Moving to Alberta: How to Exchange Your Driver's Licence (90 Days)
How long do I have to exchange my driver's licence after I move to Alberta?
You have 90 days after you move to Alberta and become a resident to exchange your licence at a registry agent, even if you travel outside Alberta in that time. A licence from another Canadian province or territory, a U.S. Class 5, 6 or 7 licence or a licence from an Alberta-recognized country needs no knowledge test and no road test.
Where these Alberta exchange rules come from
The exchange rules come from the Alberta page on exchanging a licence from outside Alberta. The documents come from the Alberta ID requirements page. The fees come from the Registry Agent Product Catalogue, effective October 1, 2026. Other points come from the Alberta Driver's Guide (2026), the GDL Exemption User Guide (March 2026), other alberta.ca licence pages and the Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (alberta.ca) before you drive.
How the 90-day exchange deadline works
The 90 days start when you move to Alberta and become a resident, and the clock keeps running if you travel outside Alberta. If you do not have an Alberta residence document yet, you do not have to exchange right away, but the 90 days still apply. A free question on the 90-day exchange rule tests this point.
Which Alberta exchange path fits your licence
Exchanging a licence from another province or territory
- Surrender your valid licence from the other province or territory to an Alberta registry agent. This includes a professional class licence.
- Also surrender any other driver's licence you hold, even an expired one. Alberta does not return a surrendered licence.
- If you held a Class 5 or Class 6 licence for less than 2 years, Alberta may place you in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program for new drivers.
- In GDL, an approved Class 5 or Class 6 course from a driver training school licensed by Transportation and Economic Corridors can cut your probation by up to 6 months, if you meet all other eligibility requirements. The cut cannot end your probation before you turn 18.
Alberta-recognized countries and the class you can exchange
| Class you can exchange | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| Class 5 and 6 | Australia, Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) |
| Class 5 only | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Japan, Kingdom of Denmark, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, England, Scotland and Wales (United Kingdom) |
What you hand in and prove with a licence from a listed country
- Surrender a valid licence that equals or exceeds an Alberta Class 5 or 6, plus any other licence you hold, even an expired one.
- Give proof of 2 or more years of driving experience if you want a full Class 5 licence.
- You receive a Class 5 or 6 licence based on the exchange agreement. Not all countries allow a Class 6 motorcycle exchange.
Exchanging a licence from a country with no agreement
- 1Take the Class 7 knowledge test
Go to a registry office. Surrender all valid and expired licences you hold, and show proof of Alberta residence and legal status in Canada.
- 2Receive your Class 7 licence
After you pass, you get a Class 7 licence. The registry agent checks if you can apply for the GDL Exemption Program and gives you an application. Your licence, application and documents go to the Service Alberta Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for review.
- 3Drive only with a supervisor during the review
Your supervisor must be 18 or older, hold a full (non-GDL) Class 5 licence or higher, and sit in the front passenger seat.
- 4Return after 10 business days
Visit a registry office. The agent confirms if your application is accepted and, if you are eligible, books a Class 5 road test. If you are not eligible, you keep the Class 7 rules until you can get a Class 5 licence. See the GDL Exemption Program steps for details.
- 5Pass the road test
If your surrendered licences prove 2 years of driving experience or more, you get a full Class 5 licence. With fewer than 24 months, you get a Class 5 GDL licence.
Documents to bring to the Alberta registry agent
- A registry agent asks for proof of who you are, proof that you are an Alberta resident and proof that you may lawfully be in or remain in Canada.
- Residence: one original document with your full name and Alberta address, dated less than 90 days before you present it, on paper or on screen. Examples: a utility bill, a bank or credit card statement, a lease, a mortgage document, a land title, or a signed and dated employer letter.
- Legal status: one original document that is not expired, such as a Permanent Resident Card or a Government of Canada permit or resident visa that gives you resident status for more than the next 90 days. A Canadian passport that expired less than one year ago proves citizenship.
- Every document must be in English or come with a written translation from an approved translator.
- When you apply for your first Alberta licence, you also revalidate your Alberta health insurance coverage (AHCIP).
What your first Alberta driver's licence costs (CAD)
| Licence term | Government fee | Maximum service charge | Most you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | CAD 18.00 | CAD 10.50 | CAD 28.50 |
| 2 years | CAD 36.00 | CAD 11.55 | CAD 47.55 |
| 3 years | CAD 54.00 | CAD 12.60 | CAD 66.60 |
| 4 years | CAD 72.00 | CAD 13.65 | CAD 85.65 |
| 5 years | CAD 90.00 | CAD 13.65 | CAD 103.65 |
How the fee works and when your licence arrives
These are the Registry Agent Product Catalogue amounts, effective October 1, 2026, for a first operator licence or renewal. The government fee is CAD 18.00 for each year of the licence term, and the registry agent's service charge can be lower than the maximum. Your new licence can take up to 3 weeks to arrive by mail at your Alberta address. It is not delivered if you have mail-forwarding.
Key takeaways
- Exchange your licence at an Alberta registry agent within 90 days of moving to Alberta, even if you travel.
- Hand in every licence you hold, even expired ones. Alberta does not return them.
- Bring proof of identity, Alberta residence and legal status in Canada.
- Next step: practise the rules of the road on the free Alberta Class 7 practice test.
Alberta licence exchange: common questions
Can I drive on my old licence after I move to Alberta?
Yes, with a licence from another province or territory, for the first 90 days of residency. Within those 90 days you must apply for an Alberta licence and surrender the out-of-province licence. It is illegal to hold more than one driver's licence.
Can I exchange my licence if I am not a Canadian citizen?
Yes. You do not need to be a Canadian citizen, but you must show proof that you may lawfully be in or remain in Canada. Without it, you may get a one-time 60-day grace period: you visit a registry agent in person, pay the fee, get an interim licence receipt and return with the proof within the 60 days.
Can I exchange my UK driving licence in Alberta?
Yes, with no knowledge test and no road test. A licence from England, Scotland or Wales exchanges for an Alberta Class 5 licence, and a Northern Ireland licence for Class 5 and 6. To get a full Class 5 licence, bring proof of 2 or more years of driving experience.
Can I exchange an expired foreign driver's licence in Alberta?
Not directly. Alberta's exchange rules ask you to surrender a valid licence. The GDL Exemption User Guide (March 2026) says a holder of an expired licence from a European Economic Area country or New Zealand must pass a knowledge test and follow the GDL Exemption Program. You still surrender the expired licence.
Can I exchange a learner's licence from another country?
Only a U.S. learner's licence exchanges directly: a U.S. Class 7 needs no extra testing. Alberta's exchange agreements do not cover other learner licences. With a learner's licence from a recognized country, you may apply for GDL Exemption to cut your time as an Alberta learner before the road test.
Can I exchange a Class 1 truck licence from another province?
It depends. A Class 1 licence from outside Alberta may not be exchangeable, depending on when and where you got it. If you transfer a Class 1 from another province or territory, Alberta's new commercial driver training policies apply to you. Ask a registry agent before you surrender it.
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