You don't have to sit the learner licence theory test in English. Drive, the official learning site run with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), says you can apply to sit it in any of these languages:
- Arabic
- Chinese (simplified and traditional)
- Filipino
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Korean
- Māori
- Punjabi
- Samoan
- Thai
- Tongan
Fijian is also available. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples announced that NZTA had added a Fijian translation from 18 June 2025, bringing the test to 14 languages. Fijian is not yet on the Drive list, so check with the driver licensing agent when you book.
If your language is not on either list, Drive says you may be able to use an interpreter.
Help if reading is hard
Language is not the only barrier. Drive says that if you have trouble reading, you should tell staff when you book. You may be able to get extra time to finish the test, or a helper who reads the questions out to you.
The same applies to a language version or an interpreter: raise it when you book, not on the day.
How to book
You can't book the theory test online. You go in person to a driver licensing agent, which Drive says includes most AA offices and some VTNZ stations. There you:
- fill in the application form (you can download it from NZTA first)
- show proof of identity, such as a current passport
- pass an eye test, bringing your glasses or contacts if you wear them
- have your photo and signature taken
- pay the learner licence application fee of $96.10
You might sit the test the same day, or you may need to come back. If you fail twice on the same day, Drive says you must wait 10 working days to try again.
You have to be at least 16 to get a learner licence.
Not only for teenagers
The language options matter for adults too. Some migrants converting an overseas licence have to pass the New Zealand theory test, depending on the country their licence is from. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples said Fijian was prioritised partly because Fiji is not an exempt country, so drivers converting a Fijian licence need to pass both theory and practical tests.
Our overseas licence explainer covers driving here on a foreign licence; check NZTA for the current time limit and any conditions that apply to you.
Practising in your language
The test is based on the official New Zealand road code, which Drive breaks into 12 chapters with practice tests.
GO Drive is a free practice site with questions in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Filipino, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Samoan and Tongan. You don't need an account. Its questions are for practice, not the official exam paper, so use it alongside the Road Code.
For what to expect on test day, including the number of questions and the pass mark, see our learner licence theory test guide. If you are under 25, read about the longer learner period coming in 2027 before you plan your next steps.
