How Do You Transfer a Foreign Driver's Licence to Ontario?

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, drivers from certain countries can exchange their foreign licence directly for an Ontario licence without taking a road test. Countries with reciprocal exchange agreements include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and several others. The full list is available at DriveTest centres. If your country is on the list and you have at least 24 months of driving experience, you may qualify for a direct exchange to a full G licence.

Under Ontario law, you can drive with a valid foreign licence for up to 60 days after becoming a resident of Ontario. After 60 days, your foreign licence is no longer valid for driving in Ontario, and you must hold an Ontario licence. The 60-day clock starts from the date you establish residency, not from the date you enter Canada. It is important to begin the transfer process early, as DriveTest wait times for road tests can be several weeks or longer.

The DriveTest centre requires several documents to process a foreign licence transfer. According to the Ministry of Transportation, you should bring:

If your country does not have a reciprocal exchange agreement with Ontario, you must go through the standard testing process. This means passing the G1 written knowledge test and, depending on your experience, possibly a G2-level road test. However, if you can document 24 or more months of licensed driving experience in your home country, you may be exempt from the mandatory waiting periods between licence stages. According to the Ministry of Transportation, experienced foreign drivers can often compress the timeline significantly compared to new drivers starting from scratch.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required to drive in Ontario during your first 60 days, provided your foreign licence is valid and written in English or French. However, if your licence is in another language, an IDP serves as an official translation and can be useful both for driving during the 60-day window and as supporting documentation at the DriveTest centre. An IDP does not replace the need to obtain an Ontario licence after 60 days. It is a temporary supplement, not a standalone licence.