Moving to Ontario with a licence from China, Hong Kong or Taiwan
After you become an Ontario resident, you can drive on your valid licence for 60 days. After that you need an Ontario licence. Whether you can simply exchange your licence, or must take the G1 test, depends on where it was issued. The rules changed on July 1, 2026, so older articles may be out of date.
Not in Ontario yet? If you are still working on permanent residence, you can compare score scenarios on ImmiScore and log your application milestones on PRTrack, then come back to this page once you land.
Which licences can be exchanged?
Ontario exchanges car licences (Class G) from: any Canadian province or territory, the Canadian Armed Forces, U.S. states, and Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, the Isle of Man, Japan, South Korea, Kosovo, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Taiwan and Ukraine (list on ontario.ca, updated September 2026).
A learner's permit from anywhere can't be exchanged, and neither can a licence from a place that isn't on the list.
| Where your licence is from | What you do in Ontario |
|---|---|
| Taiwan | Exchange it. Vision test, no knowledge test. With 2+ years of experience in the last 3 years you get a full G with no road test; with less, you get a G2 and take the G road test once you reach 2 years in total. |
| Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau | No exchange. Vision test, G1 knowledge test, G2 road test, then the G road test at least 12 months later. Up to 12 months of driving experience can be credited. |
Mainland China and Hong Kong: how the experience credit works
Since July 1, 2026, a driver from a place without an exchange agreement can claim at most 12 months of driving experience. In practice:
- 12 months or more of credited experience: after passing the G1 knowledge test you can take the G2 road test right away. You then wait 12 months at G2 before the G road test.
- Less than 12 months: you wait 12 months minus your credited experience before the G2 road test, then 12 more months before the G road test.
So even an experienced driver from mainland China or Hong Kong needs at least about a year at G2 before a full G. If you read that you can "go straight to the G road test" with two years of experience at home, that describes the rules before July 2026.
Your licence must be original and valid (an expired licence is not accepted for credit). If the licence card doesn't show your full experience, for example because it was reissued recently, bring a letter of authentication: an official letter from the government agency that issued the licence, confirming it is authentic, in English or French.
Taiwan: what to bring
- Your current, valid full Class B (car) licence. It is surrendered when you exchange it.
- An original or electronically provided Verification Certificate of Driver's Licence, dated within the last six months. Photocopies are not accepted.
- Identification showing your legal name and full date of birth.
DriveTest's documents can take weeks to arrange, so request the certificate before you move or as soon as you arrive.
Translation
A licence that isn't in English or French needs a translation by an MTO-recognized translator, dated within six months of your application. Embassies, consulates and high commissions count, as do translators with professional credentials (for example ATIO members). Other translators in the country that issued the licence do not count. If you bring a letter of authentication in English or French from the embassy or consulate, you don't need a separate translation.
Step by step
- Gather your original ID, original licence, any authentication letter and the translation.
- Apply in person at a DriveTest Centre (walk-in at any centre; some offer appointments for licence exchanges) or at ServiceOntario Bay and College in Toronto.
- Since May 11, 2026 you declare that Ontario is your primary residence and that your presence in Canada is legal.
- Take the vision test and pay the fees (see G1 fees and process).
- No exchange agreement: take the G1 knowledge test. You can practise for it in Chinese here, and read which languages the test is offered in.
Your licence is one of several things to sort out in your first months. BenefitCanada lists the benefits and tax credits a newcomer household may qualify for, with payment dates and links to the official pages.
FAQ
I have driven in China for 10 years. Do I still need the G1 test?
Yes. Mainland China has no exchange agreement with Ontario, so you take the vision test and the G1 knowledge test. Your experience can shorten the wait before the G2 road test (up to 12 months of credit), but not skip the tests.
Does a Hong Kong licence count as an exchange?
No. Hong Kong is not on Ontario's exchange list, so the same steps as mainland China apply.
Can I keep driving on my foreign licence?
For 60 days after becoming an Ontario resident. After that you need an Ontario licence.
Can I exchange a learner's permit?
No. A learner's permit from any jurisdiction can't be exchanged.
Sources: Ontario.ca – Exchange an out-of-province driver's licence (updated September 23, 2026), DriveTest – Licence Exchanges: Cars, Trucks, Vans, DriveTest – Foreign Licence Experience Credits. Checked November 2026. Rules can change; check the official pages before you go.