Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
295. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if a licence can be renewed online in circumstances in which a person with an Irish driver licence is abroad and that licence is due for renewal given that the extension offered by way of a letter from the NDLS may not be recognised by local police and road authorities in other jurisdictions. [17043/21]
View answerThe current extension to the validity of Irish driving licences has been granted under EU Regulation 2021/267 and is recognised across the EU.
A person must be resident in Ireland to apply for an Irish driving licence. Where a person is living abroad and working on a task of a definite duration or attending a college or university generally, they can be thought of as resident in Ireland provided they have personal ties here.
In such cases, an application to renew a driving licence can be made by post to the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Details of how to apply can be found on the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) website here: www.ndls.ie/licensed-driver/driving-abroad.html#are-you-living-abroad-to-study-or-working-abroad-to-carry-out-a-task-of-a-definite-duration.
An application for renewal of a driving licence can only be made up to 3 months before the expiry date.
