NAATI Driver’s Licence Translation: Accepted by State (2026)

A NAATI-certified English translation, carried together with your original licence, is accepted for driving and for renting a car in all Australian states and territories. Police and rental companies need to be able to read your licence details: your name, date of birth, licence number, classes, conditions and dates. A NAATI translation gives them exactly that.

Two rules apply everywhere:

Always carry the original licence. The translation is not a licence on its own.
Your overseas licence must be current.

How long you can keep driving on an overseas licence depends on your visa and your state. Some limits apply even to temporary visa holders:

New South Wales: temporary overseas visitors who arrived in NSW after 1 July 2023 can drive on their overseas licence for up to 6 months, then need a temporary NSW licence to keep driving (Service NSW).
Victoria: if you move to Victoria and plan to live there for more than 6 months, you must convert. The 6 months start on the day you first begin living in Victoria (VicRoads).
Northern Territory: you must transfer your overseas licence within 3 months of living in the NT (NT.GOV.AU).

Converting your overseas licence: state by state

Once you become a permanent resident, every state and territory requires you to swap your overseas licence for a local one within a deadline. If your licence is not in English, you will need to present an English translation with your application.

State or territory	When you must convert	NAATI translation accepted for conversion?	Official source
New South Wales	Within 3 months (Australian citizens and permanent residents)	No. Only Multicultural NSW, the Department of Home Affairs, the Korean Consulate-General (Korean licences) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Taiwanese licences)	Service NSW
Victoria	If you live in Victoria for more than 6 months	Yes, any NAATI accredited translator, or your country’s consulate in Australia	VicRoads
Queensland	After 3 months of living in Queensland with a resident visa	Yes, from an approved NAATI translator	Queensland Government
Western Australia	After 3 months of residence in WA on a permanent visa	Yes, from a NAATI-certified translator (see note below)	Transport WA
South Australia	Within 3 months of becoming a permanent resident	Yes, from a NAATI approved translator, stamped and signed or with a NAATI digital stamp (QR code)	SA.GOV.AU
Tasmania	Within 6 months of being granted permanent residency	Yes, from a NAATI certified translator, or an IDP	Service Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory	Within 3 months of holding a permanent visa	Yes, from a NAATI-certified translator, an embassy or consulate, or the Department of Home Affairs	Access Canberra
Northern Territory	Within 3 months of living in the NT	Unclear. The NT asks for an official translation by an authorised translator. Confirm with the Motor Vehicle Registry before ordering	NT.GOV.AU

Each deadline starts from a different date (visa grant, start of residence or arrival in the state), so read the official page for your state before you plan your appointment.

New South Wales: the one exception

NSW is the only state where a NAATI translation from a private translator is not accepted for a local licence. Transport for NSW says it only accepts translations from:

Multicultural NSW
the Department of Home Affairs
the Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea, for Korean licences
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, for Taiwanese licences

This list applies both to transferring an overseas licence and to applying for a NSW licence as a temporary overseas visitor.

A NAATI translation is still valid in NSW for driving and renting a car during the period you are allowed to drive on your overseas licence. If you plan to get a NSW licence, order your translation from one of the providers above.

Notes for other states

Western Australia: the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure does not accept translations dated after 1 January 2018 by a NAATI accredited translator, unless the translator holds Permanent Pre-2007 NAATI Accreditation and is listed by the Office of Multicultural Interests. Translations after that date must be done by a NAATI certified translator (including Recognised Practising). WA also accepts translations from tertiary qualified translators and from the Department of Home Affairs Free Translating Service.
South Australia: the translation must be an original document. A NAATI translation must be either stamped and signed by the translator or carry a NAATI digital stamp (QR code). SA also accepts consulate translations on official letterhead and translations from the Interpreting and Translating Centre (Multicultural SA) or an interstate equivalent.
Victoria: VicRoads says you can use a current IDP if it complies with the UN Convention, is issued by the country that issued your licence, shows your licence details, and is carried with your overseas licence.
Tasmania: you can present an IDP or a translation by a NAATI certified translator. If you cannot convert within 6 months of being granted permanent residency, you may be able to get an extension from Transport Services.
ACT: licences from countries with “recognition status” convert without extra training or tests. These are Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States (some with date conditions). Since 1 July 2025, holders of licences from other countries must complete the ACT Pre-Learner Licence Course, pass the road rules test and pass a practical driving assessment, and are then issued a provisional licence.

Whether you need to sit a knowledge or driving test depends on the country that issued your licence, not on the translation.

NAATI translation or International Driving Permit?

	NAATI translation	International Driving Permit
Where to get it	Online, from Australia or overseas	From the issuing body in the country that issued your licence
Valid for driving and car rental	Yes, everywhere in Australia	Yes, everywhere in Australia
Valid for licence conversion	Yes in VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS and ACT. No in NSW. Unclear in the NT	Listed as an option in Tasmania and the NT. Check other states

What a valid NAATI licence translation includes

A certified licence translation reproduces every element of your licence in English: full name, date of birth, address if shown, licence number, issue and expiry dates, issuing authority, vehicle categories and any conditions or restrictions.

You can verify any NAATI translation yourself:

NAATI stamp or QR code: the translation carries the translator’s NAATI stamp, or a NAATI digital stamp with a QR code.
Practitioner number: the stamp shows the translator’s NAATI practitioner number.
Online directory: anyone can look up the translator on the NAATI Online Directory or use its Check a NAATI certification tool.

Get your licence translated with EzyTranslate

EzyTranslate provides NAATI-certified English translations of overseas driver’s licences. AU$69 per licence, delivered by email in 24 hours.

Upload a clear photo or PDF of both sides of your licence.
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Frequently asked questions

Is a NAATI translation of my driver’s licence accepted in Australia?

Yes. A NAATI-certified English translation carried with your original licence is accepted for driving and renting a car in every Australian state and territory.

Can I use a NAATI translation to convert my licence in NSW?

No. Transport for NSW only accepts translations from Multicultural NSW, the Department of Home Affairs, and, for Korean and Taiwanese licences, the Korean Consulate-General and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

Which states accept a NAATI translation for licence conversion?

Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. The Northern Territory asks for an official translation by an authorised translator and does not say whether a NAATI translation qualifies, so confirm with the NT Motor Vehicle Registry first.

How long do I have to convert my overseas licence as a permanent resident?

3 months in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT, and 6 months in Tasmania. In Victoria you must convert if you live there for more than 6 months, and in the NT within 3 months of living there. Each deadline starts from a different date, so check the official page for your state.

Do car rental companies accept a NAATI licence translation?

Yes. Bring your original licence together with the NAATI translation.

Is a digital PDF translation valid?

For driving and car rental, carry a printed copy with your original licence. For conversion, rules differ: South Australia asks for an original document, stamped and signed or with a NAATI digital stamp (QR code), and NSW asks for the original translation from one of its approved providers. Check your state’s page before your appointment.

Which Australian states accept a NAATI translation of an overseas driver's licence? State-by-state rules for 2026