Hi,

Can anyone answer this question? I can't find any information on the CIC website.

My son is a Grade 11 student issued with a Visitors Record when we entered Canada in 2014. I have a study permit and my husband a SOWP.

My son wants to learn to drive but is not permitted to do so as he has a Visitors Record. Can we apply to CIC to exchange his Visitors Record for a study permit?

Regards,

Laois

Driver licensing is provincial, so I checked your old posts that indicate you're in Alberta.

Even if your son had a study permit, are you sure he'd be eligible? First line of Service Alberta: Am I eligible? is "To get an Alberta driver’s licence, you must: be a Canadian citizen, a Canadian permanent resident, hold a valid work visa, and/or have an approved refugee claim from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada"

That said, I know some IEC people had managed to swap despite Service Alberta websites insisting a person had to be a PR/citizen (line about work visa is newish), so may be either an out of date website or a case of who you get on the day.

Either way, some information about study permits for children at Find out if your child needs a study permit

Thanks for your reply. Yes, we are in Alberta.
We have Alberta driving licenses and we are not PR/citizens.....I have a study permit and my husband has a SOWP.

Laois

Are you sure he can't learn to drive with a visitors record?

Registrations Are Us | Learner’s Permit

Before you write your knowledge test you must provide satisfactory identification. Acceptable IDs include your Birth Certificate or Passport. In addition, one other piece of ID is required, preferably with a photo. For people not born in Canada a Foreign Passport or Canadian Citizenship card is good identification as it contains both a photo and signature.

We also require your Canada Entry documents – Work Permit, Study Permit, Visitor Record or Permanent Residence Card. If you are over the age of 18, you will also have to provide Proof of Residency in Alberta."

So long as he has proof of residency and a permanent address, a visitor can obtain a drivers permit or learners permit. A driving schools only requirement is to see a valid provincial drivers license. Who told you he was not permitted to do so?

CIC won't issue a study permit as he is not eligible to be issued one.
Your problem is with Service Alberta and getting them to understand that your son is legally in Canada.

From the Service Alberta website regarding documents

a confirmation document, permit or resident visa issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada - CIC, that gives you resident status in Canada for more than the next 90 days
https://www.servicealberta.ca/reside...quirements.cfm

Thanks for your replies. We went to our local AMA office to sit the theory test and the representative we spoke to said he didn't meet the criteria. I suppose we should try again? Armed with information from the Service Alberta website?

You can also ask to to speak to the manager if the agent is unfamiliar with the criteria.

If this fails, telephone licensing and try to get to speak to an area manager.

I called another Registry and Licence agency in Calgary and they said they just need proof of my son being accompanied by a parent on entry to Canada - which should be documented in my passport.....I can see three letter/number combinations written into one of the pages on my passport when we entered Canada. Those letters/numbers match with my original study permit/work permit, but there is nothing written in my passport that relates to my son's documentation. ??

Thanks everyone for your replies - as usual, very helpful!

I just called AMA - they said come on down with relevant ID and he can sit the test.
Thanks again everyone for your help! I really appreciate it.

Before anyone comments those Service Alberta works are PROVINCIAL government workers and not FEDERAL.