Communication to Holders of South African Driving Licences Abroad: All You Need to Know
We would like to assist the many South Africans living abroad and concerned about license renewals:
1. INTRODUCTION
The scope of this document is limited to applications received from South African citizens living abroad. Regulation 109 (2) stipulates that a person who is living abroad may apply for the reissue of a driving licence card (duplicate) within the validity period of the driving licence.
Regulation 109 (4) stipulates the documents that must accompany the application.
2. WHO MAY APPLY
The holder of a South African credit card format driving licence who is currently living abroad may apply. The card can only be processed up to one (1) month prior to the expiry date of such card.
3. HOW TO APPLY
You have to forward the required documentation to a friend or relative still living in South Africa who must in turn submit the application to the driving licence testing centre (DLTC) where the original card was ordered. The nominated person must complete form DL1 (Application for driving licence) at the DLTC with his/her postal address to ensure that the notice to collect the card is delivered to the correct address.
4. WHICH DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED
• A signed checklist as per paragraph 6
• An affidavit made by the applicant stating:
– the country, city or town and residential address where he/she currently resides,
– the period of stay,
– that he/she will be unable to receive the card in person, and
– the name and identification number of the person who will submit the application and receive the card on his/her behalf
• The fee for issuing a driving licence card
• A certified copy of the driving licence card or an affidavit stating why the licence cannot be submitted
• A certified copy of the acceptable identification of the applicant and a certified copy of the identity document of the person who is submitting the application on behalf of the applicant
• A certified copy of the identification page of the passport of the applicant and the page stamped by the Department of Home Affairs when he/she left the Republic of South Africa, and the page stamped by the country in which he/she resides when he/she entered the country concerned
• A report issued less than six months before the date of application by an optometrist or ophthalmologist relating to the testing of the applicant’s eyes in terms of the standards referred to in paragraph 5
5. EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE REPORT FROM THE OPTOMETRIST OR OPHTHALMOLOGIST
The holder of the driving licence must comply with the following standards:
(a) in the case of an application for a driving licence relating to the code A1, A, B or EB,
such person has—
(i) according to the Snellen rating a minimum visual acuity, with or without refractive correction, of 6/12 (20/40) for each eye, or where the visual acuity of one eye is less than 6/12 (20/40) or where one eye of the person concerned is blind, a minimum visual acuity for the other eye of 6/9 (20/30); and
(ii) a minimum visual field of 70 degrees temporal, with or without refractive correction, in respect of each eye, or where the minimum visual field in respect of one eye is less than 70 degrees temporal, or where one eye is blind, a minimum total horizontal visual field of at least 115 degrees with or without refractive correction; or
(b) in the case of an application for a driving licence relating to the code C1, C, EC1 or EC, such person has—
(i) according to the Snellen rating a minimum visual acuity, with or without refractive correction, of 6/9 (20/30) for each eye; and
(ii) a minimum visual field of 70 degrees temporal in respect of each eye, with or without refractive correction.
6. The Checklist
[A word of appreciation to our friends from Tasima for assisting with the information]
