Exchanged Australian driving licence for UK, now exchange for Irish

bmr1984

I moved to London from Australia many years ago and exchanged my Aus license for a UK one. I'm Irish and living back in Ireland now. I was thinking I better convert my license before Brexit but I was wondering if my license is considered EU or Recognised State issued? It's physically an EU license but I'm unsure as to how the NDLS will handle it. Has anyone ever exchanged an EU license originating in a non-EU but Recognised State? Could you give me some advice and what to expect?

Also if it's a EU license it seems I can continue to drive on it whereas if it's considered a Recognised State, I think I will have to exchange it within a year.

bmr1984

Does anyone know if the same rules apply to a UK license that was originally converted from an Australian one? Can you continue to drive on it as long as it's valid? Or do the Recognised State rules apply where you have to exchange after a year?

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

"If you are a UK licence holder living in the EU or EEA you should exchange your UK driving licence for a local EU driving licence before 29 March 2019"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-to-drive-in-the-eu-after-brexit#driving-licence-exchange-for-uk-nationals-living-in-the-eu

Markcheese

bmr1984 wrote: »

I moved to London from Australia many years ago and exchanged my Aus license for a UK one. I'm Irish and living back in Ireland now. I was thinking I better convert my license before Brexit but I was wondering if my license is considered EU or Recognised State issued? It's physically an EU license but I'm unsure as to how the NDLS will handle it. Has anyone ever exchanged an EU license originating in a non-EU but Recognised State? Could you give me some advice and what to expect?

Also if it's a EU license it seems I can continue to drive on it whereas if it's considered a Recognised State, I think I will have to exchange it within a year.

Shouldn't be a problem to swap it if it's a full UK/ European licence,

Marcusm

Markcheese wrote: »

Shouldn't be a problem to swap it if it's a full UK/ European licence,

Provided it was exchanged from a country/territory with which Ireland has an exchange agreement - ok for all australian states/territories. Wouldn’t be ok for, say, a German licence holder who acquired it by swapping a New York State licence or a Portuguese licence holder who got it by swapping a Brazilian one. That’s the rule although the extent to which it is enforced is unclear to me.

CJhaughey

Be aware that any categories that you may have above A and B may disappear when converted over.

freddyuk

And you may need a PSC which requires a face to face appointment and my date is middle of march so if you leave it late you may miss the deadline.

bmr1984

Will I be required to submit any Australian documentation? I'm pretty sure I surrendered all that to the DVLA when I applied for the British license. Has anyone here ever gone through this process before? Thanks for all the info. Really appreciate it.

biko

In none of the countries you have mentioned is it spelled "license"

If you now hold a UK licence then it won't matter that you earlier held a Australian licence.
Just go in with your UK licence to NDLS and go through normal process.

bmr1984

biko wrote: »

In none of the countries you have mentioned is it spelled "license"

If you now hold a UK licence then it won't matter that you earlier held a Australian licence.
Just go in with your UK licence to NDLS and go through normal process.

Apologies @Biko. Licence. Duly noted

bmr1984

I rang the NDLS and the lady on the phone sounded unsure but said I might need a Letter of Entitlement from Australia. I don't even have the licence number anymore or any of my Australian details. It's well over a decade since I lived there. Should I just make an appointment and see what the clerk says when I try to exchange?

biko

I think so yeah, they will just see your UK licence and probably be happy with that.
Don't bring the Oz licence into it unless they ask.

Markcheese

bmr1984 wrote: »

I rang the NDLS and the lady on the phone sounded unsure but said I might need a Letter of Entitlement from Australia. I don't even have the licence number anymore or any of my Australian details. It's well over a decade since I lived there. Should I just make an appointment and see what the clerk says when I try to exchange?

As biko said above check do need a Public Services Card, to get your licence, no problem if you've already got one obviously... 😀

galwaytt

Markcheese wrote: »

As biko said above check do need a Public Services Card, to get your licence, no problem if you've already got one obviously... 😀

You don't need a PSC card anymore : hasn't that fallen foul of GDPR by the AG?

You def don't need one for a Theory Test or Permit : can't see licence being different. ..

CarAudio

I don't get it, why don't you follow the official process from here. Forget about mentionning your aussie license. It is long gone you have a UK license now.

https://www.ndls.ie/holders-of-foreign-licences.html#to-apply-to-exchange-a-foreign-driving-licence-issued-by-a-member-state-of-the-european-union-european-economic-area

bmr1984

CarAudio wrote: »

I don't get it, why don't you follow the official process from here. Forget about mentionning your aussie license. It is long gone you have a UK license now.

https://www.ndls.ie/holders-of-foreign-licences.html#to-apply-to-exchange-a-foreign-driving-licence-issued-by-a-member-state-of-the-european-union-european-economic-area

Thanks @CarAudio. There's a section in the D401 where they ask if the licence you're exchanging was exchanged before and you can also see AUS on the back of my UK licence. I was only inquiring here in case anyone had been through it before and had some trouble with not being able to produce the original Non-EU docs.

GM228

Few are aware that the principles of mutual recognition of EU licences does not automatically apply to EU licences issued under a reciprocal agreement.

It is possible the NDLS will seek original Australian documentation, or you can be lucky and they will just base it on the UK issued licence.