Before you start

Valid foreign or out-of-province driver's licence
Proof of identity and Ontario residency
Certified translation if the licence is not in English or French
Where required, a letter of authentication or driving record from the issuing authority

Step-by-step

1
Check whether your jurisdiction has an exchange agreement
Ontario exchanges with every Canadian province and territory and with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Japan, Kosovo, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United States.
OnlineWho: You
2
Book a DriveTest or ServiceOntario appointment
Licence exchange is handled at DriveTest centres. Ontario introduced online booking for licence exchanges, which is worth using — walk-in waits at Toronto-area centres are long.
OnlineWho: You
3
Pass the vision test and hand over your documents
Bring your existing licence, identity documents and any required translation or authentication letter. A vision screening is done at the counter.
In personWho: You
4
If you're from an exchange country: receive a full Class G
With an equivalent class of licence you convert directly to a full G. With under two years of experience you get credit for what you have and enter Level Two (G2) instead.
In personWho: You
5
If you're not: claim your experience credit, then test
From 1 July 2026 you can claim a maximum of 12 months of driving experience by presenting an original valid foreign licence. With 12 months credited you can take the G2 road test immediately, then wait at least a further 12 months before taking the G road test.
In personWho: YouG2 immediately; full G at least 12 months later

Documents you’ll need

Original valid foreign or out-of-province licence
Passport and immigration documents
Proof of Ontario residential address
Certified translation, if the licence is not in English or French
Driving record or letter of authentication, where the exchange requires it

Things most newcomers don’t know

The 1 July 2026 experience-credit change is the headline for anyone outside the agreement list.

Before it, drivers from non-agreement countries served a waiting period inside graduated licensing. Now 12 months of foreign experience can be credited on presentation of an original licence, letting you sit the G2 immediately. Anything written before mid-2026 understates how fast you can progress.

Source: ServiceOntario — Exchange an out-of-province driver's licence

Bring the original licence, not a copy or a replacement.

The experience credit and the exchange both hinge on presenting an original, valid document. People who left the original at home, or replaced a lost licence with a fresh one showing a recent issue date, lose the credit they had actually earned.

Source: ServiceOntario — Exchange an out-of-province driver's licence

A G2 lets you drive alone, so it is not a mere learner permit.

Newcomers often assume they're stuck as passengers for a year. G2 holders drive unaccompanied with restrictions (notably zero blood alcohol and passenger limits for younger drivers) — practically, you have a car and independence long before the full G.

Source: MTO Driver's Handbook

Your driving record from home affects insurance far more than the licence class does.

Ontario insurance is expensive and heavily experience-rated. A letter from your former insurer proving years of claims-free driving can cut premiums substantially — request it before you leave, because it is much harder to obtain afterwards.

Source: community-reported, consistently corroborated

Common mistakes to avoid

Relying on pre-July-2026 guidance about waiting periods for non-agreement jurisdictions.
Arriving without the original licence, or with a recently reissued one that hides your real experience.
Forgetting to request a claims-free letter from your home insurer before departing.
Assuming an International Driving Permit substitutes for an Ontario licence once you're a resident. It doesn't.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.