Applying for a driving licence

When you pass a driving test, you can apply for a driving licence. You can apply to renew your licence online or in person by appointment at an NDLS office.

The Road Safety Authority has responsibility for driver licensing. The National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) manages licence applications and renewals.

This page explains how to apply for your driving licence after you have passed a driving test.

You can apply for a driving licence if you have passed the driving test for that category of vehicle in the last 2 years. If your Certificate of Competency (the document that proves that you passed the driving test) is over 2 years old, you will have to take the driving test again.

You must bring your driving licence with you when driving.

What is normal residence?

To apply for a driving licence, you must be normally resident in Ireland. You are normally resident if you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year.

Asylum seekers can use their temporary residence certificates as proof of normal residence in Ireland when applying for a driving licence or learner permit.

Categories of vehicles

Motor vehicles are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes. When you pass a driving test, you apply for a driving licence for a particular category of vehicle. Your type of driving licence may allow you to drive certain other types of vehicles. You can read more in our page on categories of vehicles and minimum ages of drivers.

There are 2 ways that you can apply for your driving licence.

1. Online at NDLS.ie, or
2. In person by booking an appointment at an NDLS centre.

Apply online

To apply for your driving licence online, you will need:

• A Public Services Card* and verified MyGovID
• Proof of your address if your address is different to the one you provided when you got your Public Services Card
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if you are not an EU or EEA citizen
• A medical report form, dated within one month if required
• Application fee of €55 (unless you are 70 or over)
• Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for professional drivers

*If your PSC photo is over 10 years old, you must renew it on MyWelfare first using a verified MyGovID. Then apply online at ndls.ie for your driving licence.

If you apply online, you do not have to provide your Certificate of Competence (the document that proves that you passed the driving test).

Read more about the online application process on the NDLS website.

Apply in person

You can apply for your driving licence in person by booking an appointment at one of 34 NDLS centres nationwide. There is no walk-in service available.

You will need to bring:

• Appropriate Identification,
• Supporting documentation, and
• The fee (see ‘Rates’ above)

Unless you want to make your application in Irish, you are no longer required to submit an application form. However, you do need to prove your identity. Your photograph and signature will be captured at the NDLS centre.

Identification

In most cases, a Public Service Card (PSC) is used to verify your details to process your application.

If you don’t have a PSC, you will need to submit the following 4 pieces of documentary evidence:

1. Photo ID
2. Evidence of your address
3. Evidence of your PPS number
4. Evidence of your normal residence

You can read more about the types of documents the NDLS will accept as evidence regarding each of these criteria in their guidance notes (pdf).

Supporting documentation

Additionally, to support your application, you will have to submit your:

• Current or most recently issued learner permit, or
• Current driving licence, if you are adding a category to your driving licence or applying to exchange a foreign licence

Depending on the nature of your application, you may also need a:

• Driving Licence Medical Report Form (see below)
• Driving Licence Eyesight Report Form (see below)
• Completed Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) (for professional drivers)
• Initial Basic Training Certificate of Satisfactory Completion (for motorcyclists)
• Completed Garda Declaration form (when applying to replace a lost, stolen or damaged licence)
• Evidence of new address (if your address has changed since your last application)

Medical report form

You will need a Driving Licence Medical Report Form if you apply for driving licence categories C, C1, D, D1, CE, C1E, DE or D1E (buses and trucks), unless you previously provided a medical report which is still applicable.

You will not need a Driving Licence Medical Report Form if you are applying for driving licence categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE or W (motorcycles, cars and work vehicles) unless you have a specific disability or condition.

If you are aged 75 or over, you will need a certification of fitness to drive from your doctor to apply for a 3-year or a one-year licence. You can read the medical fitness to drive guidelines (pdf).

You can download the medical report form (pdf) (it must be printed back to back on one page). It is also available from NDLS centres. A registered medical practitioner should complete 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. You must send it within 1 month of the medical examination.

Eyesight report form

Generally, your medical practitioner will report any eyesight issues in the Driving Licence Medical Report Form.

But you will need a Driving Licence Eyesight Report Form if you no longer need glasses or contact lenses to drive (for example if you've had laser eye surgery).

You can download the eyesight report form (pdf) (pages 1 and 2 should be printed back to back on one page). It is also available from NDLS centres. You must send it within 1 month of completion.

Medical fitness guidelines and health information leaflets

You can get medical fitness guidelines and, forms on the NDLS website. There are also health and driving information leaflets. The leaflets have information to help drivers with medical and other conditions.

Your age and medical fitness will decide the duration of licence which can be issued. The age in the table below is your age when you apply.

You can see the rates below:

Driving licence rates

If you are aged over 70, you can get your driving licence for free.

Any required eyesight tests or medical examinations are not free of charge.

Novice plates

You must display N-plates on your vehicle when driving for 2 years from the date your first licence was issued. Motorcycle riders must wear an N-tabard. The novice period only applies once. So, if you get a licence to drive a different category of vehicle, you don't have to display N-plates again. More information is available on the Road Safety Authority website.

Disqualification threshold

If you get 12 penalty points in a 3-year period, you are disqualified from driving for 6 months.

If you have a learner permit, you are disqualified if you have 7 penalty points. This lower threshold also applies for the first 2 years of your first full driving licence. More information is available on the Road Safety Authority website.

Drink driving limit

The drink driving limit is 20mg per 100ml of blood, 27mg per 100ml of urine and 9mg per 100ml of breath, if you have a learner permits and for the first 2 years of your full driving licence.

More information is available from the National Driver Licence Service website. You can download and read the rules of the road (pdf) from the Road Safety Authority website.

You can find information on:

• Learning to drive
• Renewing your driving licence
• Updating your personal details on your driving licence or learner permit
• Replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged driving licence or learner permit
• Foreign driving licences in Ireland