Steps to Getting a Driving License in Canada as an Aussie

Immigrating to a new country is a brave move. You have to consider lots of factors before deciding. These factors will look at your familial ties, your job prospects, chances of economic growth, retirement plans, and living standards. Canadian citizenship process is robust and includes residence requirement, passing Canadian citizenship test, and meeting character requirements.
Getting a driving license is one factor you need to consider when you plan a move. But as an Aussie, you should rest assured – the Canadian license exchange program makes it as easy as a breeze for you to convert your license.
Here is what you need to know to convert your license to a Canadian license.

Get Licensed and Experienced in Australia

Canada allows license conversion for Australian drivers because its licensing agencies consider Australian licensing procedures to be at par with those of Canada. Yet, there are certain eligibility criteria that you must meet to get the license.
First, you need a license from your home country. If you show a license from a country other than Australia, you may or may not get a conversion depending on whether that country is included in the exchange license program with Canada or not.
Secondly, you must have driven on Australian roads for at least two years before arriving in Canada. Canadian licensing authorities convert overseas licenses according to the experience they have accumulated before coming.

Get Licensed in Australia and Gain Experience in Canada

This is another option for you if you want to get a Canadian driving license. If you are moving soon, you may not have enough time to complete the two-year driving experience requirement that is presented by Canadian licensing authorities. In that case, you will have to gain experience in Canada.
You will be exempted from the knowledge test in Canada because of your Australian driving license. If you have driven for some months, the licensing authority in the territory will assess your driving skills to decide the right driving test you need to take.

Get Licensed and Experience in Canada

This is the third condition where you start your licensing procedure from scratch in Canada. It holds for those Aussies who never drove a car and never got a driving license in their home country or abroad.
You will have to start with a knowledge test. This test will earn you a learner’s permit. It is not a full license but you can start practicing driving. You must drive under supervision only and apply for a driving test after a year of driving experience. When you have successfully attempted this test, you will be given an intermediate license that will last 24 months if you drive without probations. After the lapse of this period, you will get a full license and will be allowed to drive a car without novice or learner license plates.

Take Away

Canada allows Aussies to exchange their driving licenses from their home country for Canadian licenses if they have the required experience. If you don’t have enough driving experience, you will have to go through a Canadian graduate driving license program.