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

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). 
• 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 €55.00. You can pay by credit or debit card. If you are aged 70 years or over you are exempt from paying the fee. 

Certified translations are required for all Letters of Entitlement or Driver Statements which are not in English or Irish and must be provided by accredited translators in Ireland. The letter of entitlement must be submitted together with the certified translation.

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. 

Since 1 January 2021 if you are resident in Ireland and hold a UK/NI driving licence it is no longer valid and must be exchanged for an Irish licence.

You can now quickly and easily exchange your UK/NI 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 UK/NI driving licence (to be submitted by post to the address provided to you during the online application process). If your licence is lost or expired by less than one year or does not have a category start date you will need to submit an original letter of entitlement/driver statement from the relevant licensing authority  
• Proof of your address dated within the last six months is required if your current address is not recorded on your permit and it 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 eyesight report form dated within one month if required unless your application is accompanied by a medical report form dated within one month, if required in your case. 
• Completed relevant (CPC) training, if driving professionally. 
• If exchanging a NI licence it must be accompanied by the counterpart
• If exchanging a UK licence you will be contacted by the NDLS to provide a check code so your licence details can be verified. Learn more about sharing your driving licence details here 
• Your application fee of €55.00. You can pay by credit or debit card. If you are 70 years and over you are exempt from paying the fee. 

Apply to exchange your UK/NI 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.

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 (if your licence is expired by less than one year or does not have a category start date you will need to provide an original letter of entitlement / driver statement from the relevant licensing authority)
• If you do not have your most recent driving licence in your possession, you will need to post in an original letter of entitlement / driver statement from the appropriate licensing authority after you complete your online application
• 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 €55.00. You can pay by credit or debit card. If you are aged 70 years or over you are exempt from paying the fee.

Certified translations are required for all Letters of Entitlement or Driver Statements which are not in English or Irish and must be provided by accredited translators in Ireland. The letter of entitlement must be submitted together with the certified translation.

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

To apply for an Irish diplomatic driving licence, you need to submit the following documents to: Road Safety Authority, Driver Licensing, Moy Valley Business Park, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

• 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
• Two passport photographs (your signature on the back)
• Current national driving licence (with translation of non-EU licence). This will be returned to your Embassy in advance of processing your 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).

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  

To apply for a renewal of an Irish diplomatic licence, you need to submit the following documents to: Road Safety Authority, Driver Licensing, Moy Valley Business Park, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

• 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
• 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).
• 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 Gardai
• 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
• 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.

To apply for a replacement diplomatic licence if your personal details have changed since your last diplomatic driving licence e.g., change of address, medical conditions, or your diplomatic licence has been lost or stolen, you need to submit the following documents to: Road Safety Authority, Driver Licensing, Moy Valley Business Park, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

• 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
• 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 Gardai
• 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.