If you want to apply for an exemption to use your overseas driver licence or endorsement, make sure you read the information on this page first.
You’re applying for an exemption from the law under s 168D of the Land Transport Act 1998.
The things we have to consider are set out in s 168D. These include:
We’ll also take into account your driving record, and any other related information.
We may also look at other aspects of your land transport compliance.
Exemptions are not automatically granted. We’ll consider all the factors above before deciding whether to approve or decline your application.
We’re not obliged to grant an exemption if we don’t think it’s appropriate to do so.
The fee is non-refundable - even if we decline your application. It covers the cost of processing your application.
Think about all the factors we’ve listed in the section above, and if you can, include them in your responses to our questions.
You’ll need to show us that granting your exemption won’t increase risk to any other road users. Give us specific examples of how you intend to reduce risk: simply promising that you’ll follow the road rules doesn’t show us this.
Make sure you fill in all the relevant fields for your application type: we won’t accept applications if they’re incomplete.
The law doesn’t allow us to grant an exemption just on the basis of inconvenience or hardship. We won’t generally grant an exemption if:
It’s unlikely that we’ll grant an exemption if you:
You can't get an exemption for anything that is set out in the Land Transport Act 1998, for example you can't get an exemption to get a driver licence if you're under 16.
We may decline your application or revoke your exemption if:
It’s also an offence to supply false or misleading information and may lead to court action. This could result in a conviction and/or paying a fine.
We’ll closely examine any document you provide to make sure it’s authentic, particularly overseas documents. We won’t return documents which are clearly fraudulent or tampered with, or where we have any significant doubt that they’re authentic.
You can make your application online. First, you'll need to do these things.
You'll need to call us to pay the exemption application fee of $27.20.
Call us on 0800 822 422 to pay by Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card.
We'll give you a reference number to include with your application.
You'll need to provide us with documentation or information.
If you need to show us your overseas licence or certificate of particulars, you'll need to upload New Zealand certified copies of these documents with your application.
These documents can be certified by a New Zealand:
See the exemption type section for what you'll need to provide for the type of exemption you're applying for.
If you don't want to get your documents New Zealand certified, you'll need to make your application by mail so you can send us the original documents. You'll need to print and complete the Application for an exemption form (DL4) to send to us with your documents.
If you want us to return your original documents by courier, you'll also need to include a pre-paid courier bag with your application. If you don't provide a courier bag, we'll send your original documents back to you in the standard mail.
Check below for the information you'll need to provide for each type of exemption.
You'll need to give us:
A Certificate of particulars is an official document from your licensing authority which includes all details that would be contained on your original driver licence card.
If you're applying for your exemption online, you'll need to upload New Zealand certified copies of these documents.
Copies of your original documents can be certified by a New Zealand:
If you're going to send your application in the mail, you can provide New Zealand certified copies or your original documents. If you send the originals, we recommend you also send us a pre-paid courier package so we can return them by tracked courier.
Note: if we grant this exemption, it doesn't guarantee that we'll approve any endorsement applications afterwards.
CloseYou'll need to give us:
A Certificate of particulars is an official document from your licensing authority which includes all details that would be contained on your original driver licence card.
If you're applying for your exemption online, you'll need to upload New Zealand certified copies of these documents.
Copies of your original documents can be certified by a New Zealand:
If you're going to send your application in the mail, you can provide New Zealand certified copies or your original documents. If you send the originals, we recommend you also send us a pre-paid courier package so we can return them by tracked courier.
Note: if we grant this exemption, it doesn't guarantee that we'll approve any endorsement applications afterwards.
CloseYou must give us:
If you're applying for your exemption online, you'll need to upload New Zealand certified copies of these documents.
Copies of your original documents can be certified by a New Zealand:
If you're going to send your application in the mail, you can provide New Zealand certified copies or your original documents. If you send the originals, we recommend you also send us a pre-paid courier package so we can return them by tracked courier.
CloseYou must give us:
If you're applying for your exemption online, you'll need to upload New Zealand certified copies of these documents.
Copies of your original documents can be certified by a New Zealand:
If you're going to send your application in the mail, you can provide New Zealand certified copies or your original documents. If you send the originals, we recommend you also send us a pre-paid courier package so we can return them by tracked courier.
CloseYou'll need to give us:
If you're applying for your exemption online, you'll need to upload New Zealand certified copies of these documents.
Copies of your original documents can be certified by a New Zealand:
If you're going to send your application in the mail, you can provide New Zealand certified copies or your original documents. If you send the originals, we recommend you also send us a pre-paid courier package so we can return them by tracked courier.
CloseYou'll need to give us:
If you're applying for your exemption online, you'll need to upload New Zealand certified copies of these documents.
Copies of your original documents can be certified by a New Zealand:
If you're going to send your application in the mail, you can provide New Zealand certified copies or your original documents. If you send the originals, we recommend you also send us a pre-paid courier package so we can return them by tracked courier.
CloseIf you've read all the information above, and you still want to apply for an exemption from the law, you can apply for your exemption application online:
Apply for an exemption for an overseas driver licence or endorsement
If you don't want to apply online, or want to send us original documents, you'll need to print out an Application for an exemption form (DL4). You'll need to fill it in and send it in to us with your supporting documents.
Download an Application for an exemption form (DL4) [PDF, 168 KB]
