cosmoBrown

Hi Folks

I'm on a TWP, living in BC and my ICBC driving license expires in Sep. ICBC won't issue me a new photocard license because I'm in the last 6 months of my Work Permit, they will only give me an interim paper license.

I'm planning on leaving Canada at the end of the year, and go travelling for a few months, and I'd obviously like to have a driving license with me for the duration.
I traded in my 10 year UK license when I came here which is valid till 2025 and I plan on moving back to the UK after travelling.

Has anyone got an advice on how I might be able to get a license. Could I get my UK license back somehow? Could I extend my TWP for next year early and have it issued this year?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as this is not something I was expecting to come against.

Many thanks.

Former Lancastrian

The paper licence is still valid so whats the problem? If you still have several months left on TWP I dont think IRCC would extend it now and will they even extend it?
Now if the paper licence expires during your travel time then yes its a problem but if still valid then just use it and avoid the hassle of extending work permit etc.

cosmoBrown

Aviator

You can only get a UK license if you are living in the UK. They won't reinstate a license to someone living overseas.
For ICBC, the only authority that can answer your question is driver licensing at head office in North Van.
Buy a bicycle?

neilcumming

If you knew someone in UK ,a friend or family you could apply for change of address for your UK license. Get them to send the forms to you and sign them send them back then you would have your license for your travels.

rivingtonpike

Have you tried a different licence issuing office? In my experience interpretation of rules with things like this can vary wildly from one office to another. If you go into a local friendly branch and explain your plight, they may give you a more favourable outcome,

BritInParis

Which would be illegal.

neilcumming

How would that be if he is leaving Canada?

BritInParis

Because he would not be a UK resident.

neilcumming

Doesnt make sense to me.He is not a Canadian resident as he is on TWP and not a UK resident ,so he leaves Canada and so cant have a Canadian license either ,just take the bus?

BritInParis

Pretty much. The only legal way to do it would be to go back to the UK, apply to renew at the licence at an address where the OP was resident and then go travelling afterwards. Unless he's going somewhere where a rental car is essential then relying on public transport shouldn't be a problem.

neilcumming

That would cost $1000s just to get ones driving license back which was legally obtained and paid for?? I know which way I would go lol.

Aviator

He is a Canadian resident when on a TWP. Once the TWP ends, he ceases to be a Canadian resident and expected to return to his home country, where he could get his original license reissued. Seems quite straightforward.

Bus would be an excellent idea though.

BritInParis

Not necessarily. We don't know where he's planning to travel or whether he has family he can live with in the UK for a week or so whilst he exchanges licences. If he's travelling then his licence might be something nice to have but not essential.

rivingtonpike

If his next resident address would be, say, his parents place, why couldn't he use that address for mailing purposes? Presumably once he leaves Canada, that (or similar address) would be the one he'd use for bank statements etc...?