Securing the Job: Navigating Driving Licence Translation for a Skilled Migrant

Marco, a specialised Civil Engineer from Milan, recently moved to Melbourne on a permanent residency visa. He had successfully applied for a Site Manager role with a major Victorian construction firm. However, the role required him to drive a company vehicle between various project sites across the state.

While Australia recognises driving licenses from Italy (allowing for direct conversion without further testing), the bureaucratic requirements are strict. Even though Italian licenses follow the standard European Union format (with recognised photo card layouts), the headings and data fields are in Italian (Cognome, Nome, Patente di Guida). Therefore, bodies like VicRoads and Service NSW require a formal NAATI-certified translation to process the conversion into the Australian system.

Marco assumed that because his license was a standard EU card, he didn’t need a translation, or that a simple self-translation would suffice. He visited a VicRoads customer service centre to finalise his conversion.

The clerk rejected his application immediately. Although the card layout was familiar, the official policy required a translation by a NAATI-accredited translator to verify specific restriction codes and validity dates legally.

Marco’s new employer needed a copy of his Victorian driver’s license number by Monday morning to authorise his use of the company fleet. It was Thursday afternoon; he had less than two business days to fix the error or risk delaying his start date.

Marco needed a fast, reliable solution that guaranteed government acceptance. He contacted Australian Translation Services, specifically selecting the “License Conversion” service. He needed assurance that the translation would strictly adhere to the format required by Australian road authorities.

• Step 1: Marco scanned his Italian license and submitted it via our portal, provided details, and completed the payment.
• Step 2: Our team assigned a professional NAATI-certified Italian-to-English translator.
• Step 3: The translator ensured that all Italian terminology (such as Rilasciata dal – Issued by) and specific vehicle categories (Category B) were accurately mapped to their Australian English equivalents.
• Step 4: We provided Marco with a digital copy for his immediate reference, and Express Posted the hard copy, bearing the official wet-ink stamp (required for permanent residency conversions), to his home in South Yarra.

The digital copy was ready within 24 hours, and the hard copy arrived the next morning via express post. Marco returned to VicRoads on Friday. The officer verified the NAATI practitioner ID on the stamp, accepted the document immediately, and processed his conversion. Marco received his receipt and temporary license, allowing him to drive the company car on Monday legally.

“I thought my European license would be enough, but the paperwork caught me off guard. Australian Translation Services was fast and professional. They understood exactly why VicRoads rejected my first attempt and gave me a document that worked perfectly. I started my new job on time with zero stress.”

— Marco B., Melbourne

For permanent residents and skilled migrants from Europe, it is a common misconception that an EU license skips the translation step. Australian Translation Services bridges this gap by providing the mandatory NAATI-certified documentation that ensures a smooth transition from an Italian license to a full Australian one.