Before you apply, you must: Be at least 18 years of age. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Have at least a High school diploma or equivalency If you went to school outside of North America, you must provide an assessment from the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada with your application.
Licensing stages
In Alberta it takes a minimum of 3 years to get a full, non-GDL Class 5 Driver’s Licence.
Stage 1. Learner (Class 7 Licence)
To get a learner’s driver’s licence you must:
- be 14 years of age or older
- have parental or guardian consent if you are under 18 years of age
- pass a knowledge test
- pass a vision test
Stage 2. Probationary (Class 5-GDL Licence)
To get a probationary driver’s licence you must:
- be 16 years of age or older
- have parental or guardian consent if you are under 18 years of age
- have had a Class 7 learner’s licence for at least 12 months
- pass the basic road test
Stage 3. Full, non-GDL (Class 5 Licence)
To become a fully-licensed driver you must:
- drive for 2 years as a Class 5-GDL driver
- have no licence suspensions during the last 12 months of the probationary stage
- pass the advanced road test
Optional licence classes
For more information
Licence and vehicle types
Alberta’s 7 classes of driver’s licences allow you to drive the following vehicles:
Class 7 – Learner’s Licence
- moped (by yourself)
- all Class 5 or Class 6 vehicles (with someone over 18 with a full Class 5 driver’s licence)
Class 5 – Graduated Driver’s Licence (GDL)
- 2-axle single motor vehicle
- motorhome without airbrakes unless you hold an air brake certificate
- tow a trailer with one or more axles if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes
- moped, recreational vehicle, or any combination of recreational vehicles and a trailer, if the trailer has 2 axles or less and isn’t equipped with airbrakes
Class 5 – Full Licence, non-GDL
- 2-axle single motor vehicle
- motorhome without airbrakes unless you hold an air brake certificate
- tow a trailer with one or more axles if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes
- moped, recreational vehicle, or any combination of recreational vehicles and a trailer, if the trailer has 2 axles or less and isn’t equipped with airbrakes
Class 6 – Motorcycle
- motorcycle or moped
- all Class 5 vehicles as a learner
Class 1 – Commercial
- any motor vehicle other than a motorcycle
- all class 6 vehicles as a learner
Class 2 – Commercial (bus)
- any motor vehicle that the holder of a Class 3, 4 or 5 licence is allowed to drive
- bus
- Class 1 and 6 vehicles as a learner
Class 3 – Commercial (3 or more axles)
- any motor vehicle that the holder of a Class 5 licence may drive
- single motor vehicle with 3 or more axles
- motor vehicle with 3 or more axles towing a trailer with one or more axles (if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes)
- Class 1, 2, 4 or 6 vehicles as a learner
Class 4 – Commercial (taxi, ambulance)
- taxi, ambulance or bus that seats up to 24 people, excluding the driver
- all Class 5 vehicles
- all Class 1, 2, 3 or 6 vehicles as a learner
Driving suspensions
In Alberta, a driver’s licence can be suspended for several reasons.
It is illegal to drive with a licence that has been suspended or disqualified.
Licensed drivers who have a demerit suspension can apply for a Restricted Driver’s Licence. This program helps people who need to drive for employment, health or educational reasons while they are serving a demerit suspension.
Temporary residents
Students, visitors, Canadians working temporarily from another province, and temporary foreign workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program can't get a driver's licence because they don't live in Alberta permanently. However, they may be able to continue using a driver’s licence from their home province or country.
Visitors from another jurisdiction
If you are visiting Alberta with a valid driver’s licence (equal to or higher than a Class 5) from your home jurisdiction, you may drive a standard passenger vehicle in Alberta for up to 1 year.
If your licence is not in English, it is strongly recommended that you carry an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) from your home jurisdiction. You must carry both the IDP and your valid licence from your home jurisdiction when driving in Alberta.
Canadians from another province
Canadians working temporarily in Alberta can drive using your provincial driver’s licence if you continue to live in your home province for more than 6 months each year.
Students
Students can continue using your licence from your home province or territory if you are:
- studying in Alberta at an accredited educational institution, or
- working as part of a co-op program of study
Temporary foreign workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)
Temporary foreign workers brought into Alberta under the SAWP to meet labour needs during peak periods are not required to obtain an Alberta driver's licence or identification card. These workers are not classed as Alberta residents.
Exchange a licence from another province
If you’re living in Alberta permanently, you must:
- exchange your current driver's licence for an Alberta driver’s licence within 90 days of moving to the province
- this applies even if you travel outside Alberta during those 90 days
- hand in your valid provincial or territorial driver’s licence to a registry agent, including professional class licences
- provide proof that you live in Alberta
- provide proof of residence in Canada
If you have a Class 3, 4, 5 or 6 licence you’ll be given an Alberta’s driver’s licence equal to the class of licence you are exchanging. If you have not held the Class 5 (standard driver's licence) or Class 6 (motorcycle) licence for a minimum of two years, you may be placed into the graduated drivers licence (GDL) program.
