Can you drive in Western Australia with a Hong Kong license?

Yes. Visitors can drive in Western Australia on a current and valid Hong Kong licence for the length of their stay.

Transport WA treats tourists, business travellers, students and temporary workers as visitors, and visitors can use their current overseas licence with no fixed time limit while their stay remains temporary. The licence must be carried while driving and must not be suspended, cancelled, disqualified or withdrawn. Under the Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014, the 3 month limit only starts once the person holds a permanent visa and usually resides in WA.

Visiting from overseas or interstate | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 (legislation.wa.gov.au)

No. Western Australia does not require an International Driving Permit for visitors driving on a Hong Kong licence.

Transport WA's visitor page does not mention International Driving Permits; visitors only need a current and valid licence carried while driving. Hong Kong full driving licences include English text, so translation is not normally an issue.

Visiting from overseas or interstate | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

New permanent residents can drive on a current Hong Kong licence for up to 3 months, and must apply for a WA licence within that period.

Transport WA states that Australian citizens and permanent residents with a current and valid overseas licence can drive in WA for up to 3 months and must apply to transfer within that window; after 3 months they cannot legally drive on the overseas licence even if it is still valid. Regulation 61(4) of the Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 ends recognition once a permanent visa holder has usually resided in WA for more than 3 months since the visa was granted.

Moving from overseas | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 (legislation.wa.gov.au)

No, not any more. Hong Kong lost its experienced driver recognition on 1 November 2025, so a Hong Kong licence can no longer be exchanged without testing.

Hong Kong was one of 16 places in the Experienced Driver Recognised category, which let older experienced drivers transfer without tests. Transport WA abolished that category from 1 November 2025, and anyone who did not apply on or before 31 October 2025 must now pass a theory test and Practical Driving Assessment to obtain a WA licence.

Moving from overseas | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Changes to the recognition of overseas driver's licences now in place for WA residents | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

Yes. Since 1 November 2025, Hong Kong licence holders must pass the WA theory test and the Practical Driving Assessment, plus an eyesight test.

Transport WA states that former Experienced Driver Recognised licence holders, including Hong Kong, who did not apply by 31 October 2025 now need to pass a theory test and Practical Driving Assessment. The theory test must be passed before the driving assessment, and an eyesight test and medical declaration are part of the application. No separate hazard perception test is listed for overseas transfers.

Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Changes to the recognition of overseas driver's licences now in place for WA residents | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

Normally no. Hong Kong licences include English, and a translation is only needed if a licence is written solely in another language.

Transport WA requires a translation for non-recognised country licences only when the document is written solely in a language other than English. Hong Kong full driving licences are printed with English text, so a certified translation is not normally required.

Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

Bring your Hong Kong licence, proof of identity documents and a completed Driver's Licence Application form to a DTMI service centre.

Applications are made in person at a Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) service centre or regional agent. You submit the application form, your overseas licence and proof of identity, pass the eyesight test and medical declaration, and pay the theory test fee before sitting the required tests.

Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)