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Driving experience for Out-of-Country applicants - Questions & Answers

Ontario Ministry of Transportation Clarifies the Requirements for Recognizing Driving Experience for Out-of-Country Applicants

Q. When does the policy clarification for recognizing driving experience for Out-of-Country applicants come into effect?

A. The policy clarification comes into effect May 1, 2006.

Q. What class of licence does this policy clarification apply to?

A. The policy clarification applies to Class G licences only.

Q. Who does the policy clarification affect?

A. Effective May 1, 2006, the policy clarification applies to all applicants coming from either a foreign jurisdiction that does not have a driver's licence reciprocal agreement with Ontario or a U.S. state that is not part of the Inter-provincial Record Exchange (IRE).

This policy clarification does not apply to drivers from the following jurisdictions:

  • Canadian provinces and territories;
  • Canadian Forces Europe;
  • U.S. States (with the exception of Arizona, District of Columbia, Illinois, New Jersey and Vermont); and,
  • Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland.
Q. How does the policy clarification affect an applicant who applied for an Ontario licence in the period from May 1, 2005 to May 10, 2006?

A. Applicants who applied for a G1 licence on or since May 1, 2005 are eligible to re-declare their licensed driving experience at a DriveTest Centre.

Applicants who applied in the period from May 1, 2005 to May 10, 2006 may return to a DriveTest Centre and re-declare their experience. Applicants who declare 12 months or more experience will be eligible for recognition of that experience against the G1 12-month mandatory waiting time and may apply to take the G1 road test.

Q. Why has the ministry clarified the policy for recognizing driving experience from the requirements instituted on January 11, 2006?

A. Following the implementation of the January 11, 2006 authentication requirements, the Ministry consulted with consulates with the highest, recent immigration to Ontario. In response, effective May 1, 2006, the Ministry will clarify the foreign driving experience authentication policy. The clarification will meet the needs of the Consulate community and of Out-of-Country applicants while maintaining the integrity of the Graduated Licensing System and road safety priorities.

Q. What are the first steps in applying for an Ontario licence?

A. All applicants for an Ontario driver's licence are required to present a valid foreign driver's licence, pass a vision test and a written knowledge test regarding Ontario's traffic rules, pay all applicable fees and provide proof of identity. Applicants who fulfill these requirements can obtain a G1 licence.

Applicants are required to provide adequate proof of licensed foreign driving experience. However, if that is not possible, applicants may declare their licensed foreign driving experience on the driver's licence application form.

All applicants must declare their licensed driving experience on the driver's licence application form.

Q. How will the policy clarification assist Out-of-Country driver's licence applicants?

A. Out-of-Country driver's licence applicants who self-declare 12 months or more licensed driving experience will be deemed to have fulfilled the G1 mandatory waiting period. Upon successfully passing the G1 road test, they will receive their G2 licence, and be subject to the conditions of the G2 licences, but they will not be subject to the six G1 licensing conditions.

The G1 licensing conditions are:
  • Maintain a zero blood alcohol level while driving;
  • Be accompanied by a fully licensed driver, who has at least four years driving experience, and a blood alcohol level of less than .05 per cent, in case he/she needs to take over the wheel;
  • Ensure the accompanying driver is the only other person in the front seat;
  • Ensure the number of passengers in the vehicle is limited to the number of working seat belts;
  • Refrain from driving on Ontario's "400-series" highways or on high speed expressways such as the Queen Elizabeth Way, Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner Expressway, E.C. Row Expressway and the Conestoga Parkway;
  • Refrain from driving between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
The G2 licensing conditions are:
  • Drivers must hold a G2 licence for a minimum of 12 months before they can attempt the G2 road test. At this level, drivers have more privileges because of their driving experience. G2 drivers may drive without an accompanying driver on all Ontario roads anytime. However, G2 drivers are still required to:
    • Maintain a zero blood alcohol level while driving;
    • Ensure the number of passengers in the vehicle is limited to the number of working seat belts.
    • In addition, the number of young passengers that teen G2 drivers can carry is limited from midnight to 5 a.m. as follows:
    • Initially, G2 drivers 19 or under can carry only one passenger aged 19 or under;
    • After the first six months, and until the G2 driver earns a full G licence or turns 20, they can carry only three passengers aged 19 or under.
    • These restrictions will not apply if the G2 driver is accompanied by a full G licensed driver (with at least four years driving experience) in the front seat, or if the passengers are immediate family members.
Q. What are the requirements for an applicant declaring less than 12 months licensed driving experience within the preceding three years?

