Driving in Canada on a foreign licence

How long your licence is valid

• Tip Other provinces and territories have their own rules – check with the licensing office where you will live.

Exchange without a test

• Ontario exchanges licences without tests from: other Canadian provinces and territories, US states, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Isle of Man, Japan, Kosovo, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and Ukraine. Source
• Alberta exchanges a Class 5 licence without tests from: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Licences from the USA and Ukraine are covered by separate rules. Source
• British Columbia: if your licence is from one of ICBC's exchange jurisdictions, you don't need tests. ICBC lists them on its page. Source
• Québec: licences from other Canadian provinces and the USA can usually be exchanged without a course or tests if valid or expired less than three years ago. Licences from countries with an agreement with Québec can also be exchanged, though some holders still take exams. Source

If your country is not on the list

• Ontario: you pass a vision test, a knowledge test and the G2 road test, then wait 12 months before the G road test. Since 1 July 2026 you can get up to one year of driving-experience credit with an authentication letter from your licensing authority. Source
• British Columbia: you take the knowledge test and the road test. ICBC decides whether you need a translation. Source
• Alberta: you pass the Class 7 knowledge test, then a road test. Source
• Québec: you pass the knowledge test and the road test, and you must have held a car licence for at least one year before settling in Québec. Source

Official fees

Only where the provincial page states them.

International driving permit

• Tip If you want an international driving permit, ask about it in the country that issued your licence before you leave.

Other countries