You don’t need to do a knowledge test. You don't need to do a road test unless you are placed in the GDL program and want to exit the program after you have gained 2 years of experience. At that time, you will need to pass an advanced road test.
Class 1 (truck) and Class 2 (bus) licences from outside of Alberta may not be exchangeable, depending on when and where you got your licence.
If you transfer your Class 1 or Class 2 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction to Alberta after March 1, 2019, you will be subject to Alberta's new commercial driver training policies. For more information, visit Mandatory Entry-Level Training for Class 1 and 2 driver’s licences.
Exchange a licence from another jurisdiction with a reciprocal licence exchange agreement
If you’re exchanging a valid driver’s licence from one of the jurisdictions in the list below, you can get your Alberta licence without taking a knowledge or road test:
- Australia (Class 5 and 6)
- Austria (Class 5)
- Belgium (Class 5)
- France (Class 5)
- Germany (Class 5)
- Isle of Man (Class 5 and 6)
- Japan (Class 5)
- Netherlands (Class 5)
- Republic of Korea (Class 5)
- Switzerland (Class 5 and 6)
- Taiwan(Class 5)
- United Kingdom (Northern Ireland – Class 5 and 6)
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales – Class 5)
- United States (Class 5, 6 and 7)
To exchange your licence for an Alberta driver’s licence, you must:
- hand in your valid licence that is equivalent or higher than an Alberta Class 5 or 6 licence to a registry agent
- provide proof of 2 or more years of driving experience, if you want to be issued a full Class 5 licence
- provide proof that you live in Alberta
- provide proof of residence in Canada
You’ll be given a Class 5 or 6 driver’s licence based on the exchange agreement (not all jurisdictions allow the exchange of a motorcycle licence-Class 6).
A learner’s licence from the US can be exchanged for an Alberta Class 7 (learner’s licence).
Exchange a licence with a jurisdiction that doesn’t have a reciprocal licence exchange agreement
To exchange a licence from a jurisdiction that doesn’t have an agreement, you’ll need to pass a knowledge and road test.
Step 1. Exchange your driver's licence
Visit a registry agent and hand in your valid driver’s licence that is equivalent or higher to an Alberta Class 5 licence.
The registry agent will check to see if you can apply for the GDL exemption program and will give you an application to complete.
Step 2. Pass a Class 7 knowledge test
Visit a registry agent and take a knowledge test.
Your licence, application for GDL exemption and support documents will be sent to the Alberta Government for review.
Step 3. Get a full Class 5 licence
There are 2 ways you can get a full Class 5 licence:
- if you can prove that you have more than 2 years of driving experience, you’ll need to pass an advanced road test
- if you cannot prove more than 2 years driving experience, you’ll need to pass a basic road test to get a Class 5 GDL licence
- once you have more than 2 years driving experience, you’ll need to pass an advanced road test to get a full Class 5 driver's licence
Graduated driver's licence exemption program
Drivers coming to Alberta from another jurisdiction may apply to have your previous driving history credited. If accepted, you'll be exempted from part or all of the graduated licensing program, depending on your years of experience. This exemption gives you access to a road test without needing to have a Class 7 licence for one year or a Class 5 GDL for a full 2 years.
Before you apply
If you’re from one of the jurisdictions in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Exemption Program User Guide (PDF, 669 KB), listed in the 'Minimum Acceptance Standards' section, you’ll need more proof of your driving history.
You won’t be able to apply for GDL exemption until verification requirements have been met.
Read the guide carefully for detailed instructions on application requirements.
Step 1. Gather your documents
Check the ‘Minimum Acceptance Standards’ section of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Exemption Program User Guide (PDF, 669 KB) for documents you’ll need to provide from your country.
Step 2. Fill out the form and submit your documents
Complete a GDL exemption form at a registry agent and submit your documents.
- Submit only original documents, not photocopies or faxes. Provide a written translation of all driver's licences and documents that are not in English from an Approved Document Translator(PDF, 100 KB).
- If you have an official International Driver's Permit from your home country, it must also be handed over.
- Provide additional documents to support the driver’s licence and driving history if your licence can’t be validated.
- All licences and documents for GDL program exemption are sent to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for validation.
- The documents and/or driver’s licence won’t be returned
After you apply
Visit a registry office after 10 or more business days from the date you applied. The registry agent will confirm if your application has been accepted.
If your application is turned down, the registry agent will explain why, and if there are any extra requirements needed by the SIU.
International Driving Permit (IDP)
When used with your Canadian driver’s licence, an IDP will allow you to drive in the other countries outlined in the permit. It includes a photo and a multilingual translation of your Canadian driver’s licence.
If you are driving in Alberta with your foreign drivers licence, it is strongly recommended that you obtain an IDP from your home jurisdiction before coming to Alberta.
How to apply
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is the only organization in Canada authorized to issue an International Driving Permit.
- To apply for an IDP in Alberta, visit the AMA in Alberta, the CAA website or your local CAA club.
- To apply for an IDP in another country, please contact the licensing authority there for more information.
Contact
Connect with Drivers and Motor Vehicles:
Hours: 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-7013
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 780-427-7013
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]