If your driving license is given by any member of EU or EEA, then it is feasible to exchange your driving license for an Irish driven license. Likewise driving license given by some states, which are recognized by the Irish administraion, can also be exchanged for an Ireland driving license.

It is not possible to exchange your driven license for an Irish one, if the country that issued your license is not recognized by the Irish govt, You can get your driving license only after you undergoing a complete deriving process, commencing with driver theory test.

Regulations

Bearers of license given by a state belonging to EEA/EU.

If you have a driving license that is given by member of EEA/EU, then you will be permitted to drive in Ireland up to the validity period of your license. It you intend to exchange your present license for a corresponding Irish driving license, then you should do within ten years expiry period of your driving license.

Bearers of license given by acknowledged nations

The Irish administration has entered into agreement with some nations/ states that authorizes them as recognized nation for the intention of exchange of driving license. They are

Australia

Guernsey

Gibraltar

Japan

Isle of Man

South Africa

New Zealand*

Jersey

Switzerland

South Korea

Taiwan*

*According to the S.I. No. 402/2010 — Road Traffic (acknowledgment of Foreign Driving Licences – Taiwan & New Zealand) and Order 2010, the countries of Taiwan and New Zealand were included to the acknowledged states’ list, however with some requirements.

Bearer of driving license issued by other nations.

If you are not belonging to the any of the above nations, (for instance if you are from the US or from Canada) and if you possess an global driving permit or a national driving permit issued by your own nation, then you can drive in Ireland during your temporary stay(up to a period of twelve months).

If you plan to stay for more than a year (12 months), then you have to apply for a complete driver license process. First, you have to finish a driver theory test and then you will be given with a full Irish driven license.