Last updated: 29 October 2026
A Queensland forklift licence lasts 5 years. It is a high risk work licence issued by WorkSafe Queensland, valid for five years unless it is suspended or cancelled, and you renew it with WorkSafe online before the expiry date printed on your card. You do not need to redo the course to renew a current licence.
Key facts at a glance
- Valid for 5 years from issue. The expiry date is on the bottom right of your licence card.
- WorkSafe Queensland sends a renewal notice 4 to 6 weeks before it expires.
- Renew online through WorkSafe Queensland’s High Risk Work Licence Online Services. The renewal fee is $102.99, paid to WorkSafe.
- Renew on or before the expiry date and you stay licensed while it is processed. Apply late and you cannot operate a forklift until it is approved.
- Never held one? The FMS Training course is $499 on a weekday at Lawnton, Brisbane.
Book your forklift licence course
What exactly lasts five years?
People use “forklift ticket”, “forklift licence” and “LF licence” for the same thing, but there are really two documents, and only one of them expires.
| Document | Who issues it | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of Attainment for TLILIC0003 Licence to operate a forklift truck | The registered training organisation that assessed you | No expiry, but you must use it to apply for your licence within 60 days of your assessment |
| High risk work licence, forklift class (LF) | WorkSafe Queensland | 5 years, then renew |
| Verification of Competency (VOC) | An employer or trainer checking your skills | No set period; it is a workplace check, not a licence |
After you pass your assessment, you apply for the licence online through WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days and pay WorkSafe’s application fee ($113.41 from 1 July 2026). That licence is the one that runs for five years.
What happens when the five years are up?
Renewing a current licence is paperwork, not training. You renew through WorkSafe Queensland’s High Risk Work Licence Online Services using your licence number, your renewal notice number, your Queensland Digital Identity and your Transport and Main Roads customer reference number, then pay the renewal fee within 14 days of lodging. If you pay on or before the expiry date, your licence stays current while WorkSafe processes it.
If you miss the date, you can still apply to renew for up to 12 months after the expiry date, but you are not licensed, and cannot operate a forklift at work, until the renewal is approved. After 12 months it can no longer be renewed (unless WorkSafe Queensland accepts that exceptional circumstances apply), so you apply for a new licence, which means training and being assessed again. Our forklift licence renewal guide walks through each situation.
A refresher or VOC is not a renewal. A Verification of Competency is a check your employer may ask for when you start a new job or return to forklifts. It does not change your licence expiry date. FMS Training runs forklift VOCs for $260; see Verification of Competency.
Is a Queensland forklift licence valid in other states?
Yes. High risk work licences are recognised across Australia, so a current Queensland forklift licence lets you work interstate. Check with the regulator in your new state about renewing it there if you move permanently.
I have never had a licence. How do I get one?
You complete TLILIC0003 with a registered training organisation, pass the assessment, then apply to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days. At FMS Training you book a training day and a separate test day together when you pay, in small classes at our Lawnton training facility in north Brisbane. The full steps are in how to get a forklift licence in Queensland.
Forklift Licence (TLILIC0003), Nationally recognised, RTO 45189, 4.9-star Google rating.
$499 on a weekday, $599 on a weekend. The WorkSafe Queensland licence fee is separate and paid to WorkSafe.
Where: in person at Lawnton, north Brisbane. Training day and separate test day both booked when you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a forklift licence valid in Queensland?
Five years from issue, unless it is suspended or cancelled. Renew it with WorkSafe Queensland before the expiry date on your card.
Do forklift licences expire in Australia?
Yes. A forklift licence is a high risk work licence, and in every state and territory it lasts 5 years before it must be renewed with that state’s regulator. In Queensland you renew with WorkSafe Queensland before the expiry date on your card.
Do forklift certificates expire? How long is a forklift training certificate valid for?
The Statement of Attainment you get for TLILIC0003 does not expire, but it is not a licence. In Queensland you must use it to apply to WorkSafe Queensland for your licence within 60 days of your assessment. The licence then lasts 5 years.
Do I have to redo the course to renew my forklift licence?
No. Renewing a current licence, or one that expired less than 12 months ago, is done online with WorkSafe Queensland. After 12 months you need to train and be assessed again.
Do I need a car licence to get a forklift licence?
No. You do not need a car licence. You need photo ID, such as a passport or an 18+ card, plus your other identification (see our identification checklist). When you apply to WorkSafe Queensland, an 18+ card works as your Transport and Main Roads identification.
If my car licence is suspended or cancelled, can I still get a forklift licence?
Yes. It has no impact. Car licences are handled by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, while forklift licences are issued by WorkSafe Queensland under work health and safety law, which does not consider your driving record.
Can I drive a forklift if my licence has just expired?
No. If you apply after the expiry date, you are not licensed until WorkSafe Queensland approves the renewal.
How much does it cost to renew a forklift licence in Queensland?
The WorkSafe Queensland renewal fee is $102.99 from 1 July 2026, paid to WorkSafe, not to a training provider.
Sources
- WorkSafe Queensland: Renew a high risk work licence
- WorkSafe Queensland: Licence fees
- WorkSafe Queensland: Interstate licences
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld), sections 83, 87, 89, 90, 92 and 103
- Business Queensland: Apply for a high risk work licence
- training.gov.au: TLILIC0003 Licence to operate a forklift truck