How does a foreigner get a driver’s license in India?
-September 21, I ask Bala (the office coordinator guy) how someone (like me, a foreigner) gets a driver’s license here. He says that he will check and see what is needed and call me tomorrow.
-September 23, I SMS Bala and ask if he found out what was needed. 2 min later he is at my desk letting me know that I need 2 passport photos, a copy of my passport, a copy of my NE drivers license, and a consultant. I know what you are thinking, what is a consultant? Essentially you pay someone 500 to 800 rupees (so for me, a foreigner that means 800-1000) to go stand in line and fill out your paperwork at the RTA (Regional Transportation Authority), like our DMV. Bala calls a consultant, I get some photo copies.
-September 27, the following Tuesday Bala is going to stop and get my stuff to give to the consultant, never did
-September 28, Bala comes on Wednesday, consultant does not show up.
-September 30, that Friday I call Bala, he can’t get the consultant on the phone.
-October 4, Tuesday we fire the consultant and find a new name, his phone rings at his brother’s house so messages take a day to get through, but things are looking good with him for about 2 weeks.
-October 10, Skip a week to Monday, we fire that consultant and find another one.
-October 11, Tuesday he shows up!!! We hand over the stuff and his consulting fee of 800 rupees (that is about$18).
-October 12, Wednesday he calls Bala from the RTA saying that they need a letter from our apartment complex, proving residency.
-October 13, Thursday we have the letter written and call him back, we get a brother (not the same brother mind you, we are on Consultant number 3).
-October 18, Tuesday, hand the letter to the consultant (“number 3”), he calls later the same day and says that they want a phone bill with our name and address on it. Nothing of the sort exists---consultant number 3 goes silent, Bala starts to think I might have lost my 800.
-October 17, Monday I have Bala call Consultant #3 and who answers the phone? Yeah, a brother. He informs Bala that Consultant #3’s wife had a baby today, but he will have everything done tomorrow. Bala is pretty sure that I have lost my 800.
-October 19,Today Wednesday, Bala talks to Consultant #3 and he says that he has the right guy at the RTA to get past the residency thing (that is going to cost me a couple hundred in ‘pleasantries’ I can tell).

They say I am going in tomorrow---11 sharp—to get my license. Yeah right.