Ontario has licence exchange agreements with certain provinces, states, and countries. A licence exchange agreement means that a jurisdiction’s licensing processes are secure, similar to Ontario’s, and in alignment with Ontario’s road safety goals.
Licence Exchanges – Cars, Trucks, Vans
Licence Exchanges – Cars, Small Trucks, and Vans
If you are from one of these eligible jurisdictions, you can apply for a licence exchange for an Ontario Class G licence. The type of licence you receive varies depending on how much driving experience you have. If you do not have at least two years of Class G equivalent driving experience, you may receive a Class G2 licence instead of a full Class G licence, for example.
If you have a licence from a country that does not have a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, you may be eligible to receive credit for your foreign driving experience. However, you are still required to pass all applicable tests to earn your Ontario driver’s licence. In some cases, a letter of authentication is required from the jurisdiction. The letter must contain specific features and details related to your licensing experience in order to be accepted.
Providing original, appropriate documentation and identification is important for completing the licence exchange. Some of this documentation may take several weeks, or even months, to obtain. Gather this documentation before you move to Ontario or initiate the process as soon as you arrive.
Note:
The application process varies for those pursuing a car, motorcycle, or commercial licence:
Canadian and Foreign Licence Applications and Exchanges – Overview
Licence Exchanges for Drivers of Motorcycles
Countries with Exchange Agreements for Cars, Small Trucks, and Vans
Jurisdictions with a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, as well as the documentation requirements for each of those locations, follow. These licence exchange agreements are related to driving cars, small trucks, and vans. There are different agreements and requirements if you want to get a driver’s licence for a motorcycle or commercial vehicle.
If you do not see your country of origin in this list, you must apply for a new driver’s licence and complete all the relevant steps of the graduated licensing program applicable to your circumstances. You may get credit for previous driving experience.
Licence Combinations
A driver may hold a combination of commercial licences. For example, you can hold a Class A and B if you meet the requirements for both. Your licence designation, in this case, would be shown as AB. The driver examinations for these licences are completed separately. Similarly, a class or combination of licence classes may be combined with a Class M licence authorizing the operation of motorcycles (e.g., AM, EM, ABM, and so on).
Canadian Provinces and Territories; Canadian Forces Europe
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
United States: District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont, and Washington
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Driving abstract dated within the last 6 months. The driving abstract must be original and must indicate the date the licence was first issued. Photocopies are not acceptable. Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
United States: All U.S. States Not Listed Above
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• An interprovincial record exchange (IRE) search is mandatory for all applicants from these states and may present a delay in processing an exchange if the search is unsuccessful. A DriveTest employee will conduct the IRE search. However, we recommend that you obtain a driving record (dated within 6 months of your application and indicating the date the licence was first issued) to prevent any delays in processing. The driving record must be an original. Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your licence must be surrendered.
Australia
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Original abstract from your jurisdiction dated within 6 months to complete the exchange. Some abstracts may be subject to approval before the exchange can take place, and this approval process may not be immediate.
• Drivers from Australia (including Victoria and Tasmania) must provide an original abstract/letter, dated within the last 6 months, which contains all of the following features: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; name and date of birth; driver’s licence number; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and the date the abstract was issued. Photocopies are not acceptable. Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Austria, Germany, and Switzerland
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Belgium
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Authentication document issued by the Belgian municipality where you have been registered last. The authentication document must be original, dated within the last 6 months, and have a stamp. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
France
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Driving abstract dated within 6 months of the application and obtained from the French licensing authority that issued the original licence. Consulates are unable to supply this document. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Great Britain (United Kingdom)
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Your current licence must be surrendered. If you have misplaced your licence, you must present an original Certificate of Entitlement, dated within the last 6 months and issued by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), for the exchange to take place. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic certificates (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• For Isle of Man, a Driver Licence Verification History Search issued within the last six months is required. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• For Northern Ireland, a Certificate of Entitlement issued within the last six months by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) is required. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• For the Republic of Ireland, you must provide an original Driver’s Statement/Letter of Entitlement issued in the last six months. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Japan
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Certificate from Japanese Consulate/Embassy or an international driving permit. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic certificates (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, or facsimile) issued by the Consulate/Embassy are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the Consulate; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Japanese licences do not need to be surrendered.
