• About DVA
• Publication Scheme
• Press Releases
• Downloadable Forms
• Email Us
• How To Contact Us
• Useful Links
• Where We Are
• Change Name / Address
• Customer Services

Cherished Registrations -
On-Line, Anytime
Tel. 02890 969007

Designated Countries

Northern Ireland (NI) has reciprocal exchange agreements with Gibraltar and 15 designated countries. The designated countries are:

 

 

* Motorcycle entitlement from the Republic of Korea and Faroe Islands is not exchangeable.

Visitors

If you are resident outside the UK, are temporarily in this country and hold full ordinary entitlement you can drive any category of vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes and with up to 16 passenger seats shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the date you last entered Northern Ireland whether or not you brought the vehicle into NI. If you also hold full entitlement to drive large lorries or buses you are only allowed to drive large vehicles registered outside NI that you have driven into the country.

Residents

Provided your full licence remains valid, you can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a NI licence must be obtained before this period elapses, by exchanging your licence for a NI one. If you do not do this you must stop driving although you may apply to exchange your licence at any time within 5 years of becoming resident.

Vocational Designated Licence Holders

New residents may not drive medium or large vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles until they have passed the relevant NI driving test.

Gibraltar vocational licence holders can drive for 12 months, and can exchange a valid vocational licence within 5 years of date of residency.