Job Discussion Forums

titanicman · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 71 Location: Qatar

Is it possible for a holder of an Asian non-English driver's license to get a Qatari driver's license?

TIA..............Titanicman

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hi Titanic,

This is in my pm and I don't feel like typing it again. Smile

So, I will summarize.

I replied that it was likely just as in the other GCC countries - non-Westerners must take the driving lessons and driving tests. ugh!!

If anyone knows differently, and Qatar is an exception, please post and correct me.

VS

Richard_Gao · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Doha

I had my country (asian) driving license and I had to have it translated first and then submitted to get a temporary license (this was before I got my residence permit). i had to take a road test but not the dreaded LSP test. (for those who don't know what LSP test is, it's L, S shaped path with poles marking the path and you have to drive in reverse through it without dropping any pole. the P is the parallel parking test).

Passed the road test without problem. Once i got the RP, i only had to convert the temporary license to a permanent one without retaking any test.

I have been told that if you wait for RP first and then apply for permanent license, they are more strict in giving out the license, so you may end up having to LSP and road test. So in fact it's good to get temporary and then convert after.