You can drive with a current overseas licence, but each state sets the rule. In New South Wales (NSW) there is a limit of 6 months if you live there. Queensland and Western Australia (WA) do not set that limit for temporary visas. If your licence is not in English, a translation or international permit comes into play.
Tourism Australia gives a general rule: up to 3 months with a licence in English, and an international permit if it is not. The state pages say more specific things, and sometimes different ones.
How long is it valid in each state?
| State | With a temporary or visitor visa | Permanent resident or citizen | If not in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Up to 6 months | 3 months | Translation or international permit |
| Queensland | Without the 3-month limit, which does not include temporary visas | 3 months | Best to carry a recognised translation |
| Western Australia (WA) | No need to swap it, including if you study or work temporarily | 3 months | The page does not cover it in general |
| South Australia (SA) | Short-stay visitor, no published time limit | 90 days | Translation or international permit |
For Victoria, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory we could not check the rule, because we could not open their websites. They are at VicRoads, the Tasmanian transport website, NT.GOV.AU and Access Canberra.
These pages do not name the Working Holiday. They talk about temporary visas or working temporarily. To find out which visa you have, see how the visa works.
How are the 6 months counted in NSW?
NSW explains it like this in its frequently asked questions:
- The period starts when you take a NSW address as your main place of residence, not when you arrive in Australia.
- A temporary trip to another state or overseas does not restart it.
- If you leave, go to live somewhere else and come back, it counts again from the new date.
- If you plan to stay less than 6 months, you do not need to swap it.
- After that period you need a NSW temporary licence. It may not require a test if your licence comes from a recognised authority.
Which translation is valid?
| State | What is published |
|---|---|
| NSW | To drive: English translation or international permit. To apply for the licence, approved translations, such as those from Multicultural NSW and Home Affairs |
| Queensland | Recognised translation; NAATI lists translators |
| SA | Original, from a NAATI translator, from a consulate in Australia or from the public translation centres |
And the international permit?
SA says it must be from the same country as your licence, be current and be carried with your licence. It does not replace the licence. It also warns that you may need it to rent: see renting and relocations.
NSW says it is issued by the motoring association or embassy of the country that gave you the licence. Tourism Australia says to get it before leaving home. We have not confirmed who issues it in each country.
What do you have to carry?
- NSW: your licence, and being able to prove to the police that you are a visitor.
- WA: your current licence, not suspended or withdrawn.
- Queensland: show it if the police ask, who can also do an alcohol or drug test.
- SA: the licence documents and your passport, if the police ask.
Can I drive a camper or a large van?
Queensland lets you drive on an overseas car licence whatever its class C allows: up to 4.5 tonnes and 12 people, including the driver. SA speaks of the same vehicle types your licence allows, with its conditions.
Is my country on the list of recognised licences?
It matters when you swap your licence, because it can spare you the tests:
- WA: from 31 October 2026 it adds 14 jurisdictions: Bulgaria, Cyprus, South Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia and Taiwan.
- Queensland: it cites Canada, the United Kingdom and Singapore as recognised, and China, India and Vietnam as not recognised, only as examples.
- NSW: China is on the not-recognised list, and Hong Kong from 1 February 2026. Their licence holders take a theory and a practical test.
- SA: there is an official tool, Check overseas licence.
We have not seen the full list, so we do not confirm Spain, Italy or the countries of Latin America.
What basic rules apply?
You drive on the left. The general limit is 50 km/h in town, and up to 100 or 110 km/h on the open road, unless a sign says otherwise. The alcohol limit is 0.05, with random checks. In Queensland, going more than 40 km/h over the limit or having unpaid fines can stop you driving.
Driving without a valid licence also affects insurance: see what CTP covers.
What we could not confirm
- The rules in Victoria, Tasmania and the two territories, because we could not check their websites.
- Whether the Working Holiday counts the same in each state: no page names it.
- The full lists of recognised licences.
Sources
All official and viewed on 5 November 2026.
- Tourism Australia: driving
- NSW: driving with an overseas licence
- NSW: frequently asked questions
- Service NSW: temporary licence
- Queensland: driving with an overseas licence
- Queensland: swapping your licence
- WA: visitors
- WA: moving from overseas
- WA: 14 jurisdictions added, dated 25 September 2026
- SA: driving with an overseas licence
- SA: swapping your licence