South Korea
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• If the licence is expired for less than one year (Korean driver’s licences are valid for one year from the second date of the aptitude test period indicated on the licence), an original Letter of Confirmation from the Korean Consulate or Korean Transport Authority (National Police Agency of the Republic of Korea) is required. Documents presented must be original, translated into English or French by an MTO-approved translator or the Korean Consulate. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic driver’s abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
New Zealand
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid, full Class 1 driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• An original Certificate of Particulars dated within six months preceding the date of application for an Ontario driver’s licence.
• The Certificate of Particulars must include a stamp and signature. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Taiwan
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full B class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Applicants must also present an original Verification Certificate of Driver’s Licence dated within the last six months. Photocopies are not acceptable.
• Electronic driver abstracts (e.g. obtained or transmitted by email, facsimile, or downloaded from licensing jurisdiction website) are acceptable provided they contain the driver’s full name or driver’s licence number, and the following must be contained on either the driver’s licence or the abstract: letterhead, logo, emblem, or coat of arms of the issuing government body or licensing authority; date first licensed; date of birth; licence class(es); licence status; expiry date; and date the abstract was issued.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Exchanges and Driving Experience
Anyone looking to exchange a licence, regardless of the place of origin, must complete a vision test. A road test may be required as well, depending on the amount of driving experience.
If you have less than 2 years of experience from a reciprocating jurisdiction, you may be eligible for a Class G2 licence. However, driving experience from other jurisdictions may be combined to reduce the mandatory wait times for the Class G road test (to earn your full Class G licence). For example, if you held a full class licence in Newfoundland for 1 year and a full class licence in Spain for 5 years, your Newfoundland licence would be exchanged for a Class G2 in Ontario but if you brought your Spanish licence and an authenticity letter into a DriveTest Centre, you would be able to go for your Class G road test right away. Following are some guidelines based on driving experience.
Class G Equivalent Driving Experience: Less Than 2 Years in the Last 3 Years
- Exchange your licence for an Ontario Class G2 licence.
- Pass a road test after you have gained a total of two years of driving experience to earn a full Class G licence.
- Present a valid driver’s licence, or one that has been expired for less than one year.
- If indicated in the list above, provide a driver’s history or abstract to confirm the status of your licence and length of driving experience.
Class G Equivalent Driving Experience: More Than 2 Years in the Last 3 Years
- Exchange your licence for a full Ontario Class G licence.
- No road test required.
- Present a valid driver’s licence, or one that has been expired for less than one year.
- If indicated in the list above, provide a driver’s history or abstract to confirm the status of your licence and length of driving experience.
Process for Exchanging Your Car, Small Truck, or Van Licence
Steps vary depending on your circumstances. The process, at a high level, follows.
- Gather the required documentation and identification for your licence exchange.
You must bring acceptable ID as well as any documentation listed above. Some of this documentation may take several weeks, or even months, to obtain.You must present your valid driver’s licence. You can use Canadian and U.S. driver’s licences as proof of driving experience. We can accept an expired licence as long as it has not been expired for over one year. If the licence has been expired over one year, you must enter the graduated licensing system; however, you may be credited for driving experience gained within the past three years. - Apply for a driver’s licence at a DriveTest Centre.
You must bring your acceptable ID and complete an application form while you are there. - Successfully complete a vision test at the DriveTest Centre.
Make sure to bring any corrective lenses with you to the DriveTest Centre. - Pay the applicable fees at a DriveTest Centre.
Fees are set by the Ministry of Transportation and are subject to change. Fees can be paid by cash, credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express), debit card, certified business cheque, certified personal cheque, bank draft or money order (each made payable to Serco Canada Inc.), or traveller’s cheque (Canadian or American).Please note that, if required, retests and subsequent attempts will incur additional charges. - Obtain your temporary driver’s licence from an agent at a DriveTest Centre.
Once you have met the requirements, you will receive a temporary paper driver’s licence and must surrender your old licence. Your new, official, plastic Ontario licence photo card will come in the mail.
