How do I change my driver's license in Canada?
This is the question you absolutely must ask yourself! Your pink paper (or card for the recent ones) is not valid all the time in Canada, it can vary according to the provinces, and it will be necessary to exchange your license against a local one to continue to drive.
The validity of the French and Belgian license is 6 months in Quebec and 60 days in Ontario. After this period it is no longer recognized as a license.
In Ontario for example you will be asked to pay a fee of 90$ CAD to get your license.
In addition to that, you will be asked to provide an RIR (which I put here) to validate your years of driving in France, there are two cases:
In France: Send the document to your prefecture where you took your license
In Canada: Fill out the document and return it by mail to your prefecture which will send you either by mail or by email the completed document. You will then have to stamp this document at the French consulate.
Once all this is done, all you have to do is go to the Ontario service (validating licenses) or driving center to exchange your French license for an Ontario one.
That's it, you have completed all the steps! It should take a good 2 weeks for the Ontario service to make your license!
Your license will be sent to the French prefecture, as part of your eventual final return to France for you to get it back.
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