Driver’s licence: your time is limited

Your foreign licence only works for a short time after you become a resident.

Where to go

Your provincial licensing office. The link and deadline appear once you choose your province.

What to bring

• Your original licence
• International Driving Permit if you have one
• A driving-record letter from home if requested
• ID and status document

What to do, step by step

1. Check your province’s deadline — e.g. 90 days in B.C., 6 months in Québec.
2. Plan for a knowledge test and a road test: no Arab or African country is on the licence-exchange lists of the provinces we reviewed. Details are in the cars section.
3. Book tests early; appointments fill up.
4. Before driving a car you must have valid insurance. Compare quotes and ask whether your driving history counts.

Note: driving without insurance is illegal in Canada. An IDP is only a translation; it doesn’t replace your licence.