[size=12pt]PROVIDING DRIVING EXPERIENCE FROM SAUDI ARABIA
For those whose driving license doesn't show the issuance date.
Most of you know that if you have over 2 years of driving experience in your home country, you will be eligible for G2 drive test and if you pass it, you will be granted G license immediately without the waiting period of G1 then G2 licenses (this is applicable in Ontario, I'm not sure about the practice in other provinces).
I have driving experience of over 11 years in Saudi Arabia. But my license is the old format so it doesn't show issue date, so I had to go to Traffic department and get a print-out of my driving license detailed history to prove driving experience of over 2 years. Luckily the officer was kind enough to print it and stamp it (in Traffic office at Alkhobar). So I prepared the letter to take it to Canada and translate it there to try my luck getting exempted from G1 and G2.
Recently I came to know that the new Saudi driving license has the ISSUE DATE printed on the license card in Arabic. So I decided to re-issue my Saudi license (only re-print, the same expiry date will apply) in the new format. For that you have to pay 100 SAR (online banking or ATM, by SADAD) and go to any Dallah-Murur office (the ones with driving schools). Submit the form and old license (sometimes you have to do vision-check - depending on the office who takes your application) and get the re-issued license on the same day afternoon.
Although there are some hassle (as you have to go to Murur twice) or let your company GPR department do it for you, at the end, you will save the effort of going to Murur office and convincing the officer to print it and stamp it. And about the cost of 100 SAR, you will be paying almost the same amount for translation of that driving detailed report letter in Canada. But if you have the license in the new format, you will be required only to translate the license card.
I have communicated with a certified translator in Toronto/Mississauga, the rate was CAD 35 for translating the driving license report and CAD 25 for translating the license card. You will have to translate both if your license doesn't show issue date.
You can get the approved translators in Ontario in the below link:
http://search.atio.on.ca/search/index/1
Best wishes.. and drive safely.