Description

Driver’s licences issued in other countries and acknowledged in South Africa will be converted to credit card format driver’s licences when the holders apply for a South African licence in terms of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996.

An application to exchange an international driver’s permit should be accompanied by the driver’s licence issued by foreign authority.

A foreign driver’s licence or international driver’s permit is only exchanged for a South African licence if the applicant is a South African citizen or has obtained permanent residency (i.e. this is not applicable to holders of diplomatic or treaty permits).

The foreign driver’s licence must be valid on the day of exchange and should be written in one of South Africa’s official languages. If this is not the case, the application must be accompanied by a translation issued by a competent authority.

The foreign licence will become invalid when the licence holder resumes permanent residency or obtains permission for permanent residence in South Africa.

[Top]

Steps to follow

• Complete form DL1, Application for exchange of a driver’s licence at any driver’s licence testing centre.
• Produce the following documents:
• • acceptable identification as required by South African legislation (e.g. identity document (ID), temporary ID, valid South African passport, or foreign passport with permanent residence permit)
  • a letter from a competent authority confirming the validity of your foreign driver’s licence. The letter should also  define the class of licence. (type of vehicle that can be driven)
  • foreign driver’s licence
  • four black-and-white ID photos.
• Pay the prescribed fee.
• An eye test will be conducted on site before the exchange is finalised.

Note: You will not do a driver’s licence examination. A temporary driver’s licence is valid for six months and is issued immediately, free of charge.

[Top]

Legal framework

(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act 93 of 1996)

[Top]

Service standard

The time-frame for exchanging the licence varies from one testing centre to another due to internal auditing processes.

[Top]

Cost 

[Top]

Forms to complete

DL1 (Application for exchange of driver’s licence) is available at any licence testing centre.

[Top]

Contact details