Renew, restore or replace a licence or registration

Key information

• If you do not renew your licence, certificate or registration by the due date it will expire, and you will no longer be authorised to work in NSW.
• We will send you a renewal form several weeks before the expiry date with details of how to renew. We may also send you an SMS reminder.
• If your licence is going to expire soon and you have not received your renewal form, contact us. It is your responsibility to renew your licence on time. 
• You can restore a licence or registration if it has expired less than 3 months ago. If it has expired more than 3 months ago, you may need to apply for a new licence or registration.
• If your licence is lost, damaged or stolen, you can replace it.
• Make sure any relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is up to date. 

Renewing in person

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for renewing online, you can renew in person at your nearest Service NSW centre.

If we approve your application, we will post your new licence to you. 

Find out why an application may be denied.

Restoration after expiry

If your licence or certificate expired less than 3 months ago, you can restore it for a fee at a Service NSW Centre.

You can use the details on your renewal notice to apply to restore your licence, certificate or registration.

You will keep your existing licence or registration number.  Once restored, your licence or registration is considered as renewed from the date the licence expired.

If your licence or registration has been expired for more than 3 months, restoration may not be an option and you may need to reapply.  

How to make a restoration application

An application for the restoration of an authority (licence, certificate or registration) outside 3 months or 92 days must: 

• be made: 
  • For trade and building licences - in person at Service NSW, accompanied by the renewal form and the prescribed fee. 
  • For design and building practitioner registrations - by email to:
    dbpregistration@customerservice.nsw.gov.au  
• be accompanied by additional documentation outlining the circumstances that would justify the issue of the restoration
• nominate a term for duration of the authority (options are 1, 3 or 5 years). 

Important note for design and building practitioners and professional engineers:

• You cannot make a compliance declaration until your restoration application is accepted. 
• Design practitioners cannot lodge or declare regulated designs.
• Building practitioners cannot lodge designs and declarations to begin or vary building work or make a building compliance declaration.
• Professional engineers cannot work on regulated buildings under the Design and Building Practitioners scheme.

Check the status of your licence, certificate or registration on the  public register.

What happens next?

1. Once we have your completed renewal or restoration application, supporting documents, and fee payment, we will assess your application. Learn more about the assessment process.
2. Processing times for completed applications can change. If we request more information, the processing time will increase. Find out more about current processing times.
3. Check your inbox for any emails from Building Commission NSW.
4. If your application for a licence is approved, we will send you a new licence card. In the meantime, you can check the public register to see if your application has been granted.
5. Applications can be refused for several reasons. Find out more about why a licence application may be refused.

Replacement

If your licence or certificate has been damaged, lost or stolen, you can apply for a replacement at a Service NSW Centre or request by email for design and building practitioner registrations.

To replace your licence or certificate, you will need:

1. an Application for duplicate licence, certificate or permit form
2. your personal details and certificate number
3. payment for the fee.

To replace your design or building practitioner registration, you will need to:

1. Download the Notification of change of details - PDF form
2. Complete the form and attach to an email to:  dbpregistration@customerservice.nsw.gov.au