Study guide3 min read

Moving to Alberta: exchanging your driver’s licence

An Alberta driver’s licence is only issued to Alberta residents: people lawfully in Canada who make their home in Alberta. What you need to do depends on where your current licence is from.p. 15

Checked against the Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026) on Oct 7, 2026.

The short version

Moving from another province? You can drive on your old licence for your first 90 days, and must get an Alberta licence and hand in the old one within that time.p. 16
It is illegal to hold more than one driver’s licence.p. 16
Visiting? A valid out-of-province licence lets you drive the same class of vehicle here for up to one year.p. 16
A licence from a country with a reciprocal agreement can be exchanged for a Class 5 licence.p. 16

From another province or territory

Use your out-of-province licence for your first 90 days living here. Within those 90 days, apply for an Alberta licence and surrender the old one.p. 16
Depending on your licence class, equivalency restrictions may apply.p. 16
Class 1, 2 or 4 applicants also need a medical report and a vision screening.p. 16

From the United States

US licence holders, except those holding Class 5, 6 or 7, must complete all requirements. You’ll need proof-of-residency documents; your local registry agent can give you the details.p. 16

From a country with a reciprocal agreement

Countries with reciprocal licensing agreements, and the classes they coverp. 16
Country	Licence class
Australia	Class 5 and 6
Austria	Class 5
Belgium	Class 5
France	Class 5
Germany	Class 5
Isle of Man	Class 5 and 6
Japan	Class 5
Netherlands	Class 5
Republic of Ireland	Class 5 and 6
Republic of Korea	Class 5
Switzerland	Class 5 and 6
Taiwan	Class 5
United Kingdom: Northern Ireland	Class 5 and 6
United Kingdom: England, Scotland and Wales	Class 5

A valid licence from these countries can be exchanged for a Class 5 licence when you show a valid licence of the equivalent class.p. 16
Every other licence class needs testing and a vision screening.p. 17
You must disclose any medical condition or physical disability that may affect your driving, and bring immigration and residency documents with acceptable identification.p. 17

From any other country

You can apply to have your previous driving history credited to your Alberta record. If it’s approved, you skip the GDL program and can take the Class 5 road test without holding a Class 7 learner’s licence for a year. Ask at any registry agent office about the process.p. 17

Applicants from outside Canada or the United States must show suitable immigration documents to be considered residents.p. 16

Starting from scratch instead? The Alberta Class 7 knowledge test: what to expect.

Students and visitors

A full-time student doesn’t need an Alberta licence if:p. 17

they are licensed for that type or class of vehicle where they normally livep. 17
they carry the documents their home jurisdiction requires, or keep them in the vehiclep. 17
they carry proof they are a full-time student in Albertap. 17

Visitors with a valid out-of-province licence or permit can drive the same class of vehicle here for up to one year without an Alberta licence.p. 16