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Permanent Resident - Driving Abroad (UK)

zardoz

VIP Member
Feb 2, 2013
13,304
2,166
Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
16-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
31-07-2013
LANDED..........
09-11-2013
COPRQuestion said:
well that's Ok then as I do have leave to remain in the UK as I'm a British Citizen
Not if you don't also live there for at least 185 days per year. I have reformatted my quote for the purpose of clarity. It was obviously confusing.
 

COPRQuestion

Hero Member
Aug 30, 2016
318
31
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa/Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-04-16
Doc's Request.
10-06-16
Med's Done....
Upfront
Passport Req..
12-08-16
VISA ISSUED...
29-08-16
LANDED..........
12-09-16
zardoz said:
Not if you don't also live there for at least 185 days per year.
Oh well, guess I won't have a UK license anymore once I give it up in BC. Not a major biggie.

Thanks for informing me though
 

zardoz

VIP Member
Feb 2, 2013
13,304
2,166
Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
16-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
31-07-2013
LANDED..........
09-11-2013
COPRQuestion said:
Oh well, guess I won't have a UK license anymore once I give it up in BC. Not a major biggie.

Thanks for informing me though
I don't like it any more than you do. However, if I ever decide to abandon Canada and return to the UK, I can just apply for a new one, as I retain the entitlement.
 

COPRQuestion

Hero Member
Aug 30, 2016
318
31
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa/Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-04-16
Doc's Request.
10-06-16
Med's Done....
Upfront
Passport Req..
12-08-16
VISA ISSUED...
29-08-16
LANDED..........
12-09-16
zardoz said:
I don't like it any more than you do. However, if I ever decide to abandon Canada and return to the UK, I can just apply for a new one, as I retain the entitlement.
this is true, I'm sure they have a reason so want the other but for me it's more of a keep safe as I still have the original paper licence
 

Buletruck

VIP Member
May 18, 2015
6,686
2,531
You could swap the HK licence......it's a bit more effort as it isn't a direct replacement (and it costs more money). If you swap that, write the test and request equivalence, they should give you the opportunity to challenge the BC licence with the drivers test. Bit of "barking and catching Frisbee's" to do it, but you can keep the UK licence......and you can keep driving on the UK licence until you pass (don't get caught).
 

COPRQuestion

Hero Member
Aug 30, 2016
318
31
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa/Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-04-16
Doc's Request.
10-06-16
Med's Done....
Upfront
Passport Req..
12-08-16
VISA ISSUED...
29-08-16
LANDED..........
12-09-16
Buletruck said:
You could swap the HK licence......it's a bit more effort as it isn't a direct replacement (and it costs more money). If you swap that, write the test and request equivalence, they should give you the opportunity to challenge the BC licence with the drivers test. Bit of "barking and catching Frisbee's" to do it, but you can keep the UK licence......and you can keep driving on the UK licence until you pass (don't get caught).
This is true but in all honesty really don't want the hassle of retaking any test at all or running the risk of failing haha

I shall just have to suck it up
 

CanVisa1

Star Member
Jul 26, 2017
149
39
Hi Folks,

I have a full UK license but I don't want to exchange this for Ontario G license. On the Ontario website it says, if you don't want to exchange your license you need 2 plus years of driving experience. They say you can self-declare one year of driving experience, by showing a valid, original foreign driver’s licence. If you want to earn credit for more than one year of driving experience, you will also need an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver’s licence, confirming that the licence is authentic. This letter needs to be written in English or French.

Firstly, has anyone obtained an authentication letter from UK DVLA ?

Secondly, are UK driving license allowed to keep their UK license and get a new Canadian license as stated above? OR is it compulsory for UK driving license holders to exchange?

Regards
 

PMM

VIP Member
Jun 30, 2005
25,494
1,947
Hi

Hi Folks,

I have a full UK license but I don't want to exchange this for Ontario G license. On the Ontario website it says, if you don't want to exchange your license you need 2 plus years of driving experience. They say you can self-declare one year of driving experience, by showing a valid, original foreign driver’s licence. If you want to earn credit for more than one year of driving experience, you will also need an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver’s licence, confirming that the licence is authentic. This letter needs to be written in English or French.

Firstly, has anyone obtained an authentication letter from UK DVLA ?

Secondly, are UK driving license allowed to keep their UK license and get a new Canadian license as stated above? OR is it compulsory for UK driving license holders to exchange?

Regards
1, No, you have to surrender your UK license. It is actually illegal to have a provincial DL and another valid DL.