Getting a provisional license on a spousal visa

I've just arrived in the UK on a spousal visa (hooray!). Do I need to spend a certain amount of time in the country before applying for a provisional license (I realize that I can drive using my US one for a year), or can I go right ahead and apply now? The more I read on the DVLA site, the more confused I become.

You should be able to apply for one at any time... even if you don't intend to drive in the UK, a provisional licence can be used as ID.

I think you may have to have been resident in the UK for 6 months before passing the practical test (although there has been some debate here about whether or not this applies to everyone or just to EU citizens), but I don't think there's a minimum residency for getting a provisional licence.

Thank you! I'll give it a try.

Hi,
I finally made it over. I want to get my provisional license, but I'm a bit confused.
From what I understand, I have a spousal visa, which is Limited Leave to Enter.

The requirement according to the DVLA website, I need leave to remain:
Applicants who are not UK citizens or nationals of another EU or EEA country will not be considered normally resident if they:

    do not have leave to remain in the UK, or
    are in the country on a temporary basis without leave to remain either while awaiting a decision to stay in the UK or following a decision refusing such an application.

So do I have leave to remain?

I know Greeta answered this in your other thread, but your Spousal visa is the equivalent of my Further Leave to Remain (marriage) so yes, you have leave to remain and yes you can get a provisional licence.

I was told after the spousal visa you have to apply for indefinite leave to remain- is that not true? Only then do you become a british citizen-

Yes, that's true (for those who applied before July 9th 2012, 2 years on a spousal visa, then 1 year on ILR, then UK citizenship), but it has nothing to do with this thread or with applying for a provisional licence.

In order to apply for a provisional licence, you need to be normally resident in the UK  and if you have a valid spousal visa and you are living in the UK, then you are normally resident.... you don't need ILR or citizenship to meet the licence requirement.

Just need to wait 185 days before taking your test. I sent off my BRP along with the paperwork as form of ID I figured that would be easier to replace than my passport.