Moving to Quebec comes with a long to-do list, and if you plan on driving, exchanging your foreign driver’s licence should be near the top.

The good news is that many newcomers can continue driving with their existing licence for a while after arriving. The catch is that what happens next depends almost entirely on where your licence was issued. Some drivers can exchange their licence with little more than paperwork, while others will need to pass knowledge and road tests before getting behind the wheel with a Quebec licence.

Here’s everything you need to know before starting the process.

Can You Drive with Your Foreign Licence?

If you’ve recently become a Quebec resident, you can generally drive a passenger vehicle using your valid foreign driver’s licence for up to six months after settling in the province.

After those six months, you’ll need a Quebec driver’s licence if you want to continue driving legally.

Exactly how you get that licence depends on three main factors:

• Where your licence was issued
• Whether your licence is still valid (or recently expired)
• How much driving experience the SAAQ recognizes

Which Countries Can Exchange Their Licence?

Quebec groups foreign licences into four broad categories.

Canadian Driver’s Licences

If you’re moving from another Canadian province or territory, the process is usually straightforward. As long as your licence is still valid, or has been expired for less than three years, you’ll normally be able to exchange it without taking another driving test.

The process begins by submitting the SAAQ’s online Appointment to Have Driving Experience Acquired Outside Québec Recognized request. After reviewing your information, the SAAQ will usually contact you within about 20 business days with the next steps and, if you’re eligible, invite you to book an appointment to exchange your licence.

Before your appointment, make sure you bring your current Canadian driver’s licence along with proof that you now live in Quebec. Depending on your situation, the SAAQ may also ask for proof of identity or other supporting documents. If everything is in order, you’ll normally be able to exchange your licence during your appointment without taking another driving test.

If your licence has been expired for more than three years, the SAAQ may require you to demonstrate your driving ability before issuing a Quebec licence.

United States Driver’s Licences

Most American licences can also be exchanged directly for a Quebec Class 5 licence, provided they’re still valid or haven’t expired for more than three years.

The process begins by submitting the SAAQ’s online Appointment to Have Driving Experience Acquired Outside Québec Recognized request. After reviewing your information, the SAAQ will usually contact you within about 20 business days with the next steps and, if you’re eligible, invite you to book an appointment to exchange your licence.

Before your appointment, make sure you bring your valid U.S. driver’s licence along with proof that you now live in Quebec and proof that you have the legal right to remain in Canada. Depending on your situation, the SAAQ may also ask for additional supporting documents. If everything is in order, you’ll normally be able to exchange your licence during your appointment without taking any additional tests.

If your licence has been expired for more than three years, the SAAQ may require you to pass one or more tests before issuing a Quebec licence.

Countries with Reciprocal Agreements

Quebec has agreements with several countries that allow eligible drivers to exchange their licence without completing the usual testing process.

These include:

• France
• Great Britain
• Northern Ireland
• Austria
• Belgium
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• Japan
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Isle of Man

The process begins by submitting the SAAQ’s online Appointment to Have Driving Experience Acquired Outside Québec Recognized request. After reviewing your information, the SAAQ will usually contact you within about 20 business days with the next steps and, if you’re eligible, invite you to book an appointment to exchange your licence.

Before your appointment, make sure you bring your original driver’s licence, proof that you now live in Quebec, and proof that you have the legal right to remain in Canada. The SAAQ may also ask for proof that you lived in the country or jurisdiction that issued your licence, especially if you have held that licence for less than three years.

If everything is in order, you’ll normally be able to exchange a valid passenger vehicle licence during your appointment without completing the knowledge test or road test.

If your licence has been expired for an extended period, or if you don’t meet the eligibility requirements, the SAAQ may require additional testing or supporting documents before issuing a Quebec licence.

Countries Without an Exchange Agreement

If your country isn’t on Quebec’s reciprocal agreement list, you shouldn’t assume you’ll have to start over.

If you held your foreign driver’s licence for at least one year before becoming a Quebec resident, the process begins by submitting the SAAQ’s online Appointment to Have Driving Experience Acquired Outside Québec Recognized request. After reviewing your information, the SAAQ will usually contact you within about 20 business days with the next steps and, if you’re eligible, invite you to book an appointment.

Before your appointment, make sure you bring your original driver’s licence, proof that you now live in Quebec, proof that you have the legal right to remain in Canada, and, if required, proof that you lived in the country that issued your licence. Depending on your situation, the SAAQ may also require certified translations or additional supporting documents.

If everything is in order, you’ll normally be required to pass both the SAAQ knowledge test and the road test before receiving an equivalent Quebec Class 5 licence.

If you had less than one year of driving experience before becoming a Quebec resident, you’ll generally need to complete Quebec’s full Class 5 Driver Education Course and follow the province’s graduated licensing system before becoming eligible for a full licence.

Do You Need to Translate Your Documents?

If any required documents aren’t written in either French or English, the SAAQ requires an official certified translation. Instead, translations must be completed by an approved professional, such as a member of the OTTIAQ, ALCIT, or another association recognized by the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC).

Start the Process Early

Even though most newcomers can legally drive for up to six months after arriving in Quebec, it’s worth starting the exchange process as soon as you settle.

Appointments can take time, and if your application requires testing or additional documentation, getting started early gives you plenty of time before your temporary driving privileges expire.

A little preparation now can save you a lot of stress later and help ensure you’re legally licensed before the six-month deadline arrives.