South Meath Driving School

The Road Safety Authority advise that Licensing laws across the EU require that, to be entitled to a Licence, you must be ‘normally resident’ in the country granting the licence. This rule has not changed in recent times. Applying that rule on the ground, the term ‘normally resident’ is generally considered as the place where a person usually lives, for at least 185 days in each calendar year, because of personal and work ties, or, in the case of a person with no work ties, because of personal ties which show close links between that person and the place where he or she is living.

In 2008, the unemployment rate was around 5% and immigration was double the number emigrating. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is 13% and the annual emigration rate has increased by 350 percent. But, as Stan Laurel used say, things are never as bad as they seem as a high percentage of those leaving were foreign, Furthermore, a happier figure for a twelve month period of 2011/12 was that while 46,500 Irish left our shores, 20,600 returned.

With such numbers on the move, Irish holders of a Driving Licence should keep in mind the expiry date, especially those who might be returning home some years hence. (See ultimate paragraph.)

Where a person is working abroad on a fixed term contract or attending a college or university generally they can be thought of as resident in Ireland providing they have and can demonstrate their personal ties here.

In 2008, the unemployment rate was around 5% and immigration (inward movement) was double the number emigrating. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is currently 13% and the annual emigration rate has increased by 350 per cent. But things are never as bad as they seem as a high percentage of those leaving were foreign. Furthermore, a happier figure for a twelve month period of April 2011/12 was that while 46,500 Irish left our shores, 20,600 returned.

If a person is currently abroad s/he must show that the conditions above are met and provide the necessary evidence showing;

If working: A letter from an employer stating that s/he is working on a fixed term contract / placement

If studying: Correspondence from the College/ University confirming the title and duration of the course s/he is studying

Evidence of being ‘normally resident’ in Ireland: this could be by way of the person’s address on a recent utility bill, a statement from a financial institution, correspondence from a State Department or Agency.

If entitlement is established, the driving licence will be posted to the person’s Irish address. A special application form must be completed which is available on request from the Road Safety Authority, Primrose Hill, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo – telephone +353 (0) 96 78271. An email request for an application form can be made to licensingqueries@rsa.ie giving the Irish postal address to which the application form will be posted. A copy of your passport and two passport photographs will need to accompany an application.

If an Irish licence expires while a driver is resident abroad the entitlement to a licence remains in place for 10 years from the date of expiry. This means that the licence can be renewed within that period without undergoing theory test or driving test requirements. In the case of a learner permit the entitlement remains for a period of five years.