Changes to transactions due to COVID-19

Booked appointments

The following appointments are now conducted over the phone:

Driver Knowledge Tests (DKTs)

We can no longer provide our free interpreter service due to physical distancing requirements. If you have booked a DKT with an interpreter you'll be contacted to cancel or postpone the test.

Currently the DKT can be undertaken in English, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Korean, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Learner driver licences

If your learner driver licence expires during the COVID-19 driver testing postponement period, the fee for your first DKT will be waived. Any additional DKTs that may be required will be at your expense.

Driver licence renewals

Renew a NSW driver licence

Eyesight tests

If you’re trying to renew your licence online, you may receive a message that you need to attend a Service NSW Centre for an eyesight test.

If you receive this message and hold a Class MR, HR, HC or MC licence you'll need to attend a service centre to undertake an eyesight test and renew your licence.

If you hold a Class C, R or LR licence please call us on 13 22 13 as your eyesight test may be deferred for up to 6 months. In this instance, once you've renewed, you will need to attend a service centre and complete the eyesight test within 6 months, or your licence may be suspended.

High-risk drivers will still be required to undertake an eyesight test.

High risk drivers include:

those who require a specialist review
police identified drivers
heavy vehicle drivers
drivers who hold a Bus Driver Authority.

Medical reviews

If you're aged 75 years and older and/or you're a low-risk driver you can request an extension by:

calling the Licence Review Unit (LRU) on 6604 9301 between 8am and 7pm Monday to Friday.

High-risk drivers will still be required to undertake a medical assessment.

High risk drivers include:

those who require a specialist review
police identified drivers
heavy vehicle drivers.

Note: Fitness to drive medical assessments can be submitted online. If it is safe and you're able to attend an appointment for your medical review, ask your GP to complete the medical form online, so you do not need to visit a Service NSW Centre to hand in the form.

Age-based practical driving assessments

Age-based practical driving assessments will be deferred for a minimum period of 3 months.

If you already have a test booked at a Service NSW Centre, you'll be contacted to discuss the options that are available. The options will ensure that your licence will remain active.

If you're due to undertake a test in the next 3-month period, and have not made a booking, please call the Transport Licence Review Unit on 6604 9301 between 8am and 7pm Monday to Friday, 2 weeks prior to the due date of your test.

Learner rider licencing

Customers may experience difficulties in booking a riding test as some rider training courses and practical riding tests have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To assist customers, the following exemptions will be in place from 11 March 2020 to 11 September 2020.

You can visit a Service NSW Centre to renew your existing learner licence for a further 6 months at no cost, if:

your learner rider licence was issued between 11 March 2019 and 11 September 2019
you’ve been unable to book and complete the required Pre-Provisional training course (declared area) or the Practical Riding Test (undeclared area).

You may use your expired Certificate of Competency (CoC) to renew your existing learner licence, if you have:

completed either Pre-Provisional or Pre-Learner rider training
received your CoC between 11 December 2019 and 11 March 2020
been unable to attend a Service NSW centre to renew or upgrade your licence.

Find your nearest Service NSW Centre.

Firearms licences

Due to the restrictions on movement and social distancing resulting from the COVID-19 health orders, Regulations have been developed under the Firearms Act and the Weapons Prohibition Act:

The provisions in the Regulations are to assist the NSW firearms and weapons community manage their responsibilities while the health orders are in place.

The Firearms Registry continues to operate as business as usual, and does not want any licence holder to be affected adversely because of circumstances outside of their control.

Visit the Registry's COVID-19 Response page for detailed information on, but not limited to:

the compliance period for club participation shoots
licence obligations such as:
- mandatory training or accreditation requirements
- having your photo taken at a service centre.

Apply for a firearms licence (individual)

Apply for a firearms licence (business, club or agency)

Apply for a permit to acquire a firearm (PTA)

Renew a firearms licence (individual)

Replace a NSW firearms licence

Get started making a Will

If you're self-isolating or minimising travel and contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, video conference appointments are available to customers making their Will.

Note: Plan Ahead Days are postponed until further notice.

Visit Trustee & Guardian's COVID-19 information page for more details.

Interpreter services

Book an interpreter

Multicultural NSW's Language Services are unable to offer face-to-face interpreters at present.

Document translation services are still available.

Licence application and renewal fee waivers

As part of the NSW government's stimulus package, waivers are being applied to many licence applications and renewals.

Fair Trading licences

Liquor licences

SafeWork licences

Number plates

Number plates that are currently reserved (on hold) or awaiting pick-up at a service centre, will be automatically held for an additional 3 months.

Plates will not be destroyed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working With Children Checks (WWCCs)

The Children’s Guardian has extended all WWCC clearances that were due to expire between 26 March 2020 and 26 September 2020 for a further 6 months.

The 6-month period applies from the date of your current expiry date. Further extensions may be applied if they're needed.

Changes to POI requirements for certain WWCC applicants

Apply for a Working With Children Check

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSW Government has introduced temporary changes to the Child Protection (Working With Children) Regulation 2013. The changes will be in place until 22 October 2020.

New authorised carers who are self-isolating or minimising travel and contact with others will not be required to visit a Service NSW Centre to prove their identity when apply for a Working with Children Check (WWCC).

Authorised carers and adult members of carers’ households will have the option of providing certified copies of their proof of identity (POI) documents to their designated agency (foster care agency) during the application process. The Principal Officer of the designated agency will then forward the POI documents to the Children’s Guardian.

Note: The alternative POI process does not apply to direct care staff and contractors.

Visit COVID-19 changes to WWCC POI requirements for more information.