Driving Tests

Foreign Driver's Licence in Nova Scotia: Exchange Countries and Tests

informational·how to guide·Published October 7, 2026·Updated October 20, 2026

Which countries can exchange a foreign driver's licence in Nova Scotia with only a vision test?

A licence from one of the 20 countries on the Nova Scotia list needs only a vision test to exchange, if its class meets the minimum. Examples: Germany Class B, Japan Class 1, South Korea Class 1 or 2, Taiwan Class B, C, D or E, Ukraine Class B or BE and the United Kingdom Class B. Other licences need full testing: vision, knowledge and road tests.

Where this information comes from

This guide uses the Nova Scotia pages on how to exchange your out-of-province driver's licence and how to book a road test, the Driver's Licence Regulations, the Driver Licensing Requirements Regulations and the Traffic Safety Act Interpretation Regulations. The Traffic Safety Act and these regulations are in force from October 19, 2026. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles (novascotia.ca) before you drive.

How long can I drive on my foreign licence in Nova Scotia?

If you move to Nova Scotia, you can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 180 days from the day you become a resident. A temporary visitor who is at least 16 can drive for up to 180 days without an exchange, if the licence is valid and not suspended or expired. An expired foreign licence does not let you drive in Nova Scotia. If yours has expired, call the Registry of Motor Vehicles to ask about your options.

Nova Scotia exchange list: countries that need only a vision test

Nova Scotia exchange list: countries that need only a vision test
Country	Minimum licence class	Nova Scotia class you get
Australia	Class C	Class 5
Austria	Class B	Class 5
Belgium	Class B; Class A	Class 5; Class 6
Denmark	Class B	Class 5
France	Class B	Class 5
Germany	Class B	Class 5
Hungary	Class B or BE	Class 5
Ireland	Class B	Class 5
Isle of Man	Class B, C or D; Class A; Class A1	Class 5; Class 6; Class 6D
Italy	Class B	Class 5
Japan	Class 1	Class 5
Netherlands	Class B	Class 5
New Zealand	Class 1	Class 5
Portugal	Class B	Class 5
South Korea	Class 1 or 2; Class 2 small	Class 5; Class 6
Sweden	Class B or BE	Class 5
Switzerland	Class B	Class 5
Taiwan	Class B, C, D or E	Class 5
Ukraine	Class B or BE	Class 5
United Kingdom	Class B (or Group A before 1 April 1990); Class C or D; Class A (or Group D before 1 April 1990)	Class 5; Class 5; Class 6

Is your licence on the Nova Scotia list?

Your country and class are in the table

You need only a vision test at an in-person appointment. You do not take a knowledge test or a road test.

Your country or class is not in the table (for example India or the Philippines)

You need full testing: a vision test, a knowledge test and a road test. Follow the steps below.

Your licence is a learner's licence from outside Canada

You cannot exchange it without testing. To get a Nova Scotia learner's licence, you meet the standard requirements, which include a vision test and a knowledge test.

Your licence from a listed country is a commercial class

You can exchange it for a Class 5 licence without testing. A Nova Scotia commercial licence (Classes 1 to 4) needs full testing.

What you need for a listed-country exchange

Apply in person at an Access Nova Scotia or Registry of Motor Vehicles location; book an appointment to save time. You must be at least 16 and hold a valid licence that is not suspended or revoked. At the appointment, you pass a vision test, tell the Registry about any medical condition that may affect your driving, hand over your foreign licence and pay the licence fee. Bring your current licence and an additional proof of identity.

