Irish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The format of driving licences, categories of vehicles and the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence are set at EU level. Therefore, all EU-issued licences are mutually recognised in Member States.

Ireland may make bilateral licence exchange agreements with non-EU jurisdictions. Such agreements can be made only when the authorities in both jurisdiction have studied and compared the licensing regimes and each side is satisfied that they are compatible.

Following Brexit, an exchange agreement was made between Ireland and the UK and a UK licence can be exchanged for an Irish licence. However, as per that agreement, a UK licence issued in exchange for a licence from a third country that Ireland does not have an exchange agreement with cannot be exchanged for an Irish licence.

This also applies to the mutual recognition of EU licences. When a third country licence is exchanged for a Member State licence, such a licence is not recognised here for exchange if Ireland does not have an exchange agreement with the third country.

Ireland does not have a driving licence exchange agreement with Zimbabwe and the licensing regime has not been examined to ensure that it reaches the required standards. Accordingly, a UK licence issued in exchange for a Zimbabwean licence cannot be exchanged for an Irish licence.

Ireland does have a driving licence exchange agreement with South Africa.

I have.

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