Driving Tests

What to Bring to the Alberta Learner's Test (ID and Proof of Status)

informational·how to guide·Published October 12, 2026

What do I bring to a registry agent for my Alberta Class 7 knowledge test?

Bring original documents that prove who you are, that you live in Alberta and that you may legally be in Canada. Each must be in English or have an approved translation. Residence documents must be under 90 days old. Under 18, a parent or guardian must consent. Bring glasses or contacts if you wear them. The test costs CAD 5.00 plus a service charge of up to CAD 12.60.

Where these Alberta rules come from

The document rules come from the Alberta ID requirements page and the alberta.ca page on new driver's licence and ID cards. The test steps come from the Alberta Class 7 learner's licence page, and the fees from the registry agent product catalogue effective October 1, 2026. The consent, vision and residence details come from the Alberta Driver's Guide (Spring 2026) and the Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation (Alta Reg 320/2002), as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (alberta.ca) before you drive.

The 3 proofs a registry agent asks for

The 3 proofs a registry agent asks for
Proof	What it shows	Examples
Identity	Who you are	An original photo document, for example a Canadian passport (it may be expired by less than one year) or a valid Permanent Resident card
Alberta residence	That you live in Alberta	At least one document with your full name and Alberta address: a utility bill, a bank or credit card statement, a residential lease, a mortgage document, a land title, or a signed and dated letter that confirms your Alberta job
Legal entitlement	That you may be in or remain in Canada	One original document that has not expired: a Permanent Resident Card, a secure Certificate of Indian Status, a Government of Canada permit, confirmation document or resident visa, or a Refugee Protection Claimant Document. Citizens can show a Canadian birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate

Rules for your documents

A residence document must show your full name and address and be dated less than 90 days before you show it. You can show it on paper or on a screen. The residence list above is not complete, so ask a registry agent for other examples. A permit, confirmation document or resident visa must give you resident status in Canada for more than the next 90 days. Every document must be in English or come with a written translation from an approved translator.

Do I need to be a Canadian citizen?

No. You do not need to be a Canadian citizen to get an Alberta driver's licence. You need proof that you are lawfully entitled to be in Canada and that you live in Alberta. If you come from outside Canada and the United States, you must show suitable immigration documents to be counted as a resident. Since July 2, 2026, the card shows a Canadian citizenship marker when your document confirms citizenship. The marker costs nothing extra on a regular application.

ID that a registry agent does not accept

Debit and credit cards, and cheque cashing cards
Social Insurance Number cards
Interim or temporary driver's licences
Business and organization membership cards

What to do in 4 common cases

Your name changed, or it differs between your documents

Tell the registry agent and show proof of the other names. Documents that explain the change include an original marriage certificate, an original divorce certificate or a Legal Change of Name certificate.

You are under 18

A parent or legal guardian must go with you to the registry office, show proof of guardianship and sign a consent form. The minimum age for a Class 7 is 14. The free question on parental consent for a first licence covers this rule.

You cannot show enough ID

A registry agent can help you. The agent may ask questions that only you can answer, or ask for documents that only you should have.

You live in Alberta but do not have proof of legal entitlement yet

You may be eligible for a one-time 60-day grace period. You ask for it in person at a registry agent and pay the fee, and you get an interim licence receipt. Return within 60 days with acceptable proof.

Bring your glasses or contact lenses

A Class 7 needs a vision test pass as well as a knowledge test pass, and a registry agent tests your vision. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them. If you need them to meet the vision standards, your licence gets a condition code that shows this. If you do not meet the standards, you are referred to an optometrist or an ophthalmologist to complete a Vision Referral form. The free question on glasses at the vision assessment tests this rule.

How much the knowledge test costs

The government fee for the knowledge test is CAD 5.00. The registry agent adds a service charge of up to CAD 12.60, and each agent sets its own charge. The oral and oral-assisted test (English only) has the same CAD 5.00 government fee and a service charge of up to CAD 26.25. These fees took effect on October 1, 2026, and you pay each time you take the test. After you pass the knowledge and vision tests, you buy the learner's licence card. For retakes, see the guide to the Alberta knowledge test cost and retakes.

Your checklist before you go to the registry agent

1
Gather your identity document
Pick an original photo document, such as a passport or a Permanent Resident card. Leave out bank cards, SIN cards and interim licences.
2
Find a residence document
Choose a bill, statement, lease or signed employer letter with your full name and Alberta address, dated less than 90 days ago.
3
Find your legal entitlement document
Check that it is original and has not expired. Add a translation from an approved translator if it is not in English.
4
Arrange parent or guardian consent if you are under 18
The parent or guardian comes with you, brings proof of guardianship and signs the consent form.
5
Pack your glasses or contact lenses
Wear or carry them for the vision test.
6
Bring your Alberta health care card
Citizens and permanent residents revalidate their Alberta health coverage at a first licence. The paper card makes this faster; you can also show the mobile health card.
7
Plan to pay the fee
Expect CAD 5.00 plus the agent's service charge of up to CAD 12.60. Read what the test covers in the guide to the Alberta Class 7 knowledge test.

Key takeaways

Bring original proof of who you are, that you live in Alberta and that you may be in Canada.
Residence documents must be dated less than 90 days ago. Documents not in English need an approved translation.
Under 18, a parent or guardian comes with you and signs a consent form.
The knowledge test costs CAD 5.00 plus a service charge of up to CAD 12.60. You do not need to be a citizen.
Next step: practise on the free Alberta Class 7 practice test, which is in English only.

Alberta learner's test documents: common questions

Is a passport enough to take the Alberta knowledge test?

A Canadian passport proves who you are, and it also proves that you are a citizen. You still need a document with your full name and Alberta address, dated less than 90 days ago. The registry agent must be fully satisfied that you are a legal resident of Canada and Alberta before it issues a licence.

Can I show my utility bill on my phone?

Yes. Residence documents can be shown on paper or electronically. The bill must show your full name and Alberta address and be dated less than 90 days before you show it. For identity and legal entitlement proof, bring the original document.

Can I use a Canadian permit or visa as proof?

Yes, if it is a confirmation document, permit or resident visa from the Government of Canada that gives you resident status for more than the next 90 days. It must be the original and not expired. You also need proof that you make your home in Alberta, and the registry agent must be satisfied with both.

Do I need my Alberta health care card at the registry?

It helps. Since July 2, 2026, Alberta licences can show your Personal Health Number, and Canadian citizens and permanent residents revalidate their Alberta health coverage when they apply for a first licence. The paper card makes this faster. Without it, show your mobile health card or sign a declaration that the card is lost.

Can I skip parent consent if I am 16 or 17?

Only with other proof. At 16 or 17, the regulation lets you apply with proof that you are self-supporting, married or an adult interdependent partner instead of a parent's signature. At 14 or 15, a parent or guardian must always sign. Without that proof, the parent or legal guardian comes with you and signs the consent form.