Australian Road Traffic Agency Austroads Recently announced,New South Wales (NSW) originally planned to cancel the arrangement that Taiwanese and Hong Kong drivers can directly exchange for Australian driver licenses on April 30, 2024, but it has now been postponed to October 31, 2025..
at the same time,Queensland has also recently confirmed that it will postpone the end of its Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) system to November 29, 2025..
in other words,During the extension period, eligible drivers can still exchange their licenses for local ones without taking written or road tests according to the current policy.
But be careful:Starting from November 29, 2025, all driver's license holders from Taiwan, Hong Kong and other places will be required to pass the written test and road test; before November 28, 2025, the current test-free policy will continue to be implemented as usual.
Background: Improving road safety is the main reason for policy revision
Austroads issued an announcement on October 21, 2024, stating that the policy adjustment is aimed atImproving overall road safety in Australiaand ensure that all drivers have driving skills that meet local standards.
Authorities said that in the past, there have been cases where overseas driver license holders have accumulated a large number of traffic violation records in Australia, but because they are not managed by the local licensing system, it is difficult to immediately deduct points or revoke their licenses, increasing road safety risks.
Therefore, the Australian states originally planned to completely cancel the rights enjoyed by driver license holders in some regions (including Taiwan and Hong Kong) on April 30, 2024. "Experienced Driver Recognition" qualifications.
However, considering the practical operation and the time required for the transition period, the NSW government finally decided to postpone it to October 31, 2025, while Queensland has simultaneously extended the expiration date to November 29, 2025.
Eligible persons for extension and conditions for renewal
According to the updated information on the NSW government website, before October 31, 2025, holders of valid Taiwan or Hong Kong driver's licenses can still apply for exemption from the knowledge test (written test) and road driving test (road test) under the following conditions and directly exchange them for a NSW private car (Class C) or motorcycle (Class R) driver's license:
- Hold a driving license issued in Taiwan or Hong Kong
- Hold the license for 12 months or more
- 25 years of age or above
- The driver's license must be valid and not have any record of revocation, suspension or cancellation
In addition, if a driver accumulates 12 violation points in Australia or is involved in serious traffic crimes, he or she may still be refused a driver's license renewal.
It should be noted that the above exemption only applies to those converting their overseas driving licence for the first time. Those holding a provisional driving qualification or those who have failed to renew their licence in the past may need to take the relevant test again.
Queensland situation update
According to Austroads and Queensland Government official information, Queensland has confirmed that the "Experienced Driver Recognition" policy will be extended to After mid-2025 It was officially terminated only after the legislative process was completed, and it was emphasized that it could only take effect.
Officials reiterated:
"Until November 28, 2025, the current policy will remain in effect. Applicants holding driver's licenses from Taiwan, Hong Kong and other places can still directly renew their licenses according to the current regulations. From November 29, 2025, all relevant driver's license holders will be required to pass a written test and a road test before obtaining a formal Queensland driver's license."
The Queensland Transport and Accounting Department also reminded that those who intend to renew their license should take advantage of the extension period to apply early to avoid having to retake the test or facing a waiting list after the new policy takes effect.
Policy Overview of Other States
At present, with the exception of NSW and QLD, other Australian states such as Victoria and South Australia have not yet announced whether they will postpone the cancellation arrangements simultaneously. However, according to Austroads data, Western Australia has confirmed that the termination of the relevant policy will be postponed to October 31, 2025, while other states and regions are expected to fully cancel the EDR plan as scheduled on April 30, 2025.
Under current regulations, these states generally require overseas drivers to complete the conversion process within three to six months of arrival, and in some cases, they still need to pass a written or road test. For example:
- Queensland requires a driver's license to be converted after living for more than three months;
- Victoria stipulates that long-term residence must be converted within six months, otherwise you will not be allowed to continue driving;
- South Australia also has a requirement to renew the license within three months.
It is worth noting that there may be slight differences in the scope of recognition and testing requirements of driving licenses from different countries and regions in each state. It is recommended that applicants must individually consult the official information of the local transportation department.
Experts recommend that residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan switch as soon as possible
Immigration consultants and lawyers pointed out that the postponement provides a final "window period for license renewal without taking a test" for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan driver's license holders.
They recommend that people who intend to live, study or work in Australia,License renewal procedures should be completed before November 28, 2025, so as to avoid having to pass the written and road tests later.
Experts also remind that the closer the deadline is, the longer the queues for driver's license tests and license renewal appointments may be, and the processing time may be extended to several months.
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