If you think having just one driving license is enough to drive in any other foreign country, then you are on the wrong road. the way you try to leap into internet for facts and plenty information about the country you are supposed to visit, this article is not less than a factful informative travelling article. As explained in the previous articles, every country has its road, driving, and traffic rules in a foreign country. These rules are made according to the quality of roads they possess, regular habits and behaviours of the native citizens, custom as well as lifestyle.
- Due to international agreements and treaties, the Canadian Driving licences are valid in many major countries. Using this license in some particular countries like Ecuador, China, etc., do not require or sometimes do not accept the International Driving Permit (IDP).
- Countries and Continents like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, has a necessity for producing IDP along with Canadian Driving License. It is out of security concerns but at times it is found that it is their country’s regular rule for all the foreigners and not specifically Canadian.
- China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan typically forbid themselves from accepting the IDPs since they do not follow the IDP and therefore aren’t present in the list. Tourists visiting these countries are forced to exchange their license with the national license of that particular country immediately before riding any vehicle over there.
- The major objective of IDP is to translate a foreign driving license in case its language differs from English. English is considered to be official international language recognised by most of the major and minor countries. Countries accept foreign license with an IDP because they don’t possess any system of exchanging the licenses. Considering an IDP, they can understand that the foreigner is able to drive and follow the road and traffic rules of any country. For instance, the person is able to ride both on right as well as left side. He/she is able to understand the speed limit, signs and symbols installed for riding on roads of European, American, African, as well as Asian countries.
- China forces Canadians to exchange their license with those of the Chinese ones whereas in Ecuador a foreigner is allowed to ride with his/ her native driving license according to the will of his/ her stay.
- On a serious note, the structure of vice versa do not undergo in case of driving licenses. For example, a person with a DL of New Zealand can drive in Canadian roads whereas a person with a Canadian Driving license won’t be able to ride in New Zealand with an approved IDP.
- A Canadian can drive within the borders of the US due to the agreement that the US and Canada have with each other in regards to driver’s licences.
- Below mentioned are some of the important well-known countries frequently travelled or visited by the residents of Canada:
- US
- UK (1 year)
- Mexico
- Australia (3 months) (IDP mandatory)
- Europe (freely with Albania, Italy, Malta, etc.)
- Russia
- Austria (6 months)
- Bahamas (3 months) (at least 17 years old)
- Belgium (6 months)
- Brazil (60 days)
- Brunei (18 months)
- Chile (90 days) (at least 21 years old)
- Cuba (6 months)
- Denmark (at least 18 years old) (180 days)
- Dominican Republic (3 months)
- Ecuador (valid up to your stay)
- Fiji
- Finland (1 year)
- Israel (1 year)
- Ireland (12 months)
- Iceland (12 months)
- Malaysia (18 years old)
- Panama (90 days)
- Philippines (90 days)
- New Zealand (IDP needed)
- Singapore (12 months)
- France
- Germany (6 months)
- Hungary
- South Africa (IDP required)
- Sweden (18 years old)
- Switzerland 1 year)
- Turkey (3 months)
- UAE
- Zambia (90 days)
- Zimbabwe
List of designated countries of Canada:
A designated country means a refugee from another country doesn’t seek for any kind of protection in a foreign country and he is actually considered to be safe in the hands and lands of that foreign country. Canada has a list of designated countries which allows foreigners from those specific countries to take refugee safely on its lands. For example, Since Austria is one of the recognised designated countries of Canada, this means that the holders of a full and valid driving licence from their native country can drive in Canada easily and safely. See the list of designated countries mentioned below:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- UK
- USA
- Israel
How to Get an International Driving Permit
- So how do you go about obtaining an International Driving Permit? You can get them through either the American Automobile Association or the National Automobile Club. These two groups have been authorized by the State Department to issue IDPs.
- An IDP is actually a document that you carry around along with your driver’s license. It translates your license into 10 other languages.
- It’s recognized in more than 150 countries, according to AAA. (Americans headed to Brazil or Uruguay, however, will need a different document called an Inter-American Driving Permit.)
- International driver’s license laws may vary depending on where you go. So be sure to check up on regulations before you drive abroad.
List of
Countries Where the International Driver License Is Currently Accepted:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- C.I.S.
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde Island
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Rep.
- Chad
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Rep.
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France (include French overseas territories) French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Germany
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kampuchea
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Leone
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Moldova
- Morocco
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Guinea
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Papua New-Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Polynesia
- Portugal (includes Madeira & Azores)
- Principe
- Qatar
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Russia
- San Marino
- Sao Tome
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- St. Christopher, Nevis & Anguilla
- Surinam
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Trinidad Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uruguay
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- UAE
- United Kingdom
- USA
- Uzbekistan
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Verde Islands
- Vietnam
- Western Windward Islands
- Yemen (Rep.)
- Yugoslavia
- Zaire
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
** The International Driver License is NOT VAILD in Mainland China, Japan, South Korea and North Korea.
Sponsored LinksHow to Apply for a Canadian Driving License
Yes, it might sound crazy that while throughout the article it is discussed about using Canadian DL in other countries, then what is the need for applying to a Canadian Driving License, when you already have it. Fact is no country is responsible for the loss or invalidity of your Canadian DL while you are at their country. If in case you happen to be a Canadian resident, and lose this document in another country, then this section of the article is going to help you retrieve back or prepare a new one.
[1] Meet the basic age and vision requirements
[2] Gather all the necessary documents
[3] Apply for your provisional license online
[4] Apply by post as an alternative to the Online application
[5] Wait for your provisional license to arrive before driving
[6] Take Driving Theory Tests (written- Computer mode)
[7] Take the practical Driving Exams
[8] Pass both the exams to get approved for the original driving license from UK.
Know whether you can use your Canadian driving License as a national and international Photo ID or personal identification document.
Yes, every individual holding a Canadian DL can use it as his/ her photo ID. The reason as follows:
- Since you Canadian DL consists of your full legal name, date of birth, photograph, as well as your signature, the DL is enough to trace your legal identity.
- Since documents such as your gender certificate, permanent residence certificate, citizenship certificate in the form of Voter Id, birth certificate, as well as your legal signatures are used while applying for the Canadian Driving License, the valid card is properly and securely recorded with all the necessary documents to make the DL valid for proving your identity. Even though missed or stolen, your documents remain unhampered or stolen or misused in the government databases.
- The DL proves that you are above 18 years of age which Canada records you as the legal citizen of its country