[cabso1]

I am planning to visit NZ next month to check it out before I move there. Can I apply for a drivers licence if I give a Singapore address? Also can I apply for my 16 year old's learners licence?

Thanks in advance

[barryp]

You can drive for up to 12 months without an NZ DL, provided you have a valid licence from your home country. Makes no difference what that home country is (though an English translation would need to be obtained if the home country licence isn't in English).

So no need to worry now.

[cabso1]

Thanks, but I wanted to apply to set the ball rolling since I intend to shift to NZ at a later time. It can take up to 2 years before my son gets a full licence and he's been after me to get it. So back to the original Q, can I get the licence whilst I am visiting?

Cheers

[Kim39]

Just a little word of advice to all really who are coming out here whether it be for a reccie or moving. Having been stopped by the CVIU...commercial vehicle investigation unit on a few occasions i was informed that the UK licence alone isn't enough. I was informed by the officer that as much as the British licence is valid it must really be accompanied by a International licence in paper form. Ok she didn't bust me but warned me that there was a possibility that i could be done for the offence if stopped again. I would suggest folk do a proper search through the correct authorities to find out what is exactly required.

As for your son i'm unsure what the answer is.


Kim

[Trigirl]

a search of the proper authorities (land transport NZ) show that the CVIU person is talking rubbish. you need an overseas driving license OR international driving permit and if its not in english it needs translating (as barry said). by the way if you are using a english driving license photocard - then you need the paper bit too for it to be valid.

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

cabso1 - i don't see why you couldn't take your test for your NZ license while you are over here. you need to sit a theory test. if your license is a singapore one then i think you also have to sit a practical test too - only certain countries are exempt this requirement and singapore is not on the list. now - here's the interesting bit. in between sitting your theory and your practical you will have to drive on an NZ license (ie your singapore one becomes invalid) and you have to be supervised until you pass the practical.

your son can apply for his learners license and will have to pass a theory test to get that.

there don't appear to be any residency conditions on applying for a license so no reason why you couldn't do it with an overseas address?

[cabso1]

Thanks trigirl. Well hopefully all should go according to plan and we end up in NZ next month and make a visit to the land transport authority.

[Kim39]

by the way if you are using a english driving license photocard - then you need the paper bit too for it to be valid.


maybe she got confused with this then. Must admit she took me by surprise with her statement, but i was only conveying the words she had said to me, so apologies if i have confused the issue.

Kim