What Documents Do You Need to Get Your Driving Licence?

Applying for your first full licence or learner permit? Or perhaps it’s time to renew? Finding out what personal documents and forms are required can prove difficult, so we’ve broken it down. Avoid hassle and multiple trips to the NDLS centre with our document checklist.

How to Apply for a Learner Permit

The easiest way to apply for your learner’s permit is online, as it means there’s no need to complete paper forms, make appointments or visit an NDLS centre in person.

The documents needed for a learner’s permit are:

• A Public Services Card and verified MyGovID.
• To have successfully passed the driver theory test in the category you are applying for in the previous 2 years
• Fully completed eyesight report form dated within one month.
• Fully completed medical report form dated within one month.
• Proof of your address dated within the last six months if your current address differs from the one you provided when you applied for your PSC.
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if your place of birth and nationality are outside the EU/EEA.
• Completed relevant driver certificate of professional competence (CPC), if required.
• Plus your application fee of €35.00.

To apply for your learner’s permit in person you must book an appointment to attend one of the 34 NDLS centres. You will need to bring the required supporting documents and fee mentioned above as well as the fee.

Tips: How to Prepare for Your Driver Theory Test

How to Apply For a Full Drivers Licence

You can now apply for your full driving licence online, here’s the documents you will need to have:

• A Public Services Card and verified MyGovID
• Proof of your address if your address is different to the one you provided when you got your Public Services Card
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if you are not an EU or EEA citizen
• A medical report form if required
• Application fee of €55 for a ten year license (unless you’re 70 or over)
• Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for professional drivers
• If you apply online, you do not have to provide your Certificate of Competence (the document that proves that you passed the driving test).

Read more about the online application process on the NDLS website.

You can apply for your driving licence in person by booking an appointment at one of 34 NDLS centres nationwide. There is currently no walk-in service available.

You will need to bring ID, a public services card (PSC), is the easiest way to do this. But if you don’t have a PSC you will need to submit the following 4 pieces of documentary evidence: Photo ID, Evidence of your address, Evidence of your PPS number, Evidence of your normal residence.

Additionally, to support your application, you will be required to submit your current or most recently issued learner permit, or current driving licence, if you are adding a category to your driving licence or applying to exchange a foreign licence.

Motorcyclists will require an Initial Basic Training Certificate of Satisfactory Completion. You will need a completed Garda Declaration form when applying to replace a lost, stolen or damaged licence. And if your address has changed since your last application, you will require evidence of your new address.

Renew Full Drivers Licence

You can now quickly and easily renew your driving licence online. The documents you need to renew your license are:

• A Public Services Card and verified MyGovID.
• Proof of your address dated within the last six months if your current address differs from the one you provided when you applied for your PSC.
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if your place of birth and nationality are outside the EU/EEA
• Fully completed medical report form dated within one month, if required in your case.
• Application fee of €55.00. (Unless 70 years old or over)

Please note, you can apply for a new licence up to three months before the expiry date of the licence.

If you need to apply in person, you will need to book an appointment to attend an NDLS centre and also the following documents:

• Your current or most recent driving licence. If your licence has been lost, stolen or damaged you must also bring valid photo ID with you.
• Proof of your personal public services number (PPSN).
• Fully completed medical report form dated within one month, if required in your case.
• Proof of your address dated within the last six months is required if your current address is not recorded on your lost, stolen or damaged permit and it differs from the one provided to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) if and when you applied for a PSC.
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if your place of birth and nationality are outside the EU/EEA
• Application fee of €55. (Unless you’re 70 years old or over)

You can apply in person at any of the 34 NDLS centres nationwide.

Required and Accepted Documents by NDLS

Tip: if you bring your Public Services Card to the National Driving Licence Services centre it will help to make your application process a lot smoother.

You have two options to validate who you are and where you live during the application process:

1. Presenting a Public Services Card. The card will cover:

• Photo ID
• Evidence of PPSN
• Proof of address
• Evidence of residency entitlement (if your place of birth or nationality are within the EU / EEA / Switzerland)

2. If you do not have a Public Services Card you are required to present alternative documentation at the centre for the above requirements. Acceptable documents include:

Valid Types of Photo ID

• Irish passport - can’t be expired by more than 12 months
• Irish driving licence or learner permit
• Current passport for all non-Irish citizens (approved for international use)
• Current national identity card for EU / EEA / Swiss citizens
• Irish Certificate of Naturalisation
• Current UK photo driving licence
• Current public services card
• Current Irish travel document

Accepted Forms of Evidence of Residency Entitlement

• Public services card if place of birth or nationality is within EU/EEA/Switzerland
• Irish/UK long form birth certificate or adoption certificate
• EU/EEA/Switzerland Driving Licence or Irish Learner permit which shows place of birth as within EU/EEA/Switzerland too
• Certificate of entry in the Irish Foreign Births Register
• Irish passport / passport card within 12 months of expiry date
• Current passport for all EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (suitable for international use)
• Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
• Irish certificate of naturalisation
• Current certificate of registration including Garda National Immigration Bureau card or Irish residence permit. For non-EU / EEA /Swiss citizens, these cards must be presented with a current passport valid for international use or a Public Services Card

Suitable Documents for Proof of PPSN:

• Public Services Card or Social Services Card
• Any correspondence from Revenue or the Department of Social Protection that shows your PPSN
• P21, Tax Assessment or Notice of Tax credits documents
• Receipt of social welfare payment that shows you PPSN in full
• Medical card, Drug Payment Scheme card or European Health Insurance card
• A Payslip or P60/P45 document

Approved forms of Proof of Address:

• Public services card
• Utility bills from electricity, phone, gas or cable / television / broadband provider. You can print online bills however, mobile phone bills are not accepted
• Statement or other communication from the bank, building society or credit union including eStatements where your name and address are detailed. 
• Letter from Department of Social Protection / Revenue or P45 / P60 documents
• Official correspondence from an Irish state agency including government departments, the HSE; a polling card, CAO, Susi, The Garda Síochána, hospitals, the Private Residential Tenancies Board, third level college, secondary school, training agency, NCT Reports or reminders, An Post and your TV Licence
• Letter from an insurance company referring to an active policy

New applicants between 17 and 20 years old may be able to use the below as their evidence of address:

• Letter headed and dated correspondence with their secondary school or third level training institute
• Correspondence from SUSI or the CAO
• Correspondence from a bank or credit union
• Correspondence from a government body

Note: these documents can be no more than 6 months old at the date of application and cannot be handwritten.

To find all the information mentioned above or for any other queries you may have, or to actually go ahead and apply you can go directly to the NDLS website.

Legally, you need either a driving licence or learner permit to drive in Ireland. You also need to have car insurance. Get an online car insurance quote in just minutes with AIG and make sure both you and your passengers are protected.