shqiptarëtAlbanian or Kosovo driving licence in New South Wales (NSW)
Licence rules in Australia differ by state. This page covers only New South Wales (NSW, including Sydney), based on official NSW pages.
This is general information from the official NSW pages below, not legal advice. Rules change; check before you apply.
- Permanent residents
- You can drive on a current overseas licence for up to 3 months from arriving in Australia. Within those 3 months you must get a NSW licence.
- Temporary visitors
- Up to 6 months while you remain a temporary visitor. If you arrived on or after 1 July 2023 and stay longer than 6 months, you need a NSW licence within 6 months.
- Albania and Kosovo
- Not on the NSW list of recognised countries. You must pass the driver knowledge test (DKT) and the practical driving test.
- Translation
- If your licence isn't in English: a translation from Multicultural NSW or the Department of Home Affairs, the original, not a photocopy.
Steps
- Download the form
Form 1001: Licence Application. - Gather documents
Proof of identity, your original licence, an accepted translation, proof of permanent residency, payment. - Go to a Service NSW centre
You apply in person at a centre. - Pass the tests
The knowledge test and the practical test, because Albanian and Kosovo licences are not exempt.
Be careful
- Some countries also need a validation letter from the consulate or licensing authority; ask Service NSW.
- Drivers aged 75 or over have a medical review and may need a practical test.
- Heavy vehicle classes (LR, MR, HR, HC, MC) have no exemptions.
NSW fees (from 1 July 2026)
- Driver knowledge test (DKT): $58. Driving test: $72 (including GST) per attempt.
- Full (unrestricted) licence: $74 for 1 year, $172 for 3 years, $234 for 5 years. Provisional P1 licence: $74; P2: $115. Which licence you get depends on your driving experience; ask Service NSW.
Kosovo citizens: Kosovo licences are not on the NSW recognised list; the same steps apply. Australia: the essentials