You Must Carry Your Debit Card Too: Lessons from Exchanging My Driver's License
When coming abroad, I had previously been driving with an international driving permit.
However, since this trip involves a long-term stay of over six months, I needed to exchange my Japanese license for a Quebec license.
This turned out to be a longer road than I expected, taking over a month.
Starting with the translation at the consulate
The first hurdle was getting my Japanese license translated. I headed to the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal. It is located in a building right in the middle of downtown, marked by a giant ring monument. There was airport-style security, and when I told them I had a pacemaker, a security guard walked right up to me and... he actually unplugged the machine with a flourish. It was bold, but it was the quickest solution.
I received the translation a few days later and moved on to the next step.
Waiting patiently for the SAAQ appointment
The agency in charge of license procedures is the SAAQ (Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec).
I applied while translating the French website into Japanese, waited about 10 days for the appointment confirmation, and the reply gave me a slot three weeks away. In the end, I couldn't drive during that time. Be prepared for it to take a month.
On the day that finally arrived, I left earlier than the kids' school drop-off, taking a train and a bus for about an hour. Even though I arrived 20 minutes before my scheduled time, there was already a long line. All the guidance was in French, which was quite a hurdle.
The unexpected 'debit or cash only' policy
The procedure at the counter itself was simple. They spoke to me in English. For some reason, they asked for my eye color, and the vision test ended with just a 'read this'.
However, I stumbled at the payment stage.
I was charged 117 dollars, and when I pulled out my credit card as usual, I was told bluntly, 'Debit or cash only.' I had about 30 dollars in cash in my wallet, and I wasn't carrying my debit card.
I was backed into a corner, but when I asked the woman at the reception, she initially said 'no,' but then called out 'Madame!' (which I always love) and told me there was a dépanneur (convenience store) a short walk away. I struggled to find an ATM and withdraw cash, bracing myself for the fees. It kept giving me errors, and I fought with the machine for 15 minutes. The reason was that I couldn't withdraw from my checking or savings account with a credit card; I had to request it as a cash advance from my credit card account. I finally got my hands on 100 dollars, returned, and was able to finish the payment without issue.
Photo and license
After that, it was time for the photo. Every time I unconsciously smiled, I was told 'don't smile,' and I finished the shoot with a straight face. It seems the system is to carry a paper temporary license along with your Japanese license until the actual license arrives by mail in 4 to 5 days.
The banker who tells you everything
Apparently, if you withdraw with a credit card, you get hit with 20% interest. It's on par with Japanese loan sharks. Not knowing what to do, I went to ask the representative at the bank where I opened my account, and they told me not to withdraw with a credit card except in emergencies, and they helped me sort it out. I had opened an account in Japan and transferred money before moving to Canada, and I had an appointment at that bank the day after I arrived to activate the account. The representative was very kind and taught me everything, even the smallest details. The bank is also open until about 7 PM. It was like a sanctuary when I was in trouble, and this was truly helpful.
Lessons learned
And so, I successfully obtained my Quebec license.
1. Always keep a debit card and cash in your wallet!
2. Do not take out loans with your cash card
If you need to drive as soon as you arrive here, it might be better to bring your international driving permit as well. I am now going to try driving here (using a community car).
Costs incurred for license exchange (August–September 2025)
Translation fee at the consulate: 19 dollars
License issuance fee: $117
