Ireland - Exchange Or Convert a Foreign Driver License to Irish Driver License

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Procedure

1. To exchange your driving licence for an Irish driving licence, you must complete an application form for a driving licence (form D401).
2. You can obtain a copy of application form D.401 from your local Motor Taxation Office. You can also download Form D401 here: http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/D401_Full_Licence_app_form.pdf.
3. Your completed application form should be returned to your local Motor Taxation Office and must include the required documents stated below.

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Required Documents

• completed application form
• Two identical passport-type photographs, with the reverse of both signed by you.
• Your current or most recently issued driving licence (if you hold or held one in the previous 10 years). If you have lost your driving licence or it has expired, you will require a letter of entitlement from the licencing authority in the state that issued the licence.
• A medical report may be required. A medical report is compulsory if:
  • you are applying for Categories C, C1, D, D1, EC, EC1, ED or ED1 unless you previously provided a medical report which is still applicable
  • you will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being issued
  • you have any of certain disabilities or diseases
  • you suffer from epilepsy or alcoholism
  • you regularly take drugs or medication that would be likely to impair your ability to drive safely.
• Download a medical report form (D.501) You can download here: http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/Medical_Report_D_501_Form.pdf. This form is available from your Motor Taxation Office. A registered medical practitioner should carry out your medical examination and then complete the form. You must sign the declaration on the medical report form in the presence of the registered medical practitioner.
• An eyesight report if you are exchanging a licence from outside the EU. You can download eyesight report form (D502). You can download here: http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/Eyesight_Report_D_502_Form.pdf It is also available from your Motor Taxation Office.
• The appropriate fee. If you are applying for your licence by post, pay the fee by cheque, bank draft or postal order, made payable to your local authority. If you are applying for your driving licence in person, you may pay the fee in cash.

Office Locations & Contacts

Road Safety Authority
Moy Business Park
Primrose Hill
Ballina
Mayo
Ireland
Tel:(096) 25000
Locall:1890 506 080
Fax:(096) 25252
Homepage: http://www.rsa.ie
Email: [email protected]

Citizens Information Centre
http://centres.citizensinformation.ie/

Eligibility

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Fees

From 1 January 2013 the fee for exchanging a full driving permit issued by a recognised country for an Irish driving licence is 55.

Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

• If you are not from any of the above countries, (for example, if you are from Canada or the United States), and you hold a national driving licence or an international driving permit from your own country, you may drive in Ireland for the duration of your temporary visit (up to 12 months).
• If your stay in Ireland will be more than 12 months you can apply for an Irish driving licence but you will need to go through the full driver licensing procedure. You must first complete a driver theory test, apply for a learner driving permit and complete your driving test in Ireland. If you pass your driving test, you will be issued with a full Irish driving licence.

Required Information

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e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

It is possible to exchange a driving licence issued by an EU member state or an EEA member state (Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) for a Irish driving licence. It is also possible to exchange a driving licence issued by certain recognised states for an Irish driving licence.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Converting your driving licence to an Irish driving licence: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html
Office location : http://centres.citizensinformation.ie/

Others

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