Foreign Licences

If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/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, you must do so within 10 years of your driving licence expiring. List of EU/EEA member states

Where a driver licence has been issued in exchange for a licence issued by a country that Ireland does not have an exchange agreement with then Ireland cannot exchange the driver licence. You will then be required to follow the necessary steps to become a licensed driver in Ireland. You can also view a list of EU/EEA member states. 

You can now quickly and easily exchange your EU/EEA licence for an Irish licence online. No need to complete paper forms, make appointments or visit an NDLS centre in person. All you need is the following: 

• A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID. 
  
• Current or most recent EU/EEA driving licence (to be posted in after you make your online application). Failure to submit your foreign licence will result in your application for exchange being rejected. 
• Proof of your address dated within the last six months is required if your current address differs from that provided to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) if and when you applied for a PSC. 
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if your place of birth and nationality are outside the EU/EEA. 
• Fully completed medical report form dated within one month, if required in your case. 
• Completed relevant driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), if required. 
• Application fee of €65.00. You can pay by credit or debit card. If you are aged 70 years or over you are exempt from paying the fee. 

Please Note: In some cases, we will need to contact the country that issued your licence and this may cause a delay in issuing you an Irish licence.

Apply to exchange your foreign EU/EEA licence online at ndls.ie 

Apply in person at an NDLS centre. 

As a visitor to Ireland you can drive on a driving licence from any state outside the EU/EEA for up to one year, provided the driving licence is current and valid. However, on taking up normal residence in Ireland you must either exchange your driving licence or apply for a new one.  See list of recognised states. 

Where a driver licence has been issued in exchange for a licence issued by a country that Ireland does not have an exchange agreement with then Ireland cannot exchange the driver licence.  You will then be required to follow the necessary steps to become a licensed driver in Ireland. 

You can now quickly and easily exchange your foreign licence from a recognised state for an Irish licence online. No need to complete paper forms, make appointments or visit an NDLS centre in person. All you need is the following:

• A Public Services Card and verified MyGovID.
• Current or most recent foreign driving licence issued by recognised state. Failure to submit your foreign licence will result in your application for exchange being rejected.
• Proof of your address dated within the last six months is required if your current address differs from that provided to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) when you applied for a PSC.
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if your place of birth and nationality are outside the EU/EEA.
• Fully completed eyesight report form dated within one month, if required in your case.
• Fully completed medical report form dated within one month, if required in your case.
• Completed relevant driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), if required.
• Application fee of €65.00. You can pay by credit or debit card. If you are aged 70 years or over you are exempt from paying the fee.

Please Note: In some cases, we will need to contact the country that issued your licence and this may cause a delay in issuing you an Irish licence.

Apply online to exchange your foreign licence issued by a recognised state

Apply in person at an NDLS centre

If you hold a valid and current national driving licence from a non-EU/EEA or non-recognised state, you may drive in Ireland for the duration of your temporary visit up to 12 months and you hold an international driving permit from your own country.

On taking up normal residence in Ireland you need to go through the necessary steps to obtain a driving licence to drive here. 

A diplomatic driving licence is issued for 3 years on first application

You can apply for an Irish diplomatic driving licence by post to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Moy Valley Business Park, Primrose Hill, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co Mayo or by email to [email protected]

• Cover Note from your Embassy certifying that you are a member of the mission with entitlements
• Fully completed and signed Application Form for a driving licence 
• Proof of PPSN
• *Two passport photographs (your signature on the back)
• Colour photocopy of the front and back of applicant’s full valid/current original national driving licence (with translation of non-EU licence). If the original is submitted, this will be returned to applicant’s Embassy in advance of processing the application.
• Fully completed Eyesight Report form, dated within one month
• Colour photocopy of your Mission’s valid Identity Card issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
• Colour photocopy of your current passport (and pages where personal information is contained if not on photographic page).

*For new Irish diplomatic driving licence applications, the RSA will use the same photo as on your Public Services Card, provided it is not more than 10 years old.  If you do not have a PSC, you can email a jpeg passport photo to the RSA. 

If you are aged 75 years and over or answer Yes to any of the Health and Fitness questions your application form must be accompanied by a  Medical Report completed and signed by a medical practitioner who is on the General Register of Medical Practitioners in Ireland. This form must be submitted within one month of completion.

A diplomatic driving licence is issued for one year on renewal  

You can renew an Irish diplomatic licence by posting your application to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Moy Valley Business Park, Primrose Hill, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co Mayo or by email at [email protected]  

• Cover Note from your Embassy certifying that you are a member of the mission with entitlements
• Fully completed and signed Application Form for a driving licence 
• Proof of PPSN
• *Two passport photographs (your signature on the back)
  
• Colour photocopy of your Mission’s valid Identity Card issued by Department of Foreign Affairs 
• Colour photocopy of your current passport (and pages where personal information is contained if not on photographic page).
• Colour photocopy of front and back of Current/Expired Irish Diplomatic Driving Licence.
• Colour photocopy of front and back of applicant’s valid/current original national driving licence if foreign driving licence has expired since last application (with translation of non-EU licence). 
• Current or expired Irish diplomatic driving licence.  If your licence is lost or stolen, you will need to have Q.15 of your application form stamped and signed by the Gardaí
• Full completed Eyesight Report form, is required if your eyesight condition has changed since previous application.  This form must be signed by a medical practitioner or optician and submitted within one month of completion

*For renewal of Irish diplomatic driving licence, the previous photo provided will be re-used. 

• If you are aged 75 years and over or answer Yes to any of the Health and Fitness questions your application form must be accompanied by a Medical Report form completed and signed by a medical practitioner who is on the General Register of Medical Practitioners in Ireland.  This form must be submitted within one month of completion.

You can apply for a replacement diplomatic licence if your personal details has changed since your last diplomatic driving licence e.g., change of address, medical conditions; or your diplomatic licence has been lost or stolen. You can post your application to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Moy Valley Business Park, Primrose Hill, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co Mayo or email at [email protected]

• Cover Note from your Embassy certifying that you are a member of the mission with entitlement
• Fully completed and signed application form for a driving licence 
• Proof of PPSN
• Two passport photographs (your signature on the back)
• Colour photocopy of your Mission’s valid Identity Card issued by Department of Foreign Affairs 
• Colour photocopy of your current passport (and pages where personal information is contained if not on photographic page)
• Fully completed Eyesight Report form if your eyesight condition has changed since previous application.  This must be completed and signed by a medical practitioner/optician and submitted within one month of completion
• If your diplomatic licence has been lost or stolen, you will need to have Q.15 of the application form signed and stamped by the Gardaí
• If you have changed address you will need to provide documentary evidence of your new address e.g. recent utility bill, bank statement issued within last six months
• If you are aged 75 years and over or answer Yes to any of the Health and Fitness questions your application form must be accompanied by a Medical Report form completed and signed by a medical practitioner who is on the General Register of Medical Practitioners in Ireland.  This form must be submitted within one month of completion.

Note: the expiry date on a replacement/duplicate diplomat driving licence will be the same as original licence.