This is a story about how I ended up getting an Enhanced Driver’s Licence.

In case you were wondering:

An Enhanced Driver’s Licence contains the same information as a regular driver’s licence but also includes a machine readable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that denotes Canadian citizenship.

This additional information will allow the driver to use their EDL as a passport alternative when entering the U.S. by land or water

An EDL is a secure driver’s licence that denotes a person’s identity and citizenship and is issued by certain provinces and U.S. states. The objective is to provide Canadian and American citizens with a convenient option that allows for spontaneous travel across the shared border.

My regular licence expires this month, and about two weeks ago I received a letter from ICBC that it was time to renew my licence. I guess this is standard enough, except this was a rather cheerful letter with colourful pamphlets proclaiming it was time to renew my ‘EDL’.

My initial thought was… “this is strange, I don’t have an EDL” but I got distracted by the shiny pamphlets.

The letter made it seem like I’d always had an EDL and it was time to renew it, though it also had a section about always going back to my ordinary licence if I wanted. But the seed had already been planted! The idea of being able to zip into the states without having to grab my passport first seemed really appealing.

Although it wasn’t required until 1 June 2009 (when the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect) I’d always crossed the border with my passport, it’s just been easier that way, but it also meant that my trips had to be planned. Take this weekend for example when I went shopping for a DSLR camera, feeling that I’d trudged through all the shops in the town, I remembered all those Kits Camera signs I saw the last time I passed through Bellingham and in a fleeting moment I considered making a quick dash across the border, but the thought of going back home to grab my passport spoiled the moment. Now, if I had the EDL, my only worry would have been the line at the border.

I booked an appointment with ICBC online as requested in the letter for yesterday, however on Monday I’d received another letter from ICBC saying that they made a mistake, they realize now that I don’t have an EDL, their letter should have said it’s time to renew my regular licence blah blah blah… It did also say that I could upgrade my regular licence to an EDL – it was all up to me.

I was already sold, so I kept my appointment. I went to the Bentall Centre location yesterday, waited for about 5 minutes to be called up, the lady was pleasant, it was a little like a visa application or answering questions on a passport form. She started off by informing me that all the information she’s collecting will be shared with the US Customs & Border Protection and I could get a copy under the Freedom of Information Act. I paused for a second, but then decided this wasn’t anything that wasn’t already in my passport.

The whole interview/interrogation process took about 15 – 20 minutes.

The cost came up to $110.00CAD – regular licence renewal is $75.00 + $35.00 for the EDL upgrade. Afterwards, I had my picture taken, signed stuff and got a packet containing copies of the information I gave them and instructions on how to activate the licence when I get it. She said it’ll take up to three weeks to come in the mail, she said it’ll come in a clear plastic sleeve and that I was to keep the card in there at all times to protect the chip.

Here’s a video on how to use the new RFID cards at the border.

I got my interim licence and was on my merry way. In all it took about 30 minutes to get it done.