Exchange an out-of-province driver’s licence

New residents

When you move to Ontario, you can use a valid licence from another province, state or country for 60 days. After 60 days, you need to switch to an Ontario driver’s licence.

To get a full licence, you need to meet certain requirements. The process depends on:

• how long you have been driving
• where you were licensed before

Exchange a driver’s licence

You can exchange an out-of-province licence for an Ontario licence, if you are re-locating from:

• any Canadian province or territory
• Canadian Armed Forces
• U.S. States
• Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Taiwan

When you can’t exchange

You cannot exchange:

• a driver’s licence from a country that does not have an exchange agreement in place with Ontario (it is not listed in the section above)
• a learner’s permit or novice-class driver’s licence from another province, state or country
• a motorcycle class driver’s licence from Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, Isle of Man, or Republic of Ireland for a Class M Motorcycle licence, because the exchange agreements mentioned above do not include motorcycle class driver’s licences.

You might still be able to fast-track and get credit for previous driving experience.

You need to provide the right documents, when you apply for an Ontario driver’s licence.

Proof of driving experience

You can self-declare one year of driving experience, by showing a valid, original foreign driver’s licence.

If you want to earn credit for more than one year of driving experience, you will also need an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver’s licence, confirming that the licence is authentic. This letter needs to be written in English or French.

You do not need a letter if you are exchanging a novice licence from another province.

How to apply

To switch your licence for an Ontario driver’s licence, you need to apply in-person at a DriveTest centre or the ServiceOntario Bay and College location in downtown Toronto.

You need to:

• take an eye test
• bring originals of your accepted identity documents showing your legal name, date of birth and signature
• bring your original, valid out-of-province/foreign driver’s licence*
• bring any original supporting documents that show proof of your driving experience in English or French
• pay the applicable fees
• fill out an application form (where you will state how long you have been driving)

You might also need to take a written test or road tests, before you get a full licence. It depends on your circumstances.

Find a DriveTest centre

Visit ServiceOntario Bay and College (Toronto)

How can I get my foreign licence translated?

Full list: accepted identity documents

*Definition: a valid out-of-province licence

An out-of-province/foreign driver’s licence needs to:

• be valid
• display a visible expiry date
• be written in either English or French. If it is not, you need to get it translated by a certified translator. The translation must be current – dated within six months of when you apply for an Ontario licence

What tests do I take?

You could need to take certain driving tests before you get a full driver’s licence. It depends on:

• how long you have been driving
• if the valid driver’s licence you have was issued in a country, province or state that does or does not have an exchange agreement in place with Ontario

Fully licensed with 2+ years driving experience (with exchange)

You only need to take an eye test, when you apply. After you pass this test, you get a full licence.

Less than 2 years driving experience (with exchange)

You need to take:

• an eye test, when you apply
• one road test (the G2 road test)

You will not be able to do the G2 road test right away. You need to wait until you gain two, full years of driving experience. For example, if you had a licence for 21 months in your home province, state or country, you can do the G2 road test after 3 months in Ontario. After you pass the G2 road test, you get a full licence.

While you wait, you can drive with your G2 licence, under certain conditions.

Learning to drive: graduated licensing (G1 and G2)

2+ year driving experience (no exchange)

When you apply for an Ontario driver’s licence, you need to:

• take a written test about rules of the road and traffic signs
• take an eye test

After you pass the written and eye tests, you need to take one road test (G2 road test). You can book the G2 road test right away.

After you pass the G2 road test, you get a full licence.

Under 2 years driving experience (no exchange)

When you apply for an Ontario driver’s licence, you need to:

• take a written test about rules of the road and traffic signs
• take an eye test

Before you get a full licence, you also need to take two road tests (G1 and G2).

You can book the first road test (G1 road test), after you pass the written and eye tests.

After you pass your G1 road test, you cannot take your G2 road test right away. You need to wait until you have one, full year of driving experience. For example, if you’ve had your foreign licence for 8 months, you can take your G2 road test after 4 months in Ontario. After you pass the G2 road test, you get a full licence.

While you wait, you can drive with your G2 licence, under certain conditions.

Learning to drive: graduated licensing (G1 and G2)

How can I get my foreign driver’s licence translated?

You need to bring your out-of-country driver’s licence to an approved translator.

Approved translators include: non-Canadian embassies, consulates, or a high commissioner’s office, but do not include other translators from the country where the licence was issued.

Translators must provide proof of their credentials.

A translator is qualified for clients in all Ontario regions to use, if they meet one of these requirements:

• They have credentials that prove they are, or have been employed in translation services
• They are, or have been a member of a professional association that provides translation services (such as ATIO, the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario)
• They are a clergy member with experience as a translator