Driving in Oceania – Let’s explore here

If you’re thinking about driving in Oceania on an overland journey, you should make yourself aware of the different regulations for each country. Our Oceanic country pages detail lots of information by country. This page summaries information for the whole of Oceania on international driving permits, carnet de passages requirements, as well as other useful information.

Do you require an international driving permit in Oceania?

You may require an international driving permit in Oceania, depending on which country you are travelling through. There are three types of permit: 1926, 1949 and 1968. For UK citizens, international driving permits can be bought from the post office. 

The 1968 permit lasts for 3 years or until your UK driving licence expires, whichever comes first. A 1926 or 1949 permit lasts for 12 months. 

The table below shows which international driving permit is required for each Oceanic country. 

Can you use your UK driving license when driving through Oceania?

For some Oceanic countries you do not require an international driving license, as your UK driving license is valid. This is especially the case for short term visits, or when transiting through the country on an overland journey.

The table below shows which Oceanic countries you can drive in with your UK driving license.

ou may also find it useful to refer to our other information on driving abroad within each individual country page, as well as our information on obtaining a Carnet de passage. You may also find it useful to refer to our other information on visas.

International driving permit and Carnet de passage information by Oceanic country

Country	International driving permit	Carnet required	Notes
Australia	1949	Yes	You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Australia if you remain a temporary overseas visitor
Fiji	1949		You can use a UK driving licence to drive in Fiji.
Kiribati	–		You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Kiribati.
Marshall Islands	–
Micronesia	–
Nauru	–
New Zealand	1949	Yes	You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in New Zealand for up to 18 months.
Palau	–		You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Palau for up to 30 days.
Papua New Guinea	1949		You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Papua New Guinea for 6 months.
Samoa	–		A Samoan driving licence is required to drive in Samoa. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. Car hire companies will usually help with this.  You can use the permit for up to 90 days a year.
Solomon Islands	–		You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the Solomon Islands for up to 4 months.
Tonga	–		You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Tonga.
Tuvalu	–		You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Tuvalu for up to 2 weeks.
Vanuatu	–		You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Vanuatu.