Australia Ends EDR Program, Impacting Thousands of Drivers

Australia is ending the Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) system, which previously allowed permanent residents from certain countries to convert their foreign driver's licenses to Australian ones without local testing. Starting this week in most states and territories—except Queensland and Western Australia, where the change will come later—affected drivers from countries such as South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, Poland, and others will now need to pass Australian knowledge and practical driving tests to continue driving legally. The Recognised Country status, which includes nations like the US, UK, France, and Canada, remains unchanged, allowing for a simpler license conversion process. These changes do not affect temporary visitors, who may continue driving with a valid overseas license if they comply with its conditions. Authorities urge affected residents to act before the deadlines to avoid additional training or testing requirements. The update aims to streamline and standardize the process of converting foreign licenses in Australia.