Mutual recognition of other public passenger driver authorities

You may be eligible to apply for equivalent driver authorisation in Queensland based on mutual recognition, if you hold an authority to drive a public passenger vehicle in:

• another Australian state or territory
• New Zealand.

Recognised driver authorities

We will only recognise other government-issued authorities to drive a public passenger vehicle and this authority must be equivalent to driver authorisation in Queensland.

The following are not government-issued authorities and are not eligible to apply under mutual recognition:

• New South Wales Taxi
• New South Wales Rideshare
• New South Wales Private Hire vehicle and other Point to Point transport drivers

These drivers should read how to apply for driver authorisation in Queensland.

Equivalent driver authorisations

The Mutual recognition driver authorisation equivalency table outlines the authorities that we recognise as equivalent to Queensland driver authorisation categories.

If your application for driver authorisation based on mutual recognition is successful, you’ll be issued with the driver authorisation category most equivalent to the authority you hold.

We issue 2 types of driver authorisation:

1. Booked hire / taxi driver authorisation (BHTX) – authorises you to drive a vehicle being used to provide any kind of public passenger service for which you need driver authorisation.
2. General driver authorisation (GENR) – authorises you to drive a vehicle being used to provide any public passenger service other than a booked hire service or a taxi service.

Period of issue

If your application is successful, we’ll apply the earliest of the following expiry dates to your driver authorisation:

• the expiry or renewal of your interstate, territory or New Zealand authority
• the expiry date on your medical certificate or medical self-assessment
• the term you select on the application form.

Before the term of your driver authorisation expires, you’ll need to apply to renew it and meet current Queensland driver authorisation renewal requirements.

Application fees

If you’re applying based on mutual recognition, you’re not required to pay the criminal history check fee.

If you’re applying for general driver authorisation, there are no term fees.

If you’re applying for booked hire/taxi driver authorisation, you’ll need to pay the term fees.

Applying for mutual recognition

To avoid delays in processing your application, please make sure you have met all mandatory applications requirements.

You’ll need to complete and sign the following forms to apply. You also need to provide the supporting documentation before we can process your application.

1. Equivalent occupation registration notice (Form F2762) – this needs to be signed by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, Notary Public or Lawyer.
2. Driver authorisation application (Form F2978) – you are not required to obtain a new commercial medical certificate but you do need to provide us with your commercial medical assessment expiry date on the application form
3. Evidence of identity – documents that meet these requirements.
4. Evidence of authority – if your accreditation does not show an expiry date you must provide evidence of the approval or renewal date of your accreditation along with the required documents in the Mutual recognition driver authorisation equivalency table.

Applying outside of Queensland

If you hold an Australian driver licence but cannot apply in person at a Queensland Transport and motoring service centre, use the Driver authorisation mutual recognition kit to learn how to apply remotely. Ensure that you have met all application requirements before submitting.

You must have transferred to an Australian driver licence to apply from New Zealand.

Transferring your interstate licence to a Queensland driver licence

If you transfer your interstate driver licence prior to applying for mutual recognition your registration in the first state might be automatically suspended or cancelled. We recommend applying for mutual recognition in Queensland prior to, or at the same time you are transferring your interstate licence to Queensland.

Approved applications

If we approve your application, we’ll email your interim industry authority to use as evidence of your driver authorisation until you get your industry authority card by post.

Refused applications

If your application is refused, we’ll let you know by email or post.

You may apply for a review of the decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal within 28 days of being given the decision notice.

Driver responsibilities

Learn more about your driver responsibilities as a driver authorisation holder.

Renewal

When your driver authorisation is due to be renewed, you’ll need to meet all Queensland driver authorisation requirements. For example:

• evidence that you have a right to work in Australia
• meet suitability requirements
• hold a current commercial medical certificate.

Refer to the Driver Authorisation page for detailed information about driver authorisation requirements.

Cancelling, amending, suspending and refusing your driver authorisation

We can refuse your application or cancel your driver authorisation for reasons including:

• your interstate, territory or NZ authority has been suspended or cancelled for not meeting driver requirements
• information or statements provided to us in your application were false or misleading
• you have not submitted a complete application
• the authorisation you held in New Zealand or another Australian state or territory is not equivalent to a driver authorisation issued in Queensland.

We will amend the expiry date of your driver authorisation if your medical certificate expires earlier than the expiry date of your driver authorisation.

We’ll continue to monitor your criminal and traffic history and take action to amend, suspend or cancel your driver authorisation if you are no longer suitable to hold driver authorisation.

Mutual recognition driver authorisation equivalency

We recognise the following documentation issued by statutory authorities in other jurisdictions as equivalent to Queensland driver authorisation.

Jurisdiction	Evidence of equivalency Booked Hire/Taxi driver authorisation	Evidence of equivalency General driver authorisation
New South Wales	Taxi, Rideshare, Private hire vehicle and Point to Point drivers are not approved by a statutory authority so we don’t recognise them.	Authorised bus driver ID Motorcycle drivers are not approved by a statutory authority so we don’t recognise them.
Northern Territory	Open or conditional Commercial Passenger Vehicle Identity card showing any of the following: Taxi Private hire car Rideshare Limousine	Driver licence showing a current H endorsement with an expiry date on the back of the licence.
South Australia	Driver accreditation card displaying any of the following: DA: Small Passenger Vehicle (SP) DA: Metropolitan Taxi (TX) DA: Trainee taxi accreditation.	Driver accreditation card displaying any of the following: DA: Large Passenger (LP) DA: Motorcycle (MC).
Tasmania	Ancillary certificate showing any of the following: PPV—Taxi PPV—Other	Ancillary certificate showing any of the following: PPV—Taxi PPV—Other
Victoria *If your certificate doesn’t include an expiry date, you must include a copy of your last payment receipt.	Driver accreditation certificate*—unbooked (taxi) services and a Photo ID (with accreditation number) OR Driver accreditation certificate for booked services*.	Driver accreditation certificate*.
Western Australia	Passenger Transport Driver Authorisation.	Passenger Transport Driver Authorisation.
ACT	Public Vehicle Driver Authority Card AND driver licence showing any of the following codes: T—Taxi H—Hire car W—Restricted hire car D—Rideshare	Public Vehicle Driver Authority Card AND a driver licence showing the following codes: O—Public bus M—Hire car motorcycle
New Zealand	Driver licence showing a P endorsement.	Driver licence showing a P endorsement.