TORONTO, June 29, 2026 – Ontario has updated its guidance for exchanging foreign driver’s licences. New residents with a valid foreign licence may receive credit for up to one year of driving experience by presenting the original licence. Applicants seeking recognition for more than one year must also submit an authentication document issued by the government or agency that originally issued the licence. New residents from China and other jurisdictions without a licence exchange agreement with Ontario should note that incomplete documentation may affect when they can take a G2 or G road test. However, recognized driving experience does not mean an applicant can automatically receive a full G licence.
After moving to Ontario, new residents may continue using a valid licence from another province, a U.S. state or a foreign jurisdiction for 60 days. After that period, they must obtain an Ontario driver’s licence to continue driving in the province.
Jurisdictions with direct licence exchange agreements with Ontario include other Canadian provinces and territories, U.S. states, and certain countries and regions such as Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The Ontario licence class an applicant can receive will still depend on the class of the original licence and the amount of recognized driving experience.
Applicants from jurisdictions without an exchange agreement generally need to pass a vision test and knowledge test and complete the applicable road test based on the driving experience Ontario recognizes.
Presenting an original and valid foreign driver’s licence can provide credit for up to one year of driving experience. Applicants seeking recognition for more than one year must also submit an authentication document confirming that the licence is valid and providing details of the relevant driving record.
The authentication document must be issued by the government department or agency that issued the foreign licence and must be written in English or French. Documents issued by an embassy or consulate may also be accepted if they meet the requirements. Applicants should confirm with DriveTest in advance whether the document’s format and contents are acceptable.
If the foreign licence is not written in English or French, the applicant must also provide a translation completed by a qualified translator. Ontario requires the translation to have been issued within six months before the application date and to be submitted together with the original licence.
Recognized driving experience can affect the testing process. For example, applicants with less than two years of driving experience may still need to wait before becoming eligible for the full G road test. Those with two or more years of recognized experience may qualify to take the applicable road test sooner.
Applicants must complete the process in person at a DriveTest centre or at the designated ServiceOntario location at Bay and College streets in downtown Toronto. They should bring identification, the original foreign licence, proof of driving experience and any required translation, and be prepared to pay the applicable fees.
Because licence status, issuing jurisdiction and driving experience differ between applicants, new residents should review the specific requirements before preparing their documents. A personal statement or an ordinary photocopy may not be sufficient to support recognition of more than one year of driving experience.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
