Your driving licence in Canada: exchange in BC and Alberta, new tests in Ontario
Whether you can exchange your Dutch driving licence without tests depends in Canada on the province. British Columbia and Alberta have an exchange agreement with the Netherlands and give you 90 days; Ontario does not have that agreement and gives you 60 days, after which you go through the full testing route. And everywhere you hand in your Dutch licence.
Whether you keep driving on your Dutch licence in Canada is decided by the province. In British Columbia and Alberta the Netherlands is on the exchange list: you exchange your licence within 90 days, without a knowledge or road test. In Ontario the Netherlands is not on it. There you may drive on your Dutch licence for 60 days, and after that you take a vision test, a knowledge test and two road tests, at least twelve months apart. What all three have in common, and what almost nobody expects: you hand in your Dutch licence.
Which province exchanges, and how quickly must you do it?
| British Columbia | Alberta | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands on the exchange list | yes, except licences from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten | yes, for the car (Class 5) | no |
| Deadline after settling | 90 days | 90 days, even if you travel during that time | 60 days |
| Tests | none | none | vision test, knowledge test, G2 road test, and after at least 12 months the G test |
| Motorcycle licence | the list names no exception for the Netherlands | no: Class 5 only | no exchange |
| Less than two years of driving experience | you enter the Graduated Licensing Program | you may enter the Graduated Driver Licensing program | — |
| Your Dutch licence | hand it in | hand it in, you do not get it back | bring the original to the application |
How does it work in British Columbia?
After your move you have 90 days to switch your valid licence to a British Columbia licence. The Netherlands is on the list of countries ICBC exchanges with, with one exception: licences from the former Antilles, that is Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten, fall outside it.
You need proof of at least two years of driving experience with a full-privilege licence. If you cannot show that, you get a licence with the restrictions of the Graduated Licensing Program. You use most Canadian immigration documents as primary identification, plus a secondary one.
One advantage you should know about: in British Columbia ICBC is also the car insurer, and counts up to 15 years of driving experience towards your premium if you show an acceptable record with the date you got your licence. So arrange that record before you leave.
How does it work in Alberta?
If you live in Alberta permanently, you exchange your licence within 90 days of settling, even if you travel outside Alberta during that period. This is done at a registry agent. The Netherlands is on the list for Class 5, the ordinary car licence; a motorcycle licence is not exchanged. You need proof of two or more years of driving experience for a full Class 5 licence, plus proof of your address in Alberta and of your legal status in Canada.
Why do I have to take tests again in Ontario?
Because Ontario has no exchange agreement with the Netherlands. That is striking, because Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Denmark and Switzerland are on Ontario's list. For a Dutch driver it means: after 60 days you enter the graduated system, with a vision test, a knowledge test and the G2 road test, and only after at least twelve months the final G test.
Since 1 July 2026 there is some relief. With your valid Dutch licence and an official letter from the authority that issued it, confirming that it is authentic, in English or French, you get up to one year of driving experience recognised. You apply in person at a DriveTest centre or the ServiceOntario office at Bay and College in Toronto, with your original licence, your identity documents and proof of your driving experience in English or French. Since 11 May 2026 you also declare that Ontario is your primary residence and that you are in Canada legally.
You hand in your Dutch licence. In British Columbia you may hold only one licence; ICBC takes in the foreign one. In Alberta you surrender every licence you hold, including expired ones, and you do not get them back. If you want to keep driving when visiting Europe, check how to arrange that before you exchange, and make a copy of your licence for your own records.
And the car itself?
Taking a Dutch car to Canada rarely works; why is explained in your household goods, your car and your dog to Canada. How the exchange fits between your SIN, your health card and your bank is in your first weeks in Canada. The full order is at /canada.
In Vertrekklaar this is phase 5 of 5 of the journey, step 5.4: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Canada or go straight to step 5.4 in the open plan.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change — when in doubt the source is leading, not this article.
- ICBC — moving to British Columbia from outside Canada, the 90 days and the exchange countries — icbc.com
- Alberta — exchanging a licence from outside Alberta, the 90 days and the exchange list — alberta.ca
- Ontario — exchanging an out-of-province driving licence, the 60 days and the countries with an exchange agreement — ontario.ca
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