Taiwanese would no longer need to take driving tests to obtain an Australian driver’s license in some parts of the country starting later this month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said today.
The Australian government in late July announced that it would recognize driver's licenses from Taiwan and 11 other countries.
The policy would first be implemented in the states of Western Australia and Queensland on Oct. 31, MOFA said in a statement.
Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung City Transportation Bureau
South Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory would begin recognizing Taiwan-issued licenses in January next year, while Tasmania would do so in February, the ministry said.
The Australian Capital Territory and Victoria have not announced when they plan to introduce the changes, it added.
MOFA is working closely with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to put in place a reciprocal policy for Australian drivers, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said in the statement.
Austroads, which oversees the recognition of overseas driver's licenses in Australia, in late July said that each Australian state and territory would introduce the new policy in the following months, with recognition expected to begin late this year.
"Once in effect in a given state or territory, eligible license holders from these jurisdictions will be able to transfer to an Australian license without further testing," Austroads said.
The changes do not apply to temporary visitors to Australia, who can continue to drive with a valid overseas license, provided they comply with the conditions of that license, it added.
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