If you have to sit a practical test your licence will be issued with a supervisor condition until you pass the practical test. This is where a supervisor has to accompany you at all times while you drive. More information on supervisors can be found here.

If you are converting a motorcycle licence you will not have a supervisor condition, instead you will be given a Learner Licence. The conditions for having a motorcycle learner licence can be found here.

Questions?

• Check our frequently asked questions to see if your question has been answered
• Visit the NZ Transport Agency or call their Driver Licensing helpline on 0800 822 422

Along with a theory test you may have to sit a practical test. You will have to sit a practical test if:

• You have a licence from a country not specified in the list above
• You have a licence from a country listed in the table, but you have held that licence for less than two years
• You hold a heavy traffic licence from Hong Kong or South Korea

That’s okay, the theory test is also available in:

• Māori
• Arabic
• Chinese (simplified and traditional)
• Gujurati
• Hindi
• Korean
• Punjabi
• Samoan
• Thai
• Tongan

If none of these languages are appropriate you can talk to our friendly staff at your local overseas licence conversion branch about your options.

That’s okay, you can apply to sit the test again. In the mean time;

• If you’ve failed the theory test and been in New Zealand for over a year you must not drive in New Zealand.
• If you’ve failed the practical test you must be accompanied by a supervisor when you drive until you resit and pass the test.

New Zealand law requires people to have reached a certain age before they can apply for different licence types. This means that if you are under 18 years of age you will only be able to convert your licence to the equivalent New Zealand licence your age allows within New Zealand.

You will find more information on licence age restrictions on the NZ Transport Agency website.