A. The amount of driving experience declared on the driver's licence application will be recognized for those applicants declaring less than 12 months licensed driving experience within the preceding three years.

In order to undertake the G1 road test, applicants must have 12 months licensed driving experience. If an applicant takes a ministry-approved Beginner Driver Education course, the mandatory waiting time, prior to taking the G1 road test, will be reduced from 12 to 8 months.

The 8-12 months may be a combination of driving experience in a foreign jurisdiction and experience in Ontario.

Q. What are the requirements for an applicant declaring more than 12 months licensed driving experience but less than 24 months within the preceding three years?

A. The ministry will recognize 12 months of driving experience and the applicant may proceed to take the G1 road test. Applicants who successfully pass the G1 road test will receive a G2 licence. The applicant would be subject to the G2 conditions of the licence but would not be subject to the conditions of the G1 licence.

To obtain recognition for more than 12 months licensed driving experience, applicants are required to obtain written authentication of their foreign driving experience from the originating licensing agency, or from the Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioners' offices representing the jurisdiction. The authentication letter must be on official letterhead and be written in either English or French.

The ministry will recognize the applicant's foreign driving experience as certified on the authentication letter and the mandatory 12-month waiting period applicable to G2 road testing will be reduced by the amount of the certified experience. If the applicant does not provide a letter of authentication, the applicant must fulfil the 12-month mandatory waiting period prior to taking the G2 road test.

Q. What does an applicant do if they fail their G1 road test?

A. If an applicant fails their G1 road test, they may reschedule to take the test again. Applicants who are unsuccessful at the G1 road test must wait 10 days before reattempting the test.

Q. What are the requirements for an applicant declaring more than 24 months or more driving experience within the preceding three years?

A. To obtain recognition for more than 12 months driving experience, applicants are required to obtain written authentication of their foreign driving experience from the originating licensing agency, or from the Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioners' offices representing the jurisdiction. The authentication letter must be on official letterhead and be written in either English or French.

The ministry will recognize the applicant's foreign driving experience as certified on the authentication letter and will have the option of attempting the G1 or G2 exit road tests (mandatory waiting times are waived).

If the applicant does not provide a letter of authentication, the applicant must pass the G1 road test. The applicant must fulfill the 12-month waiting period prior to taking G2 road test.

Upon successfully passing the G2 exit road test, the applicant will be issued a G licence.

Q. What must an applicant do (who has more than 24 months authenticated driving experience) if they elect to take the G2 road test and fail?

A. If an applicant with more than 24 months of authenticated driving experience fails the G2 road test, they must schedule and pass the G1 road test before re-attempting the G2 road test again.

Q. In what circumstances does an applicant require a letter authenticating their driving experience?

A. To obtain recognition for more than 12 months driving experience, applicants are required to obtain written authentication of their foreign driving experience from the originating licensing agency, or from the Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioners' offices representing the jurisdiction. The authentication letter must be on official letterhead and be written in either English or French.

Q. What must a letter of authentication state?

A. The letter of authentication must state clearly that it is certifying the duration of the applicant's driving experience, and that the applicant holds a valid licence from that jurisdiction. The licence cannot be expired or suspended.

For purposes of recognizing licensed driving experience, translation of the data presented on the foreign driver's licence is not sufficient as the licence may only indicate the date the licence was issued, not the driver's experience.

Q. Where does an applicant self-declare their driving experience?

A. An applicant self-declares the number of months of licensed driving experience in the appropriate section of the driver's licence application form.

Q. What are the consequences of making a false statement on the driver's application form?

A. If an individual is found to have falsely stated his/her licensed foreign driving experience, the individual would be subject to prosecution for making a false statement under the Highway Traffic Act. This offence carries a fine of up to $5000 and imprisonment up to 30 days (or both) and, in addition, the person's licence may be suspended for up to 6 months, in addition to penalties under the Criminal Code of Canada or other laws.

Q. Who has the ministry communicated this policy clarification to?

A. The ministry has communicated the May 1, 2006 policy clarification to the Consulate community in Ontario, Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, the Ontario Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade, the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Ontario MPPs, providers of ministry-approved Beginner Driver Education courses, and ethnic community media outlets.

For more information about exchanging driver's licences from another jurisdiction, please visit the DriveTest website (www.drivetest.ca) or telephone 1-800-387-3445 (English), or 1-800-461-4803 (French).

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