Driving Licence Ireland

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New Online Service now Available

Information for foreign licence holders driving in Ireland. What licensing rules apply when driving in other countries. Mutual Recognition of Driver Disqualifications - UK and Ireland. From 1 August 2017 drivers with an Irish licence who are disqualified from driving in the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) for certain road traffic offences will have their disqualifications recognised and applied in the Republic of Ireland. Driving on a foreign licence in Ireland. If you have a driving licence issued by an EU or EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid. If you wish to exchange your driving licence for an equivalent Irish driving licence when it expires, you must do so within 10 years of your driving licence expiring.

To apply for a driving licence, you must be normally resident in Ireland. You are considered to be normally resident in Ireland if, because of personal and occupational ties, you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year. You are required to carry your driving licence with you at all times when driving. 2 days ago Online renewals now the way to go for Irish driving licence. Renewing your driving licence in Ireland has, thankfully, never been easier thanks to the introduction of online renewal - there's no need to go and have a face-to-face meeting at one of the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) offices around the country. Under this agreement between Ireland and the UK, if you hold an Irish licence and you are disqualified from driving for committing a serious offence in the UK, you may also be disqualified from driving in Ireland. The District Court can make an order to disqualify you from driving in Ireland for the offence that was committed in the UK.

Applying for a driving licence or learner permit just got a whole lot easier.

Our new online service caters for all application types, you can apply online for

  • first-time learner permit or full licence
  • renewing your driving licence or learner permit
  • updating personal details
  • replacement of a lost/stolen or damaged licence or permit
  • exchanging your foreign licence for an Irish licence

Applying online is a simple, straightforward process, no need to book an appointment or attend an NDLS centre. Save time and do it the smart way Apply Online today.

All you need is your Public Services Card and your verified MyGovID for safe, secure access to your online application.

  • Already have a verified MyGovID account? Apply Now
  • If you haven’t got a verified MyGovID account but have a Public Services Card? You’re almost there. You can set up your verified MyGovID account using your public services card at www.mygovid.ie.
  • Don’t yet have a Public Services Card? You can book a Public Service Card (PSC) appointment by phoning your local Intreo office. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 pandemic online PSC appointments are not available at www.mywelfare.ie
  • If you are unable to fully complete your application today, you can save it and return within 20 days to complete.

For further details see our Applying Online FAQ’s here.

Save yourself a trip to an NDLS office and APPLY ONLINE NOW

Introduction

You can exchange a driving licence issued by an EUmember state or an EEA member state (Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) foran Irish driving licence.

You can also exchange a driving licence issued by certain recognised statesfor an Irish driving licence. See ‘Recognised states below’.

If your driving licence was issued by a country that is not recognised fordriving licence exchange, you cannot exchange your licence for an Irishlicence. You will need to go through the full driver licensing procedurestarting with the drivertheory test. However, when you have your learner permit, you will only needto take 6 essential driver training (EDT) lessons instead of the usual 12lessons.

UK Licences and Brexit

If you live in Ireland and have a UK driving licence, your licence is nolonger recognised in Ireland. You should exchange your licence for an Irishlicence as soon as possible. You cannot exchange a UK licence if it has beenexpired for more than one year. You will continue to be licensed during theexchange process. The National Driver Licence Service will give you a receiptto confirm you are exchanging a licence.

The NDLS has published a useful FAQdocument on Brexit and driving licences.

Recognised states

You can exchange your licence if it was issued by an EU or EEA country. Ifyou wish to exchange your EU or EEA licence, you must do so within 10 years ofits expiry date. You can also exchange a UK licence.

If it was issued by a country that is outside the EU or EEA, you can applyto exchange it for an Irish licence if your licence was issued by:

  • Australia
  • Canada (but not from all provinces – see note below)
  • Gibraltar
  • Guernsey
  • Isle of Man
  • Japan
  • Jersey
  • South Africa
  • Republic of Korea (South Korea)
  • Switzerland
  • New Zealand
  • Taiwan

Note: You can exchange a Canadian licence that was issuedby the following provinces:

  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • Newfoundland
  • British Columbia
  • Saskatchewan
  • Alberta

Not all categories of licence can be exchanged in every case. You can readmore about the specificexchange rules governing each country and territory listed above on theNDLS website.

You must exchange your licence within 1 year of its expiration date.

Licences that were previously exchanged

If your original licence was issued in a non-recognised country, and youexchanged it for a licence in a recognised country, you cannot exchange yourlicence for an Irish licence.

Driving on a foreign licence inIreland

If you have a driving licence issued by an EU or EEA memberstate you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence isvalid. If you wish to exchange your driving licence for an equivalent Irishdriving licence when it expires, you must do so within 10 years of your drivinglicence expiring.

UK licences

If you hold a UK driving licence, you can drive in Ireland if you live inthe UK and are visiting Ireland. You are no longer able to drive on your UKlicence if you live in Ireland. You can still exchange it for an Irish licenceprovided the licence is valid or is not expired for more than 1 year. You willcontinue to be licensed during the exchange process. The National DriverLicence Service will give you a receipt to confirm you are exchanging alicence.

Recognised states

If your licence was issued by one of the countries or territories listed in‘recognised states’ above, you can drive in Ireland for up to 1 year whenvisiting, providing your licence is valid.

If you become normally resident in Ireland, you should exchange your drivinglicence or begin the process of applying for an Irish driving licence. You areconsidered to be normally resident in Ireland if, because of personal andoccupational ties, you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendaryear.

Other licenses

If your licence was issued in a country that is not in the EU, EEA or thelist of recognised states, and you hold a national driving licence and aninternational driving permit from your own country, you may drive in Irelandfor the duration of your temporary visit (up to 12 months).

If your stay in Ireland will be more than 12 months, you can apply for anIrish driving licence but you will need to go through the full driver licensingprocedure. You can read what you need to do in our document on Learning to drive in Ireland.

Driving

Renew Driving Licence Ireland

Rates

The fee for exchanging a foreign driving permit for an Irish driving licenceis €55.

Driving Licence Ireland Extension

Any required eyesight tests or medical examinations are notfree of charge.

How to exchange your licence

Driving Licence Ireland

You can apply to exchange your licence online or in person at an NationalDriving Licencing Service (NDLS) centre.

If your driving licence is lost or expired, you need a letter of entitlementfrom the licensing authority in the state that issued your licence. If this ina language other than English, you have to provide a certified translation.

Driving licence ireland

You may need to include a medical report with your application. The NDLS hasinformation on whena medical report is needed.

Driving Licence Ireland Application

Applying online

Lost Driving Licence Ireland

You can apply to exchange your licence online. You will need thefollowing:

  • A Public Services Card and verified MyGovID
  • Your current licence
  • Proof of your address if your address is different to the one you provided when you got your Public Services Card
  • Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if you are not an EU or EEA citizen
  • A medical report form if required
  • A completed eyesight report
  • Application fee of €55 (unless you are 70 or over)
  • Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for professional drivers

You will have to send your licence to the NDLS when you have completed theonline form.

Driving Licence Ireland Theory Test

Applying in person

Driving Licence Ireland Number

You can apply in person to one of the of the NDLS centres. You must make anappointment while COVID-19 restrictions remain. You should bring the followingwith you to your appointment:

  • A completed driver licence application (pdf) form
  • Current or most recent driving licence
  • Medical report if required
  • A completed eyesight report
  • Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) if needed
  • Application fee of €55 (unless you are 70 or over)

Further information and contacts

The National Driver Licence Service provides information forholders of foreign driving licences on its website.