Foreign nationals on international licence?
Discussion
Ok, we have some foreign nationals working for us here in uk on work permits. They have use of our company pool cars for work on social trips.
They all have "international" driving licences. From what i've hear this will allow them to drive in the uk for up to 12 months - after which they must apply for a full uk licence. Is this correct?
What if they return to India (for example) for a few months then come back? Is it 12 months total time in uk, or a 12 month continuous stay?
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They all have "international" driving licences. From what i've hear this will allow them to drive in the uk for up to 12 months - after which they must apply for a full uk licence. Is this correct?
What if they return to India (for example) for a few months then come back? Is it 12 months total time in uk, or a 12 month continuous stay?
?
They are International Driving Permits as agreed at the International Convention on Road Traffic of Sept 1949. All signatory countries have similar reequirements with some local differences. They are issued by authorised National Bodies, in our case the AA who charge £4 for the service. During the 12 month validity of the Permit, I can and have driven a car in various places - Japan, Korea, Dubai and India amongst others. When it expires I apply for another one.
In Korea for instance, if one has a Work Permit for a longer than 90 day stay, one is expected to exchange one's International Driving Permit for a local Driving Licence and a Korean International Driving Permit can be obtained if one makes a trip to say Japan and needs to drive there.
In Korea for instance, if one has a Work Permit for a longer than 90 day stay, one is expected to exchange one's International Driving Permit for a local Driving Licence and a Korean International Driving Permit can be obtained if one makes a trip to say Japan and needs to drive there.
It makes me laugh whenever you stop a 'Foreigner' that they say they hold an International Driving Licence.
"Theres no such thing".
People drive on their country of origin licence and the rules and regulations vary depending upon the Country concerned.
It used to be very simple but as usual, the rules have been changed (Sept)and its more difficult to understand.
I will post a full answer later if no one beats me to it,lol
"Theres no such thing". People drive on their country of origin licence and the rules and regulations vary depending upon the Country concerned.
It used to be very simple but as usual, the rules have been changed (Sept)and its more difficult to understand.
I will post a full answer later if no one beats me to it,lol
Tonyrec said:
It makes me laugh whenever you stop a 'Foreigner' that they say they hold an International Driving Licence.
You can apply for an international driving licence here in the UK. Its a recognised system across the world. Unlike our crappy paper system thats next to useless to anyone who does not read English.
My wife has an international licence as well as her Czech one, so Tony they do Exist.
>> Edited by cptsideways on Monday 8th November 17:18
2 cases of students on Tier 4 visa.
1st Student stayed here for 12 months continuously and has expired driving licence from origin country.
Students couldn't get UK driving licence due to covid19 situation and lack of driving test dates.
2nd student managed to visit the origin country in 11th month and returned.
Does the 2nd student get another 12 months for driving licence validity?
1st Student stayed here for 12 months continuously and has expired driving licence from origin country.
Students couldn't get UK driving licence due to covid19 situation and lack of driving test dates.
2nd student managed to visit the origin country in 11th month and returned.
Does the 2nd student get another 12 months for driving licence validity?
king years.Its one year from the start of your entry stamp. Leaving does not reset it nor does trying to delay the end point by saying you havent been driving the full year. One year from the second you cross border control and activate that visa.
With the way the driving test system is working now he should immediately book the theory exam asap then he can book the practical exam right after he passes. I am under the belief that it is logistically impossible now to get a full uk license within that year time frame but you can close the gap so to speak. I arrived in september and started the process right away and i ended up with a uk license in october the following year do i wasnt long with out being able to drive. My wife on the other hand failed her first driving test and a reschedule cost her about 6 months so she got her licence around april of the following year.
With the way the driving test system is working now he should immediately book the theory exam asap then he can book the practical exam right after he passes. I am under the belief that it is logistically impossible now to get a full uk license within that year time frame but you can close the gap so to speak. I arrived in september and started the process right away and i ended up with a uk license in october the following year do i wasnt long with out being able to drive. My wife on the other hand failed her first driving test and a reschedule cost her about 6 months so she got her licence around april of the following year.
Kit352 said:
Its one year from the start of your entry stamp. Leaving does not reset it nor does trying to delay the end point by saying you havent been driving the full year. One year from the second you cross border control and activate that visa.
With the way the driving test system is working now he should immediately book the theory exam asap then he can book the practical exam right after he passes. I am under the belief that it is logistically impossible now to get a full uk license within that year time frame but you can close the gap so to speak. I arrived in september and started the process right away and i ended up with a uk license in october the following year do i wasnt long with out being able to drive. My wife on the other hand failed her first driving test and a reschedule cost her about 6 months so she got her licence around april of the following year.
