AB Driver
Exchanging a driver's licence from another province or country
If you move to Alberta to live, you must get an Alberta operator's licence within 90 days of the move, even if you travel outside Alberta during those 90 days. The rule is the same for licences from other provinces, from US states and from other countries.
From another Canadian province or territory: you do not need to take a knowledge test or a road test. You get the same class you held. If you have less than two years of Class 5 or Class 6 experience, you may be placed in the graduated licensing program.
From a US state: Class 5, 6 and 7 licences are exchanged without additional testing. Other US classes must complete all the tests.
From other countries: the exchange page lists these jurisdictions as exchangeable without a knowledge or road test, for the class shown. Class 5 and 6: Australia, Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Northern Ireland. Class 5: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Japan, Kingdom of Denmark, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales). Ukraine is listed separately for Class B or BE.
Mainland China does not appear on any official list. Hong Kong is not on the list either; the GDL exemption guide asks Hong Kong drivers for an original Certificate of Driving Licence Particulars from the Hong Kong Transport Department.
The official sources disagree on the list. This page follows the exchange page, which is the current one. The Spring 2026 Driver's Guide shows only 14 jurisdictions. The GDL Exemption User Guide (March 2026) shows the same 41 plus Ukraine, the United States and all Canadian provinces and territories, and adds that exchanges from the European Economic Area and New Zealand need at least 24 months of experience.
If your licence is from a jurisdiction not on the list, you must pass the knowledge test, surrender your valid licence and pass a road test. The Driver's Guide says a vision assessment is required before any Alberta licence; the exchange page does not mention it.
New residents with a foreign licence can apply to the GDL Exemption Program, which is reviewed by Service Alberta in about 10 business days. If the licences you surrender show two years or more of experience, you receive a full Class 5 licence after the road test. With less experience you receive a Class 5-GDL licence. The road test is never waived.
All documents must be in English or come with a written translation from an Approved Document Translator. An International Driving Permit is not accepted as a translation, and French documents also need an English translation.