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Getting an Ontario driver's licence as a newcomer

How long your foreign licence is valid, exchange agreements, graduated licensing and getting credit for experience.

6 min read · Last reviewed Oct 2026

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If you have a valid driver's licence from another country, you can use it in Ontario for 60 days after you arrive. After that, you need an Ontario licence to keep driving.

If your country has an exchange agreement

Ontario has licence exchange agreements with some countries and Canadian provinces. If yours is one of them and you have enough driving experience, you may be able to exchange your licence for a full Ontario G licence without taking road tests.

Graduated licensing

  1. G1: pass a vision test and a written test on the rules of the road. You can drive only with an experienced driver beside you.
  2. G2: pass a road test. You can drive alone, with some limits.
  3. G: pass a second, more advanced road test for a full licence.

Where to go

Knowledge tests and road tests happen at DriveTest centres. Bring your foreign licence, proof of identity and status, and any proof of experience. The official Driver's Handbook covers everything on the written test.

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