Getting a driver's license...

[leviche]

I worked as an Ambulance EMT for 5 years in Qatar and now re establishing to Canada as PR, If I apply for a license, will they give me an exam for the equivalent license I got here ot will they require me to go for a driving school? How long to get a schedule for driving license exam and what are the requirements?

Need helpful information.

[Leon]

So you are saying you are a PR and have lived in Qatar for the last 5 years?  Do you realize that PR's need to have lived in Canada 2 out of every 5 years to keep their PR status?

Aside from the potential problems with your PR status, it depends on what province you are in and where your drivers license is from.  The provinces have exchange agreements with a handful of countries.  If you don't have an exchange agreement but you have a foreign license and a translation of your license and something to prove how long you have been driving, they will let you take the exam to get a regular drivers license and after that you would need to find out about taking a test for an ambulance license.  You may have to go to a school for that.  You can find all the provinces drivers license info here:

Alberta: http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/drivers_licence.cfm#Exchanging_a_Non-Alberta_Operators_Licence
British Columbia: http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/licence-othercountry#Variables._frag_
Manitoba: http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_licensing/ForeignDL.html
New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/0276/vehicle/english/faq-e.asp
Newfoundland and Labrador: http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/gs/mr/dl-application.stm#new_res
Northwest Territories: http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/newDLandGIC.aspx
Nova Scotia: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/paal/rmv/paal269.asp
Nunavut: http://www.edt.gov.nu.ca/apps/authoring/dspPage.aspx?page=motor
Ontario: http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeReciprocal.aspx
Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=20138&lang=E
Quebec: http://www.saaq.qc.ca/en/driver_licence/exchange/index.php
Saskatchewan: http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/drivers_licences/new_residents.htm
Yukon: http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/motorvehicles/mvdrlic.html

[leviche]

We become PR Jan 2008 and stayed for a month in Canada and went back to Qatar to finish our contract. We are re-establishing this January 2010 (2 years outside Canada). What you mean by translation? I have to ask for english translation of my certification license here in Qatar, right? Usually they give out english for expats. Thanks again for the links.

[Leon]

If your drivers license is written in English or French, it is ok but if not, you will need a certified translation of it.  If you take a foreign drivers license to Canada without a translation and try to get them to acknowledge it, they will tell you they want a translation.

[nasim15]

So you are saying you are a PR and have lived in Qatar for the last 5 years?  Do you realize that PR's need to have lived in Canada 2 out of every 5 years to keep their PR status?

Aside from the potential problems with your PR status, it depends on what province you are in and where your drivers license is from.  The provinces have exchange agreements with a handful of countries.  If you don't have an exchange agreement but you have a foreign license and a translation of your license and something to prove how long you have been driving, they will let you take the exam to get a regular drivers license and after that you would need to find out about taking a test for an ambulance license.  You may have to go to a school for that.  You can find all the provinces drivers license info here:

Alberta: http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/drivers_licence.cfm#Exchanging_a_Non-Alberta_Operators_Licence
British Columbia: http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/licence-othercountry#Variables._frag_
Manitoba: http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_licensing/ForeignDL.html
New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/0276/vehicle/english/faq-e.asp
Newfoundland and Labrador: http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/gs/mr/dl-application.stm#new_res
Northwest Territories: http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/newDLandGIC.aspx
Nova Scotia: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/paal/rmv/paal269.asp
Nunavut: http://www.edt.gov.nu.ca/apps/authoring/dspPage.aspx?page=motor
Ontario: http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeReciprocal.aspx
Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=20138&lang=E
Quebec: http://www.saaq.qc.ca/en/driver_licence/exchange/index.php
Saskatchewan: http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/drivers_licences/new_residents.htm
Yukon: http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/motorvehicles/mvdrlic.html

I am holding an international driving license issued by Automobile Association of Bangladesh. Can I drive at the initial stage (2-3 months) of my arrival in Ontario?

[PMM]

Hi[

quote author=nasim15 link=topic=25515.msg145709#msg145709 date=1253762502]

So you are saying you are a PR and have lived in Qatar for the last 5 years?  Do you realize that PR's need to have lived in Canada 2 out of every 5 years to keep their PR status?

Aside from the potential problems with your PR status, it depends on what province you are in and where your drivers license is from.  The provinces have exchange agreements with a handful of countries.  If you don't have an exchange agreement but you have a foreign license and a translation of your license and something to prove how long you have been driving, they will let you take the exam to get a regular drivers license and after that you would need to find out about taking a test for an ambulance license.  You may have to go to a school for that.  You can find all the provinces drivers license info here:

Alberta: http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/drivers_licence.cfm#Exchanging_a_Non-Alberta_Operators_Licence
British Columbia: http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/licence-othercountry#Variables._frag_
Manitoba: http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_licensing/ForeignDL.html
New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/0276/vehicle/english/faq-e.asp
Newfoundland and Labrador: http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/gs/mr/dl-application.stm#new_res
Northwest Territories: http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/newDLandGIC.aspx
Nova Scotia: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/paal/rmv/paal269.asp
Nunavut: http://www.edt.gov.nu.ca/apps/authoring/dspPage.aspx?page=motor
Ontario: http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeReciprocal.aspx
Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=20138&lang=E
Quebec: http://www.saaq.qc.ca/en/driver_licence/exchange/index.php
Saskatchewan: http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/drivers_licences/new_residents.htm
Yukon: http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/motorvehicles/mvdrlic.html

I am holding an international driving license issued by Automobile Association of Bangladesh. Can I drive at the initial stage (2-3 months) of my arrival in Ontario?

60 days only.

PMM
[/quote]

[nasim15]

Thanks