If you have just immigrated to Ontario from another country, or you are preparing to do so, it is possible for you to exchange your driver’s license for a full Ontario license. Your original license must be from a country with an exchange agreement with Canada and must be higher than a learner’s permit or novice class.
If your country does not have an agreement, you can use your driving experience to get credit toward obtaining your full Ontario license. Your experience will determine how far you can skip through the license program’s mandatory process.
Below is our guide to help you exchange or get credit for your driver’s license.
Countries Eligible for Ontario License Exchange
The following countries have an exchange agreement with Canada:
United States of America, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.
Did You Know?
More than 100,000 immigrants arrive in Ontario every year, especially in Toronto and the surrounding suburbs. That is almost half the total number of new Canadians per year, making Ontario one of the most diverse provinces in the country!
How to Apply for a License Exchange
The application for an exchange must be made in person at an Ontario DriveTest centre or the ServiceOntario location in Toronto at College Park. The requirements needed to complete your application will depend on exactly where you are immigrating from, the type of your license, the documents you can provide, and the amount of experience you have.
Suppose you are immigrating to Ontario from a country that is eligible for a license exchange. In that case, you must provide the following documentation:
- Current License — must be current or expired for less than one year and show the expiry date
- Proof of Identity — must show your legal name, full date of birth, and signature
- Driver’s Abstract — must be dated within the last 6 months and indicate when your license was first issued
All documents must be translated into English or French (see below). You will also have to take an eye test, present the necessary and supporting documentation, fill out a form, and pay the necessary fees. In some circumstances, you might also have to take a written or road test to prove your driving ability meets Ontario’s standards.
How Foreign License Credit Works
Normally, a new Ontario driver must complete the entire program with mandatory testing and wait times between each step. The quickest you can complete the whole program to get a full G license is 20 months.
Suppose you are not eligible for a license exchange. In that case, you might still be eligible to use your years of driving experience as a credit to skip part of the Ontario Graduated License Program. Having more experience and supporting documents means you can skip more of the wait times.
If the driving experience you declared is:
Less than 1 year
- Must take G2 driving exam? Yes – mandatory wait time reduced by credited experience
- Must take full G driving exam? Yes – with full mandatory wait time
More than 1 year, less than 2 years
- Must take G2 driving exam? Yes – with no waiting period
- Must take full G driving exam? Yes – with full mandatory wait time
More than 2 years
- Must take G2 driving exam? No
- Must take full G driving exam? Yes – with no waiting period
Regardless of how much experience you declare, you will have to complete an application process to be granted the foreign license credits.
Useful Tip!
Completing a driving lessons program will lower your insurance rates. It helps show the insurance company that you have professional training and can drive safely, so even if you can get an exchange or license credits and have lots of experience in your home country, it can help you save money in the long run!
How to Apply For Foreign License Credit
To apply for this foreign license credit, you must be 16 years of age or older and complete your application at an Ontario DriveTest location with the following:
- Documentation — the exact requirements as with license exchanges listed above
- Pass a Vision Test — to establish that you can see well enough to drive or if you must legally use eyeglasses to drive
- Pass a Written Test — to prove that you understand Ontario’s driving laws and practices
- Pass One or Two Driving Tests — whether you are asked to pass one or two depends on your experience and documents
- Letter of Authentication — if you declare more than 1 year of experience in your application
The Letter of Authentication is proof of experience and must come from the same region where you were issued your foreign license. The letter must be from the official letterhead dated within 6 months of your application from an embassy, consulate or High Commissioner’s Office representing the legal authority of your home region. It must also be translated into English or French (see below).
Useful Tip!
If you don’t have the documents to prove your driving experience at the time of the application, you can go forward with the application and have the experience added later. This way, you can start the application and finish the process earlier.
Where to Find Licensed Translators
If you need to have your documents translated, you can find licensed translators in the major towns and cities across Ontario, such as Toronto or Mississauga. When submitting a translated document, you must also show proof that the translator was qualified when submitting a translated document. There are slightly different qualifications that a translator must have depending on what part of the province you’re in.
In North and Southwestern Ontario, translators must have one of the following qualifications:
- Employment (current or former) as an interpreter
- Membership (current or former) of a professional interpreter association
- Experience as an interpreter as a member of the clergy
For the rest of the province, all interpreters and translators must be certified or accredited with a professional association in Ontario (such as the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario) or directly from the federal or provincial government.
For more information on the requirements and a breakdown of each region, you can check the DriveTest website here.
Summary
No matter where in the world you are immigrating from, if you have driving experience, the government of Ontario has made it easier for you to get your full license quicker than going through the process from the start. Make sure you do your research to know what exchange or credits you are eligible for and what documents you will need to provide to complete your application. Good luck!
You might also be interested in these guides:
Ontario Driver’s License Guide
Guide to Ontario Driver’s License Tests
How to Buy a Car in Ontario as a New Immigrant?
Buying a Car with No Credit in Ontario?
