Driving in Canada for international students will depend upon the province where they may be studying and also on their previous driving record in their former residence country.
Driving in Canada for international students – provincial regulation
For international students, driving in Canada implies fulfilling provincial regulations, with every province having separate driving rules and policies. However, the defined rules for international students to drive in Canada will largely depend upon the province in which they’re currently residing.
In general, having a valid driver’s license from a native or home country indicates that the student will have permission to drive in Canada for a restricted timeframe when they first come to Canada. Moreover, these students might often have to demonstrate their International Driving Permit before arriving here. In specific provinces, international students will gain eligibility to drive through a foreign license. This will apply until the duration of their study period. Meanwhile, other provinces seek international students to apply for a provincial license.
Driving in Canada for international students- what are the driving regulations?
Following are the driving regulations for international students to drive in Canada’s prominent destinations:
- Ontario– New residents with authentic foreign licenses will have permission to drive for 60 days when they first arrive in Ontario. Once this 60 days period gets over, Ontario’s international students will require to exchange their license with an Ontario one or apply for a new one. Additionally, the process can become more efficient through Ontario’s license exchange program with other countries.
- British Columbia– International students studying full-time won’t require a license for British Columbia. However, they must present their driver’s license from a former country. Also, they must hold French or English licenses, but in case they don’t, they must have an IDP. International students studying part-time will require a license from B.C within 90 days of arriving in the province.
- Quebec– International students will not require a Quebec license for their study duration. However, they will need to show a license from their home country and an IDP in case they don’t have French or English licenses.
- Alberta– International students in Alberta can drive through their home country license and an IDP for a period of one year. When the period of 1 year is over, they will need to show the Alberta license. In case the student leaves Canada and then comes back, the one-year period will resume.
International Driving Permit
The International Driving Permit offers permission to drivers of a country to also drive in other countries. The IDP authorizes them to operate a vehicle in Canada for a restrictive period, which differs for each province. Essentially, foreign nationals can’t apply for an International Driving Permit from inside Canada. They must apply from their home country. Moreover, the IDP will offer them an English or French translation for international drivers arriving in Canada.
It is better to know about the provincial and territorial regulations of the specific locations where they’d like to drive and ensure IDP coverage. Obtaining a provincial license might be essential for where they choose to live.
Other rules and regulations
International students, as well as foreign nationals, must ensure that they become aware of Canadian driving laws, rules, and regulations. However, the rules are mainly provincial, and hence, one must consult the province to understand the specific guidelines.
According to the general norms of driving in Canada, proper vehicle registration and valid insurance are mandatory. Failing to display the license, registration, and insurance proof might result in a heavy penalty.
Canada maintains stricter regulations concerning the consumption of marijuana, alcohol, and the functioning of motor vehicles. Each province will have accurate rules, and any individual driving while consuming alcohol or drugs will fall under the criminal offense category. DUI can cause severe harm to an immigrant’s immigration application, making him further inadmissible in Canada.
Therefore, international drivers must be conscious of driving, drugs, and drinking.
