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Driver’s Licences

VALIDATION OF AN ITALIAN DRIVER’S LICENCE

A driver’s license, expired or expiring, cannot be renewed an  needs to  be replaced with a new one. What the Consulate of Italy can do is to issue a document called convalida, which merely validates the existing licence and enables its holder to legally drive in Italy for the time strictly necessary to request a new driver’s licence there. This document can only be issued if the licence is about to expire (4 months) or has been expired for less than 5 years. This service is only available to applicants who are AIRE-registered or able to prove to have resided out of Italy for over 6 months.

To request a validation, please download, complete on screen and save the data – only with the free software Adobe Acrobat Reader, not with any browser or any PDF compatible software – the relevant application form;

then send it to perth.consolato@esteri.it, along with the following attachments, which must be brought in original the day ofg th eappointment;

  1. expired or expiring driver’s licence;
  2. proof of current residential address (utility bill or bank letter, dated not more than 3 months old);
  3. medical certificate (template available HERE) issued by one of our authorized GPs (see our list) not more than 3 months old;
  4. one passport sized photograph on white background; make sure the backgound is white in the photograph and not any shade of grey or other color;
  5. Only for those not registered with A.I.R.E in this consular district of Western Australia, a copy of proof of having resided continuously in this district during the six months immediately prior to the date of submission of the validation request is required. By way of example only, at least one of the following may be provided:
    • a registered lease agreement longer than six months, signed more than six months before the date of application, accompained by the bond deposit evidence;
    • rent payment receipts under the same criteria as the lease; please note, only those made on official letterhead of the real estate agency will be accepted;
    • an “International Movement Record” issued by the Department of Immigration;
    • utility bills such as water, electricity, or gas covering the entire relevant period;
    • Australian payslips covering the entire relevant period.

    It is emphasized that it is a legal obligation — not an option — for Italian citizens to register with A.I.R.E., regardless of the type of Australian visa held (this includes all temporary and permanent visas, as well as those who are also Australian citizens), if they reside abroad for more than 12 months or intend to do so.
    As of 1 January 2024, Italian municipalities have the authority to impose fines of up to €1,000 for late registration.

When the validation will be ready for collection, the applicant will be contacted via email to arrange collection of the document and payment of the corresponding fees,

On collection day all of the above doucments must be provided in original only, prior the issue of the validation.

 

IMPORTANT: no Consulate may issue a duplicate driver’s licence but only a validation. In all cases, including licences lost, stolen or damaged, a duplicate licence can only be obtained from the Motorizzazione Civile in Italy by either applying in person, through a third party or via a driving school.

A duplicante licence will be sent to the applicant’s address in Italy by post.

Within 6 months after re-establishing your residence in Italy, you will have to renew the licence following the usual procedure at the Motorizzazione Civile.  It follows, it is essential to keep the consular validation with you.

When requesting a new or duplicate licence, it is worth noting that the Australian medical certificate is not recognized. Once in Italy, the applicant will have to obtain and produce a new medical certificate.

Licence holders over the age of 25 with a licence still valid or expired for less than one year may apply for an Australian driver’s licence from the WA Department of Transport.

  • Driving licences expired for over 5 years can no longer be validated and their holders will need to pass a new driving test in Italy.
  • LICENCE APPLICATIONS BY AIRE-REGISTERED HOLDERS NOT INCLUDING A CONSULAR VALIDATION ARE REJECTED!

 

 

TRANSLATION  OF A WEST-AUSTRALIAN DRIVER’S LICENCE

After the entry into force of the “Codice della strada“, the discipline regarding the “Circolazione con patenti di guida rilasciate da Stati non appartenenti all’Unione europea o allo spazio economico europeo” (Circulation with driver’s licences provided by States not into the European Union or into the European economic area) has been modified, as explained by the article 135.1. Indeed, in order to drive in Italy with an Australian driver’s licence, a translation is needed (issued by a NAATI certified translator) or an international driver’s license.

 

NAUTICAL LICENSES

The Consulate has no competence in the matter of nautical licenses and cannot issue any validation or certificate.

Those who need to proceed with the validation of a nautical license must contact the Capitaneria di Porto Office that issued it, sending the appropriate application form, medical certificate (issued by one of the Consulate’s trusted doctors) and payment of the stamp duty. For any questions, it is necessary to contact the Capitaneria di Porto responsible for the area.