Mutual recognition

Update to Mutual Recognition – August 2019

NSW drivers can now apply for mutual recognition. They will need to submit the Mutual recognition declaration form PDF, 355.1 KB together with certified copies of their current driver licence and NSW accreditation. An application fee applies.
If you have not held a driver accreditation in Victoria in the last 6 months, your application must also include a letter from your NSW Booking Service Provider or a National Police History Check dated not more than 3 months ago.
If you have held driver accreditation in Victoria within the last 6 months, and the accreditation was not cancelled or suspended as a result of disciplinary action, you do not need to provide a letter from a NSW Booking Service Provider or a National Police History Check.
You may be deemed to be accredited in Victoria based on your NSW accreditation. Once you receive notification from CPVV of your deemed accreditation status, you can start providing commercial passenger vehicle services in Victoria immediately.
Once you have been granted Victorian Driver Accreditation you will be subject to standard criminal history checks and medical assessments.
If you do not convert to a Victorian driver licence, you may be required to provide a national police history check and driving history information annually.

This diagram illustrates the Mutual recognition process DOCX, 50.2 KB

Eligibility for driver accreditation

You are eligible to apply for mutual recognition if you hold current and valid unrestricted accreditation to drive a commercial passenger vehicle service (including commercial bus service) in another Australian state or territory, or in New Zealand; and you have not yet transferred your driver licence to Victoria.

To apply for mutual recognition of your driver accreditation you need to submit:

a completed Mutual recognition application form PDF, 355.1 KB
a copy of your current interstate commercial passenger vehicle driver authority or equivalent
a copy of your current interstate/New Zealand driver licence, if separate to your commercial passenger vehicle driver authority; and
NSW T condition only (if you have not held driver accreditation in Victoria in the last 6 months): a letter from your current Booking Service Provider confirming your suitability or a National Police History Check dated not more than 3 months ago.

If you’re applying for driver accreditation (including bus) and have already transferred your driver licence to Victoria, you should apply as a new applicant. See applying for driver accreditation.

Prior to submitting your application

We suggest you contact the interstate/NZ regulator to confirm that your driver licence and commercial driving authority are current prior to submitting your application for mutual recognition, as the application fee is non-refundable.

Please note: If you intend to remain in Victoria for more than three months, you should transfer your driver licence to Victoria only after your Mutual Recognition application has been finalised.

Once you have received your Victorian driver licence, please email a certified copy of the licence card (or temporary paper licence) to driveraccreditation@cpv.vic.gov.au so that we can update our records.

Driving instructor authorisation

Driving instructors holding the equivalent of Victoria’s Driving Instructor Authority (DIA) from another state or territory in Australia, or New Zealand, are eligible to apply for mutual recognition using the same Mutual recognition application form PDF, 355.1 KB.

How long will it take to process my application?

The processing timeframe can vary as CPVV must contact the interstate/NZ regulator which issued your authority to verify your details before we can approve your accreditation.

Please allow a minimum of 14 days for us to process your application.

If we are unable to verify the details of your interstate/NZ driving authority within 30 days, we will contact you by email to let know what happens next.

What happens after you have submitted your application for driver accreditation or DIA?

Once you have submitted your completed application and supporting documents, and you have successfully met all the application requirements, you are deemed to be accredited in Victoria.

We will send you a letter confirming your status and advising that you can begin driving a commercial passenger vehicle or providing driving instructor services immediately for the type of commercial passenger vehicle or instructing in the transmission type you hold in the other state/territory/New Zealand.

Deemed accreditation is not a grant of accreditation. You will remain deemed accredited until your application is processed, and a decision made to grant you accreditation.

Until your application is processed, you must comply with the following:

you must always have your accreditation from the interstate/territory/New Zealand authority with you while driving a commercial passenger vehicle in Victoria
you must comply with any limits, conditions or undertakings applying to your accreditation in your original state/territory/New Zealand
you must comply with all the conditions applying in Victoria to accreditation holders. Otherwise, we may take compliance, enforcement or disciplinary action against you before your application for mutual recognition is determined
you should carry your deemed accredited letter with you when you are providing commercial passenger or driving instructor services.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application for mutual recognition in writing. If you’re granted accreditation, a Victorian Certificate of Accreditation (or authority cards for driving instructors) will be posted to you.

Your details will not appear on the public register until your application has been finalised.

Please visit the Public Register webpage to learn more.

Drivers

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