Australian Immigration Daily News

Please find a link below which contains the revised communications toolkit (and resources) from Transport for NSW, with additional information on the 1 July 2023 policy changes for overseas drivers. 

Here are the summarized key points from the provided information about the changes in the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017, effective from July 1, 2023:

1. Changes Impacting Overseas Drivers:

   • Residency Rule: Temporary visa holders planning to reside in NSW for over six months must convert to a NSW license within that timeframe to continue driving.
   • Driving Privileges: Overseas drivers accumulating 13 demerit points or convicted of specific offenses risk permanent loss of driving privileges in NSW. They'll need a NSW license after completing suspension/disqualification periods.

2. Road Safety and Policy Change:

   • Road Safety Responsibility: Everyone plays a role in road safety. Overseas license holders can learn about NSW road transport through this policy change.
   • Fatal Crashes: Five fatal crashes involving drivers with overseas licenses occurred in 2023, emphasizing the importance of road safety measures.

3. Conversion and Consequences:

   • Conversion Reminder: Over 20,000 temporary visa holders have converted licenses since July 1, 2023. Those yet to convert are encouraged to do so promptly at Service NSW centres.
   • Consequences of Delay: Failure to convert within six months can result in being deemed unlicensed by NSW Police, leading to fines and potential impacts on insurance coverage.
   • Enforcement Measures: NSW Police can impound vehicles and confiscate number plates of unlicensed or disqualified drivers.

4. Testing Centres and Resources:

   • New Testing Centre: A dedicated Driver Testing Centre at Macquarie Fields TAFE caters to increased demand for license conversion, offering around 300 driving tests weekly.
   • Service NSW Support: Overseas license holders can obtain a NSW driver's license at Service NSW centres, with more information available on the nsw.gov.au website.

These changes emphasize the importance of timely license conversion for overseas drivers in NSW, while highlighting the enforcement measures and resources available for the conversion process.

Source: Overseas-Licence-Policy-Change-Comms-Toolkit_Version-2-December-2023.pdf