Driving Tests

Can International Students Drive in BC With a Foreign Licence?

informational·how to guide·Published October 4, 2026·Updated October 20, 2026

Can an international student drive in B.C. on a home licence?

Yes, if you have a valid student exemption because you are enrolled full-time at a designated educational institution in B.C.: ICBC says the 90-day rule does not apply to you, and you may keep driving on your current licence. Other new residents have 90 days to switch a valid licence to a B.C. licence. A tourist who visits for up to six months may also keep driving.

Where these rules come from

The rules come from ICBC (the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia): its Moving from outside Canada page, its Accepted ID page and its Planning your move to B.C. page, with the "Moving from within Canada" and "Proving your driving experience" pages. The B.C. Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (Division 30) define non-learner driving experience. This guide is as of 2026 and uses the ICBC rules in force on October 19, 2026. Where ICBC pages differ, it follows the newest page, Planning your move to B.C. Confirm the rules with ICBC (icbc.com) before you drive.

Which licence rule applies to you in B.C.?

You have a valid student exemption because you are enrolled full-time at a designated educational institution in B.C.

The 90-day rule does not apply to you, and you may continue to drive on your current licence. For more information about the exemption, contact ICBC.

You are visiting B.C. as a tourist for up to six months, or you are ordinarily resident outside B.C.

The 90-day rule does not apply to you, and you may keep driving on your current licence.

You moved to B.C. and none of the cases above fits you

You can drive on your current licence for up to 90 days. In that time, switch it to a B.C. driver's licence. Only a B.C. resident can apply for or hold a B.C. licence.

Which home licences B.C. exchanges, and which need tests

Licences from every Canadian province and territory are exchanged without knowledge or road testing.
Passenger and motorcycle licences from most U.S. states are also exchanged without testing.
The ICBC exchange list also names Austria, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands (not its former Antilles territories), New Zealand, South Korea (not motorcycles), Switzerland, Taiwan (passenger vehicle licence only, with extra documents) and the United Kingdom.
If your licence is from a place that is not on the list, you can still apply. In that case, or if you cannot prove your non-learner driving experience, you complete all testing: a mandatory vision screening and, depending on your years of driving experience, a knowledge test and a road test.
If you must pass a road test and do not pass, you get a B.C. learner's licence, and ICBC does not return your previous licence.

Which B.C. licence class do you get after an exchange?

The class depends on your age and on your non-learner driving experience: the time you held a valid licence other than a learner's licence. Under the B.C. regulations, that licence may come from another jurisdiction. The table shows the ICBC rules in force since October 19, 2026 for a licence from a reciprocal jurisdiction, which means a place in ICBC's licence exchange program. For example, a 21-year-old with 30 months of non-learner experience on such a licence can exchange it for a Class 5 licence with restrictions.

B.C. licence class by age and driving experience

B.C. licence class by age and driving experience
Licence you get	Under 25	25 or older
Class 5 licence	36 months or more	24 months or more
Class 5 licence with restrictions	24 to 36 months	12 to 24 months
Class 7N (novice) licence	Less than 24 months. You can upgrade to Class 5 with restrictions after 24 months.	Less than 12 months. You can upgrade to Class 5 with restrictions after 12 months.

How to switch your home licence to a B.C. licence

1
Check where your licence is from
Find the country or state that issued your licence in the exchange list above. This tells you whether you exchange the licence or take tests.
2
Collect your ID
Gather your ID. The ID list below shows what ICBC accepts.
3
Collect proof of your driving experience
Collect proof of how long you have held a licence other than a learner's licence. The experience section below lists what ICBC accepts.
4
Book an appointment
Book at an ICBC driver licensing office. Bring your ID, your current driver's licence, the licence fee and your proof of driving experience.
5
Take the tests, if ICBC asks for them
If you must take both tests, the knowledge test is first. Then you wait for a road test appointment.

What ID to bring to ICBC

Two pieces of ID in all: one primary and one secondary.
Primary ID: most immigration documents from the Government of Canada work. Your student permit (the IMM1442 form) is on the primary list, and it must show your full legal name and date of birth.
Secondary ID: a passport (Canadian or foreign) that is not expired, or a student card (school ID).
Each document must be an original or a true copy certified by the issuing government agency.

Does your home driving experience count in B.C.?

Yes. New B.C. residents must give ICBC their driver licence history, and a licence from another country can count toward your experience. The proof can be an original driver licence record or a letter of experience, and you can combine documents from several places. The document must be an original, or a copy stamped by the licensing body. It must be signed or on letterhead, and it must show the name, address and phone number of the licensing body. The guide to proving driving experience from another country has more detail.

ICBC knowledge test: pass mark and languages

The knowledge test is a multiple-choice test of road signs and rules of the road. You need 40 out of 50 right answers to pass. You can take it in English, Arabic, Croatian, French, Farsi, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian or Vietnamese. ICBC also offers free phone interpretation in 170 languages.

Key takeaways

A student with a valid student exemption (full-time enrolment at a designated educational institution in B.C.) may keep driving on a home licence, and the 90-day rule does not apply.
A tourist who visits for up to six months may keep driving on a home licence. Other new residents have 90 days to switch.
Where your licence is from and your proven driving experience decide whether you exchange it or take tests. Your age and experience decide your B.C. licence class.
Bring one primary and one secondary ID, your current licence, the fee and proof of your driving experience.
Next step: if ICBC asks you to take the knowledge test, practise on the free British Columbia Class 7 practice test.

International students and B.C. licences: common questions

Can I get a learner's licence in B.C. at 16?

Yes. You can get a B.C. learner's (L) licence on or after your 16th birthday, when you pass the knowledge test. If you are under 18 and take the test in person, bring a signed and witnessed consent form from a parent or legal guardian, or bring a parent or legal guardian with you. The free practice question on the minimum age for a Class 7L licence lets you check the age rule.

Do I have to give up my home licence when I get a B.C. licence?

Yes. You can legally hold only one driver's licence in B.C. When you apply, ICBC takes the licence or licences you have, so that it can decide your driving experience and the class you can take the test for.

Can I get a B.C. licence if my student permit expires soon or has expired?

If your student permit (the IMM1442 form) expires within 6 months, you can apply only for an interim driver's licence on paper, not a photo licence. If the permit has expired, be ready to show proof that you applied to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to renew it. The driver licensing office then decides if you can apply for an interim paper licence.

Which name does ICBC use as my legal name if I was born outside Canada?

For a person who was born outside Canada and becomes an ICBC customer for the first time, ICBC uses the full name on the most recent immigration document, such as a work, student or visitor permit, as the legal name.

Do I need to translate my foreign driver's licence?

It depends on where your licence is from: ICBC asks for translations at its discretion. If ICBC asks for a translation of your licence, driving record or ID, an ICBC-approved translator must do the work, from the original document or from a copy that a driver licensing office has approved and stamped. Bring the original or the stamped copy with the translation.