You arrived with a driver's licence from your country and wonder whether you have to start over? Not necessarily. The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) recognizes certain foreign licences and lets you exchange them.
The general rule. After settling in Quebec, you can usually drive on your valid foreign licence for roughly your first six months of residency; after that, you need a Quebec licence. To exchange, your main residence must be in Quebec, according to the SAAQ.
Countries with an agreement. Quebec has signed reciprocity agreements with about a dozen administrations, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Switzerland and Taiwan. For France and Belgium, no proficiency exam is required, though a vision test may apply. Licences from another Canadian province or the United States can also be exchanged without a driving course.
Without an agreement. If your country isn't on the recognized list, you'll generally have to pass the knowledge test (rules and road signs) and the practical road test before getting a Quebec licence.
The process. You first complete the online form to have your driving experience acquired outside Quebec recognized. An agent contacts you, usually within 20 business days, to book an appointment at a service centre, where you present your original documents. A translation is required for any document that is neither in French nor English.
Good to know for newcomers. The thing to watch is timing: appointments can take a while to get in bigger centres, so start the process well before your first six months are up. Check first whether your country is on the SAAQ's recognized list — that determines whether you take exams or not.
