Provisionally speaking

It’s been a long time since I shared my goal to finally get my UK driving licence. Indeed, I began the application process for a provisional permit on three occasions, but never quite got around to sending my photos and passport to finalise the application. (Amazingly, they refunded my application fee on each occasion.)

My first attempts generally failed because I didn’t get a photo countersigned in time. Add to that, some further hesitation to apply again because, as a foreign national, I would have needed to send in my passport. As it was still COVID time, the process could take several weeks, and I didn’t want to be without my passport in case I needed to travel before it was returned.

Then, my priorities shifted to obtaining permanent residency, buying a house, and then (finally!) applying for my UK citizenship and passport.

And now that I am a UK citizen, with a UK passport, I don’t have to send my passport in for ID verification. This means I have finally received my provisional licence – I applied for it the day my UK passport arrived, and it was approved the following day. And whilst it took another couple of days for the physical ID to arrive, I had enough information from the online portal to book my first driving lessons.

My provisional licence arrived in the post a couple of days later, which will allow me to book my theory test and take a few driving lessons. And once I pass my theory test, I can book my practical test. It is looking increasingly like that won’t happen until the Autumn at this point. But I have all the paperwork to make it happen, eventually.

And so, as I said back in November 2020, Operation Vroom-Vroom is now underway!