If you moved to Ontario, you can use a valid driver’s licence from another province, state or country for 60 days. After that, you must obtain a local licence.
To obtain a full licence, you must meet certain criteria. It depends on:
•the length of your driving experience
•where you obtained your licence
Replacing your driver’s licence
You can exchange your licence issued outside Ontario for an Ontario licence if you relocated from:
•any other Canadian province or territory
•the Canadian Armed Forces
•the United States
•Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, Japan, South Korea, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Taiwan.
Proof of driving experience
You can claim one year of driving experience by providing an original valid foreign licence.
If you want to receive credit for more than one year of experience, you will need an official letter from your country’s government or the agency that issued your driver’s licence. The letter must confirm the authenticity of the licence. It must be written either in English or French.
You will not need such a letter when exchanging a recently issued licence from another province.
How to apply
To exchange your driver’s licence for an Ontario licence, you must apply in person at a DriveTest centre or a ServiceOntario location in Toronto.
You will need to:
•pass a vision test
•provide original acceptable identity documents that include your first and last name, date of birth and signature
•provide the original valid driver’s licence issued in another province or country, showing its expiry date (the document must be in English or French; otherwise, you will need a certified, up-to-date translation completed no more than six months before applying)
•provide the originals of all supporting documents confirming your driving experience, in English or French
•pay all required fees
•complete an application form indicating the length of your driving experience
You may also need to take a written test and a road test before you receive the highest-level licence—it depends on your situation.
Find a DriveTest centre
Visit ServiceOntario Bay and College (Toronto)
How to translate a foreign driver’s licence?
Full list of acceptable identity documents
