Changes to transactions due to COVID-19

Booked appointments

The following appointments are now conducted over the phone:

Eyesight tests for online licence renewals

If you're a driver aged 45 years and over with class C, C/R, R, LR or LR/R, your eyesight test may be deferred automatically. This means you can renew your licence online.

Transport for NSW will let you know if your eyesight test has been deferred.
You’ll then need to complete a test at a Service NSW Centre (or an optometrist if you prefer), within 6 months.
If you do not take the eyesight test within the required time your licence may be suspended.

Renew or upgrade a NSW driver licence

Driver Knowledge Tests (DKTs)

Driver Knowledge Test

We are recommencing our free interpreter service in Service Centres where we are able to safely adhere to social distancing. To book an interpreter test please check with your local centre or call us on 13 22 13.

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 testing

When you attend a service centre for your driving test, you'll be required to sign a statutory declaration confirming you're well enough to undertake the test. You can download the Driver testing statutory declaration – PDF and have it ready to sign and be witnessed when you visit the service centre. Statutory declarations will also be available at the service centre.

In addition, prior to the driving test, one of our staff members will take your temperature using an infrared hand-held thermometer.

To ensure the safety of our customers and teams, social distancing practices are implemented in our centres – accompanying family or friends may be asked to wait outside.

Driver assessors

Assessors will:

wear protective face masks and/or face shields when conducting a driver test with a vulnerable candidate
provide their own seat cover
reduce the duration of a test and immediately return to the service centre if a candidate is deemed as having failed their test.

Interstate and overseas driver licence holders

If you hold a current interstate or overseas licence, and:

have lived in NSW continuously for more than 3 months, and
the 3-month period to transfer to a NSW licence expired on or after 27 March,

you now have until 30 September 2020 to convert to a NSW licence.

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.

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.