Hypothetical situation:With the way the driving test system is working now he should immediately book the theory exam asap then he can book the practical exam right after he passes. I am under the belief that it is logistically impossible now to get a full uk license within that year time frame but you can close the gap so to speak. I arrived in september and started the process right away and i ended up with a uk license in october the following year do i wasnt long with out being able to drive. My wife on the other hand failed her first driving test and a reschedule cost her about 6 months so she got her licence around april of the following year.
A foreign visitor lives and drives in the UK for 11 months, and then goes back to their home Country, where they live and work for (let's say for arguments sake) 10 years, without returning to the UK in that 10 years at all.
After 10 years, they decide to return to live in the UK once more.
Do they instantly have to get a UK driving licence? - Or can they drive for up to a year again on their foreign licence?
Your reply above would suggest that they only have a single 12 month period of driving on their foreign licence in the UK for their entire lifetime, and that once those 12 months are used up, regardless of how long they've been out of the Country -Be it months/years/decades whatever, they have to get a UK licence immediately, if they are going to live and drive in the UK ever again.
Just curious
vaud said:
Genuine question - why answer to an otherwise dead post from 17 years ago?
I thought it's better to continue in this same thread as the question is same and it hasn't been answered on PH completely. Well if you wish I could start a new thread with same heading and question. Or am I breaking some PH rule which I'm unaware of? In that case sorry.
4rephill said:
Hypothetical situation:
A foreign visitor lives and drives in the UK for 11 months, and then goes back to their home Country, where they live and work for (let's say for arguments sake) 10 years, without returning to the UK in that 10 years at all.
After 10 years, they decide to return to live in the UK once more.
Do they instantly have to get a UK driving licence? - Or can they drive for up to a year again on their foreign licence?
Your reply above would suggest that they only have a single 12 month period of driving on their foreign licence in the UK for their entire lifetime, and that once those 12 months are used up, regardless of how long they've been out of the Country -Be it months/years/decades whatever, they have to get a UK licence immediately, if they are going to live and drive in the UK ever again.
Just curious
Exactly. The closest answer till date on PH is that home office decides who a resident is and DVLA rules do not define resident term. A foreign visitor lives and drives in the UK for 11 months, and then goes back to their home Country, where they live and work for (let's say for arguments sake) 10 years, without returning to the UK in that 10 years at all.
After 10 years, they decide to return to live in the UK once more.
Do they instantly have to get a UK driving licence? - Or can they drive for up to a year again on their foreign licence?
Your reply above would suggest that they only have a single 12 month period of driving on their foreign licence in the UK for their entire lifetime, and that once those 12 months are used up, regardless of how long they've been out of the Country -Be it months/years/decades whatever, they have to get a UK licence immediately, if they are going to live and drive in the UK ever again.
Just curious
So how does it affect someone who goes out of country before 12 months licence expiry and returns next day or 6 months or 10 years ?
Like someone who is on work visa and goes back every 6 months to visit family and returns to work. Mostly work visa is for 2-3 years.
Or in students case visa is for 2-4 years.
I hope this thread settles the answer.
legendracer said:
4rephill said:
Hypothetical situation:
A foreign visitor lives and drives in the UK for 11 months, and then goes back to their home Country, where they live and work for (let's say for arguments sake) 10 years, without returning to the UK in that 10 years at all.
After 10 years, they decide to return to live in the UK once more.
Do they instantly have to get a UK driving licence? - Or can they drive for up to a year again on their foreign licence?
Your reply above would suggest that they only have a single 12 month period of driving on their foreign licence in the UK for their entire lifetime, and that once those 12 months are used up, regardless of how long they've been out of the Country -Be it months/years/decades whatever, they have to get a UK licence immediately, if they are going to live and drive in the UK ever again.
Just curious
Exactly. The closest answer till date on PH is that home office decides who a resident is and DVLA rules do not define resident term. A foreign visitor lives and drives in the UK for 11 months, and then goes back to their home Country, where they live and work for (let's say for arguments sake) 10 years, without returning to the UK in that 10 years at all.
After 10 years, they decide to return to live in the UK once more.
Do they instantly have to get a UK driving licence? - Or can they drive for up to a year again on their foreign licence?
Your reply above would suggest that they only have a single 12 month period of driving on their foreign licence in the UK for their entire lifetime, and that once those 12 months are used up, regardless of how long they've been out of the Country -Be it months/years/decades whatever, they have to get a UK licence immediately, if they are going to live and drive in the UK ever again.
Just curious
So how does it affect someone who goes out of country before 12 months licence expiry and returns next day or 6 months or 10 years ?
Like someone who is on work visa and goes back every 6 months to visit family and returns to work. Mostly work visa is for 2-3 years.
Or in students case visa is for 2-4 years.
I hope this thread settles the answer.
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