How to get a Nova Scotia licence if your country is not listed

1
Study the Driver's Handbook
The knowledge test has two parts, rules of the road and highway signs, and the handbook has all the information you need. Download it free, borrow it from a public library or buy a printed copy at Access Nova Scotia. Try the free practice question on the two areas the test covers.
2
Pass the vision test
Take it in person at any Access Nova Scotia or Registry of Motor Vehicles location, with an appointment or as a walk-in. There is no fee. You can take it at the same visit as an in-person knowledge test. If you take the knowledge test online, you still go in person for the vision test.
3
Pass the knowledge test
Plan to take it in person, in English or French: book or walk in between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The RMV pages differ on the online test. The exchange page says that some knowledge tests are online, but the knowledge test page says that the online test is only for a Class 7, Class 8 or motorcycle learner licence. Ask the RMV before you plan an online test. If you do not speak English or French, bring an interpreter.
4
Get your master number
When you pass the vision test or the knowledge test at an Access Nova Scotia centre, you get a Nova Scotia master number.
5
Book and pay for the road test
Book online with your master number and the expiry date of your foreign licence, and pay by credit card. To pay another way, buy a road test receipt online or in person first, then book. The test costs CAD 52.54 (HST included). To book by phone, call 1-800-898-7668.
6
Bring your licence and a vehicle to the road test
Bring your valid foreign licence. No vehicle is provided. Bring one with proof of insurance, a valid vehicle permit and proof of a valid inspection. The Class 5 road test guide explains the test day.

Who can translate my licence for the exchange?

If your licence is printed in a language other than English or French, you need a certified translation to exchange it. The approved translators are the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS), the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC), the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), or a consulate or embassy office. Bring your original licence and a true copy of the translation with the translator's official stamp or credentials. A Barrister or Notary Public stamp is not required. An International Driving Permit cannot be used as the translation.

Which motorcycle endorsements does Nova Scotia recognize?

Belgium, the Isle of Man, South Korea and the United Kingdom: a motorcycle endorsement can be recognized at the exchange.
A country or class not on the list: Nova Scotia does not automatically recognize motorcycle, air brake or school bus endorsements. You complete the required upgrade testing.
Air brake and school bus endorsements: all required testing, in every case.

When can I retake a failed road test?

After an incomplete or unsuccessful road test, the book a road test page says you must wait until the next day before you book another one. The Registrar may also require a waiting period before a retake, so check the earliest date when you book. Each retake needs a new payment or road test receipt and a new appointment.

Key takeaways

A licence from one of the 20 listed countries, at or above the minimum class, needs only a vision test to exchange.
Any other licence needs a vision test, a knowledge test and a road test. The road test costs CAD 52.54 (HST included).
New residents can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 180 days.
A licence not in English or French needs a certified translation. An International Driving Permit does not count.
Next step: practise for the knowledge test with the free Nova Scotia Class 7 practice test (in English only).

Foreign licence exchange in Nova Scotia: common questions

Can I exchange a licence from India or the Philippines in Nova Scotia?

Not with a vision test only, because neither country is on the Nova Scotia list. You take full testing: a vision test, a knowledge test and a road test. After you pass the vision or knowledge test at an Access Nova Scotia centre, you get the master number to book the road test online.

Will I have to go through graduated licensing after I exchange my licence?

Maybe. Depending on your licence class or how long you have held it, you may need to enter the Graduated Driver Licence program. Under the new regulations, the Registrar's opinion or a reciprocal agreement decides if your foreign licence is equal to a full Class 5 or to a Class 5N (newly licensed) licence. The Class 5N rules explain that stage.

Do I need a translation if my licence is in English or French?

No. You need a certified translation only when your licence is printed in a language other than English or French. You still bring your current licence and an additional proof of identity to the appointment, and you pass a vision test there.

Do I keep my foreign licence after the exchange?

No. In a listed-country exchange, you surrender your foreign licence at the appointment. You leave with a 30-day temporary licence, and the new Nova Scotia card is expected to arrive in the mail within two weeks.

Can I use an International Driving Permit to drive in Nova Scotia?

Yes, as a visitor. If your licence is not printed in English or French, section 35(3) of the Driver's Licence Regulations says that you must carry a certified English or French translation or a valid International Driving Permit and show it to a peace officer on demand.