Expert Info
on 26 Aug 2012
Hello,
I have a NZ class 5 driving licence. Any fellow Kiwi's have any experience obtaining the AZ/DZ Ontario licence? I'm moving to Ottawa next summer and want to continue as a truck driver. However it looks like I just can't walk in and convert all my licences. Any advice?
Thanks
You can exchange your New Zealand licence for a Canadian one as long as the territory has a reciprocal agreement with New Zealand. From what I can find online, NZ does have this agreement with British Columbia, where you can exchange a commercial licence after completing a theory test but not the prac test. BUT it seems NZ doesn't have this agreement with the Ontario MTO (unlike Australia) which means you can't simply exchange your NZ licence for an Ontario one. Here's the Ontario MTO website with more info on this: http://www.drivetest.ca/EN/licencing/Pages/Out-of-Country-Drivers.aspx
You might want to phone them up (number on the web site) and double check that there's no exchange agreement with NZ. If there isn't, I'm afraid you will need to apply for a new license within 60 days of arriving in Ottawa, and will have to take the theory/practical tests again in Canada.
There is a good thread on what to expect from the DZ licence test here: http://www.firehall.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8585
Hope that helps - good luck
No, as an Indian national you will need to apply for a new licence, which involves taking the theory and practical tests again as if you were a new driver. It's a pain I know!