Here Is Why You Should Get a Car before Passing AU Citizenship Test
- Dec 25, 2022
You don’t have to wait for completing the citizenship process to drive in Australia. In fact, you don’t even have to be a permanent resident to drive her. Even tourists can drive in Australia with their overseas driving license for up to three months.
Here is why you should get a car and driving license and start driving without waiting for attempting the citizenship test Australia or becoming an Australian citizen.
The Citizenship Process Takes Time
If you are pursuing the most common method of acquiring citizenship in Australia – citizenship by conferral – you must have to wait at least four years after arriving in the country to apply for citizenship. After that, the process can take up to one year for successful completion.
It means that after arriving in Australia, you have to wait for five or more years to get your citizenship. Waiting this long for a driving license is absurd and will impact your quality of life in the country.
You are Allowed to Drive without Citizenship
Besides, you aren’t prevented by Australian law from driving a car as a tourist or as a permanent resident.
In fact, Australia is one of the easiest countries for driving regulations for foreigners. If you are visiting on a temporary visa – or business visa – you can drive easily using your driving license from your home country. This permission applies to both temporary and permanent residents. Note that this permission only lasts three months. After you have spent three months in the country, you need to apply for an Australian driving license.
But you should check if your country is one of the recognized countries and jurisdictions for which Australia allows the exchange of driving licenses. If you are from one of these countries, you will be exempt from driving tests and will be able to get an exchange license against a license from your home country.
You can Get a Driving License as a Foreigner
If you want to drive in Australia beyond the three-month mark, start early with the licensing process. Australia allows license exchange with several countries. But if yours isn’t one of those countries, you can still earn a license by attempting an Australian driver theory test followed by a driving test. Once you have completed these tests, the licensing agency will convert your driving experience from your home country into the driving license you get for Australia.
Buying a Car is Easy in Australia
You can go for a brand-new or a second-hand car. Australia makes car buying easy with its VIN and Rego checks. Running these checks for a vehicle shows you its ownership, financing, and insurance history, allowing you to judge the authenticity of your purchase. You can use the insurance history to see if the car is a worthwhile investment.
Take Away
Owning and driving a car makes life easier and more fast-paced. Luckily, you don’t have to wait to become a citizen to avail these privileges. Instead, get your Australian driving license and shop for an authentic and well-maintained vehicle to drive.