Expert Info
on 15 Jun 2012
I will be working in vancouver for 2 yrs on a temporary work permit. I hold a full driving license from Singapore. Can I drive and buy a car in Vancouver with my Singapore license while on the temporary work permit, or do I need to sit for the driving test by ICBC to get a british columbia license? As far as I understand, a temporary work permit holder is like a tourist, hence I do not need to convert or sit for the BC driving license. Please kindly advice.
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You may be able to drive for a few months on your licence, but it's likely that you'll eventually have to get a Canadian licence and take a driving test.
For info on what you need to know about buying a car, check out our Buying a Car in Cananda page.
Since you are on a temporary work visa you'll be classed as a 'visitor' in BC, which means you can drive on your Singapore licence for 6 months. After that you will need to apply for a BC drivers licence. As you're from Singapore (and not from a small list of exempt countries, including Japan), this will mean taking a knowledge test, road test, and eye test.
Another option is to get an international drivers licence while you are still in Singapore - you can contact the driver's licence authority in British Columbia (www.icbc.com) or the Canadian consulate in Singapore (http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/singapore-singapour/) to find out more about the process.