New Zealand
AustraliaHealthLink, in partnership with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), is introducing a digital DL9 medical certificate to improve efficiency, accuracy, and security for driver licence medical assessments.
What’s happening?
The NZTA Medical Certificate for Driver Licence (DL9) form is moving from a paper-based process to a digital experience available through the HealthLink Forms launch page. This change will allow health professionals to complete and submit forms directly to NZTA, creating a faster and more efficient workflow.
Drivers will also benefit from a simpler process, as in most cases they will no longer need to take a paper DL9 to the NZTA licensing agent.
Why this change matters
Each year, more than 160,000 DL9 medical certificates are completed by GPs and specialists across New Zealand.
Moving the DL9 online supports road safety and a better experience for everyone involved:
- Decrease admin for practices
- Improve data quality and completeness
- Enable faster, more secure transmission to NZTA
- Support timely decision-making around medical fitness to drive
- Provide a simpler, more secure experience for drivers
When will this happen?
- A phased rollout is planned, with go live expected to start from July 2026
- Paper DL9 forms will continue to be accepted during the transition period
- We’ll keep this page updated as timelines are confirmed.
How it works
Launch the DL9 form from HealthLink within your Patient Management System (PMS) or MyHealthLink Portal
Automatically populates patient details via PMS and referrer details across all systems, including MyHealthLink Portal
Complete the form using built-in guidance and clinical decision making support
Submit the DL9 form directly and securely to NZTA
FAQs
You can start using the digital DL9 Medical Certificate as soon as you are told that it’s available. NZTA encourages you to use the digital form, but they will still accept paper forms for now. When they decide to stop using paper forms, we’ll let you know.
Keep any existing paper DL9 forms for now. We’ll tell you how to dispose of them once the new digital version has been in use for a while.
If a driver requests a copy:
- You can print a copy of the completed DL9, or
- The driver can request a copy directly from NZTA
You will need to print a DL9 in the following situations:
- To provide a patient copy if requested
- When the driver does not yet hold a New Zealand driver licence
- When completing a DL9 for Maritime New Zealand or Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA) purposes
In these cases, a printed DL9 is required because the certificate must
accompany the relevant licensing or application form.
To print the form, submit the digital form and a print option will
become available.
Yes. The driver licensing process stays the same. Drivers still need to visit an NZTA agent where required, but they don’t need to bring a paper DL9 form – the certificate is submitted electronically. If the driver doesn’t have a NZ driver licence and needs a printed DL9 form, they must take the printed copy to an NZTA agent.
HealthLink uses end‑to‑end encryption to help ensure the privacy and security of health information. Personal information and documents are transmitted securely and retained within the HealthLink system in line with health information privacy and security standards. Submitting the DL9 digitally also reduces the risks associated with handling and transporting paper forms.
The right point of contact depends on the type of issue:
- Technical or form issues (e.g. access problems, form not submitting):
Contact HealthLink Support on 0800 288 887 or helpdesk@healthlink.net - Clinical or licensing questions about how to complete a DL9: Refer
to NZTA guidance via the links provided in the form or NZTA’s
website
Helpful decision‑support links are built directly into the digital DL9 to
assist with assessments.
No. Drivers cannot access the DL9 through a patient portal. If a copy is required, it can be printed by the practice or requested directly from NZTA.