Licence-conversion guides
How to get a driving licence in one country using a licence from another — including the multi-country chains that people search for but few sites document accurately. Every requirement on these pages cites the responsible licensing authority. We document what works, what doesn't, and what triggers scrutiny.
All guides
- Direct exchange✓ Available2–6 weeks
Hong Kong "Direct Issue" full driving licence — the foundation
How HK Transport Department issues a Hong Kong full driving licence to holders of overseas (including mainland China) licences without a HK driving test. Full sourced requirements, the 2026 online appointment rule, and the correspondence-address gotcha.
- Multi-country chain✓ Available8–24 weeks
Mainland China → Hong Kong → New Zealand: the licence chain that still works
The Mainland China → Hong Kong → New Zealand licence chain still works as of May 2026. Step-by-step with primary sources, the realistic timeline, and what NZTA actually scrutinizes.
- Reality check✗ ClosedN/A — pathway closed weeks
Australia closed the HK / Taiwan / Korea / SA licence-swap path in 2026
Australia removed Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) for Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and South Africa between April 2025 and February 2026. The "swap your licence with no test" path no longer works. What replaced it.
- Translation route✓ Available1–2 weeks
Japan via JAF translation: the workaround for Swiss, German, French, Italian, Belgian, Monégasque, Taiwanese drivers
Japan does not accept 1968 Vienna IDPs. Drivers from Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Monaco, Slovenia, Estonia, and Taiwan can drive in Japan with a JAF Japanese translation of their home licence. Full sourced process and the 2026 fee change.
- Reality check✓ Available4–12 weeks
Indian driving licences in UK, Australia, NZ — what actually works
Reality check on Indian driving licence conversion abroad. India is NOT on UK's direct-exchange list. Australia and NZ require a practical test. What you actually need to do.
- Multi-country chain✓ Available8–24 weeks
Mainland China → Hong Kong → United Kingdom: the second-strongest licence chain
The Mainland China → Hong Kong → United Kingdom chain works because Hong Kong is on the DVLA / NI designated-country list and mainland China is not. Step-by-step with sourced timelines and the 12-month-to-drive / 5-year-to-exchange windows.
- Reality check✓ Availablevaries by destination weeks
Hong Kong as a licence "jump board": where it works and where it doesn't (2026 destination matrix)
A Hong Kong driving licence is a strong route for converting overseas in New Zealand and the UK, but not in Australia (closed 2025-26), Germany, Japan, or most US states. Sourced destination-by-destination matrix.
- Multi-country chain✓ Available4–12 (province-dependent) weeks
Mainland China → Hong Kong → Canada: province-by-province (verify before relying)
Canada's licence exchange rules are provincial. Hong Kong reciprocity varies by province and was not fully verifiable from indexed primary sources at the research date. Per-province timelines and the realistic verification checklist.
- Reality check✓ Available12–24 (German tests required regardless) weeks
Mainland China → Hong Kong → Germany: translation only, not test exemption
A Hong Kong driving licence does NOT exempt you from the German driving test. Germany's Annex 11 no-test conversion list does not include Hong Kong. HK does win the translation requirement — a real but limited administrative benefit.