representative Office
50 Grosvenor Gardens
London
SW1W 0EB

Return of supporting documents

The driving licence fee includes return of your supporting documents (where applicable) by second class post. If you would like your supporting documents returned by secure delivery, you must send the right size pre-paid special delivery envelope.

DVA will not give compensation for any loss or delay resulting from the use of second class post.

More useful links

• Driving in Northern Ireland on a GB or EEA licence
• GBR, Jersey, Guernsey, IOM, Gibraltar driving licences
• How to tell DVA about a medical condition
• Theory test
• Test centre locations