Apply for a bus driver authority

If you want to drive a public passenger bus or coach that seats 13 or more people, you need to be authorised.

You can apply for a Bus Driver Authority online.

You need to:

• be aged 20 years or over
• be the holder of an unrestricted Australian driver licence
• have held your unrestricted Australian driver licence for a total of at least 12 months in the 2 years prior to your application
• have passed a medical examination for a commercial driver
• be a fit and proper person.

If you hold an interstate or New Zealand Bus Driver Authority, you may be able to apply for a Bus Driver Authority under Mutual Recognition.

• a valid email address (you'll need it to receive your confirmation email)
• a certified copy of your Evidence of Training Certificate if you've completed your Bus Driver Authority training
• your proof of identity
• a National Criminal History Record check (scanned as a PDF) issued no more than 3 months prior to this application:
  • your criminal check must include all of your current names and all previous names that you have been known by
  • if the criminal check does not have a verification code it will need to be certified
  • Note: If you cannot arrange a police check, Transport for NSW will send you a one-time link that will enable them to complete the police check on your behalf.

• a medical assessment completed by a medical practitioner, either:

  • online NSW Fitness to Drive Medical Assessment, or

  • Medical Assessment for Public Passenger Vehicle Drivers – PDF, dated no more than 6 months prior to this application

• a specialist medical assessment (if applicable) completed by a medical practitioner, either:

  • online Specialist Medical Assessment, or

  • Medical Specialist Assessment Form (Commercial/Public Passenger Vehicle Driver) – PDF

• a certified copy of your NSW driver licence (scanned as a PDF)
  • If you do not hold a valid NSW driver licence, you'll need to upload a digital photo in JPG/JPEG/PNG/BMP/GIF format. Your photo should be a recent, clear photo of your head and neck on a pale background without a hat or sunglasses. The resolution of the photo should be width 246 pixels and height 246 pixels.
• if you hold an interstate driver licence, you'll need:
  • a scanned PDF of your Australian driver licence
  • a passport or birth certificate/Australian citizenship certificate
  • your National Criminal History Record issued within the past 3 months
  • interstate traffic record (if applicable)
• your payment, as indicated on the form.

1. Check the eligibility requirements.
2. Gather all the required documents and have them ready for uploading. You cannot save
   and resume your application once you have started.
3. Select the 'Apply online' button.
4. Complete the online application form.
5. Upload your documentation.
6. Enter your payment details (if requested).
7. Submit your application.

You'll receive a confirmation email with a PDF copy of your application within 30 minutes of submitting. If you do not receive the email, contact Enrolment Services at busapplications@rms.nsw.gov.au and quote your application reference number, or call (02) 8848 8700.

• Documents can be certified by any of the following:
  • accountant (member of a recognised professional accounting body or a Registered Tax Agent)
  • person listed on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia as a legal practitioner
  • barrister, solicitor or patent attorney
  • police officer
  • postal manager
  • principal of an Australian secondary college, high school or primary school
  • medical practitioner
  • Justice of the Peace (with a registration number in the State in which they are registered)
  • minister of religion (registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961)
• Identification documents not in English must be officially translated.