Overseas Licence Conversion – Ride Legally in NZ

If you hold a motorcycle licence from another country and wish to ride in New Zealand, please note that the CBTA (Competency-Based Training and Assessment) course cannot be used to bypass or replace the official overseas licence conversion process set by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

The CBTA scheme is part of New Zealand’s Graduated Licensing System, designed specifically for local learner and restricted licence holders to progress through their NZ licence stages more efficiently (for example, by reducing the restricted licence period). It is not a direct pathway for overseas licence conversion.

1. The Licence Conversion Process

Before enrolling in any CBTA assesment, overseas licence holders must first complete the official conversion process through an NZTA licensing agent — either AA or VTNZ.

The steps required depend on whether your licence is from an exempt or non-exempt country, and how long you’ve held it.

Exempt Countries

Countries with comparable licensing systems to New Zealand (e.g. Australia, UK, Germany).

• If the licence has been held for more than two years, the applicant may only need to pay a conversion fee.

• If held for less than two years, a practical test is required.

Non-Exempt Countries

Applicants from non-exempt countries must always pass both a theory test and a practical test before NZTA can issue a New Zealand licence.

All conversion applications must be submitted in person at AA or VTNZ, where identity and documents are verified and sent to NZTA for final approval.

📄 Official guidance: NZTA – Overseas Licence Conversion

2. CBTA is Not a Conversion Pathway

The CBTA process sits within New Zealand’s licensing system.
An overseas licence holder must first obtain the equivalent NZ learner or restricted licence through the conversion process before they can undertake a CBTA assessment.

Once the appropriate New Zealand licence has been issued, the rider may then use CBTA to progress:

• From Learner → Restricted, or

• From Restricted → Full

CBTA cannot be used as a single step to obtain a full NZ licence from an overseas licence. Doing so would require a specific written exemption from Waka Kotahi, which is rarely granted and must be pre-approved.

📄 More information: NZTA – Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA)

3. Why a CBTA Assessment May Be Declined

If your CBTA assessment certificate has been declined or not accepted by a licensing agent, the most common reasons are:

• The overseas licence holder has not yet completed the official NZTA conversion process.

• The applicant does not yet hold a valid NZ learner or restricted licence.

• The NZTA system cannot process CBTA certificates without an approved NZ licence record.

Training providers cannot issue or validate a CBTA certificate unless the applicant already holds a valid NZ licence recognised within the NZTA database.

4. What You Need to Do

1. Visit an AA or VTNZ agent to begin your licence conversion.

1. Complete any theory and/or practical testing as required by NZTA.

3. Once your NZ learner or restricted licence is offically issued, you can enrol in a CBTA assesment to progress to the next stage.

All overseas licence conversions are audited and approved by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, not by training providers.

For complete information and eligibility requirements, refer to:

• Converting an Overseas Licence – NZTA Factsheet 72

• CBTA – NZTA

For all queries relating to overseas conversion, please phone NZTA Driver licencing – 0800 822 422