Short landing -- Apply for drivers license ?

[sarimraza]

Dear

Im doing short landing (2 months) in ontario and have all necessary documents to go directly for the tests for final G license. How long normally does it take to get a date for the driving test and have the DL mailed to my canadian address ?

How long is the DL valid for ?

Finally, later if i arrive in canada with this Ontario DL to say another province like say British columbia (vancouver) will this ontario DL work there or will it be easily exchanged (without ANY tests) for the BC DL ?

In short the reason why Im asking all this is because I wish to know whether it is worth it for me to apply for the Ontario DL in my short landing since it would save me time in future visit .. .

Thanks --

 

[Leon]

Dear

Im doing short landing (2 months) in ontario and have all necessary documents to go directly for the tests for final G license. How long normally does it take to get a date for the driving test and have the DL mailed to my canadian address ?

How long is the DL valid for ?

Finally, later if i arrive in canada with this Ontario DL to say another province like say British columbia (vancouver) will this ontario DL work there or will it be easily exchanged (without ANY tests) for the BC DL ?

In short the reason why Im asking all this is because I wish to know whether it is worth it for me to apply for the Ontario DL in my short landing since it would save me time in future visit .. .

Thanks --

You can apply for the DL in Ontario but I am not sure how long it takes to get an appointment for the test. Less than 2 months for sure. A DL is normally valid for 5 years and when you bring an Ontario DL to any other province, they will exchange it without a problem.

However, there is one problem and that is that Canadian authorities do not want you to have more than one drivers license and hence they almost always confiscate your foreign license before issuing you a Canadian license. Therefore, as you plan to go back after your landing, you need to figure out if you are allowed to drive there on your Canadian license for the next year.

 

[torontosm]

Dear

Im doing short landing (2 months) in ontario and have all necessary documents to go directly for the tests for final G license. How long normally does it take to get a date for the driving test and have the DL mailed to my canadian address ?

How long is the DL valid for ?

Finally, later if i arrive in canada with this Ontario DL to say another province like say British columbia (vancouver) will this ontario DL work there or will it be easily exchanged (without ANY tests) for the BC DL ?

In short the reason why Im asking all this is because I wish to know whether it is worth it for me to apply for the Ontario DL in my short landing since it would save me time in future visit .. .

Thanks --

There are two other things to consider. To apply for a license, you must have some documents proving your address (usually a bank statement or a lease). If you are here temporarily, you may not have these documents. Also, the CRA uses a driver's license as a secondary tie to Canada (http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/cmmn/rsdncy-eng.html) so you want to be careful not to have yourself be considered a resident of Canada for tax purposes until you permanently relocate here.

 

[sarimraza]

Dear guys

Thanks a lot for your help, u really have made some great points, however

1. Regarding Leon, he mentions that Ontario might take my native country license in exchange for the canadian one -- i have read that there are certain countries like the US or europe with which canada has this settlement.

With some other countries like Pakistan where im from, they dont have the exchange policy, but ask for a cover letter from motor authority along with the original license for viewing purposes only --- i believe in this case they dont keep the original license, so should I just ask the Service Ontario office to clarify this ?

2. Torontosun has made an excellent point about the lease . . .

Currently Im living in a furnished apartment for a month, so would the receipt of this rental suffice as my current address ?

the point about me being treated as a resident is a serious one, if that holds true then it would be useless to apply for a DL, even if the above two work in my favour . . .

Thanks

 

[next2015]

True! If your doing a short landing, don't get into obtaining any official documents including bank accounts or credit cards. By doing so, you have established residence for tax purposes, and you're therefore expected to meet any obligations as a resident.

 

[Leon]

1. Regarding Leon, he mentions that Ontario might take my native country license in exchange for the canadian one -- i have read that there are certain countries like the US or europe with which canada has this settlement.

With some other countries like Pakistan where im from, they dont have the exchange policy, but ask for a cover letter from motor authority along with the original license for viewing purposes only --- i believe in this case they dont keep the original license, so should I just ask the Service Ontario office to clarify this ?

Canadian authorities do not want you to have more than one license, that's the issue so yes, they do normally take your license even if it is from a non-exchange country. There have been cases where they have let people keep theirs so you can try asking but it might not work out for you.

One way to keep both would be to tell Ontario that you do not have a license and start from scratch with a waiting period. You would can take the written test, get a learners license, wait 12 months and then take the road test and get a G2 license.

Another way to keep both would be to let them have your foreign license and then apply for it back once you are back home.

If you do manage to get both, make sure you don't carry both of them with you at the same time because if you are stopped and they find out you have two, they can confiscate one of them.

 

[qureishi]

Dear Sarim,

Please share your story. How you found Canada ? We are eager to hear it


Regards
Q.

 

[hossamo33]

hi guys,

i'm about to do my landing in two weeks time. i have a question regarding obtaining a driver's license. i have a driver's license from my current country of residence. i will most likely have to surrender my license before leaving though. these are the rules here.

however, i have a photocopy of my current license, i also have a letter from the traffic authorities, and an international drivers license. will these documents be enough to go for the full license exam? what are your thoughts? i plan to settle in Nova Scotia.

can anyone please advise?

 

[milo2015]

You can apply for the DL in Ontario but I am not sure how long it takes to get an appointment for the test. Less than 2 months for sure. A DL is normally valid for 5 years and when you bring an Ontario DL to any other province, they will exchange it without a problem.

However, there is one problem and that is that Canadian authorities do not want you to have more than one drivers license and hence they almost always confiscate your foreign license before issuing you a Canadian license. Therefore, as you plan to go back after your landing, you need to figure out if you are allowed to drive there on your Canadian license for the next year.

Exception is Nova Scotia

They did not keep my backhome country license when i first got class 5(R) license.

I later transfered class 5(R) in to G2 when moved to Ontario.

 

[hossamo33]

Exception is Nova Scotia

They did not keep my backhome country license when i first got class 5(R) license.

I later transfered class 5(R) in to G2 when moved to Ontario.

what is class 5(R) license?

 

[milo2015]

R= Restricted

 

[hossamo33]

R= Restricted

Ok, thanks! Can you please share what the process was like in NS? What documents did you provide? I'm glad you didnt have to surrender your other license..!

 

[Bs65]

hi guys,

i'm about to do my landing in two weeks time. i have a question regarding obtaining a driver's license. i have a driver's license from my current country of residence. i will most likely have to surrender my license before leaving though. these are the rules here.

however, i have a photocopy of my current license, i also have a letter from the traffic authorities, and an international drivers license. will these documents be enough to go for the full license exam? what are your thoughts? i plan to settle in Nova Scotia.

can anyone please advise?

photo copy of a licence probably no use. Out of interest Who checks or takes licence off you when you leave home country do they wait at passport control and strip licence off you or is it voluntary if the latter why not keep it.

 

[milo2015]

Ok, thanks! Can you please share what the process was like in NS? What documents did you provide? I'm glad you didnt have to surrender your other license..!

i just showed my back home drivers license + NS ID (if you dont have one then Passport) and they took a copy of it.

 

[milo2015]

To be on safe side please call the licensing office (google their phone#) and ask current requirements. My experience from 2011.