更新時間：2026-07-03｜資料來源：ICBC 官方海外駕照換照頁面、Alberta.ca 官方互惠協議頁面（2026-06-09 核實）｜互惠協議國家清單與費用可能調整，換照前請以官方最新公告為準
When you've just arrived in Canada, a lot of people ask the same question:我的台灣駕照還能用嗎？什麼時候要換成加拿大（BC）駕照？
| Scenario | 可否開車 | 需要文件 | 是否要考試 | Precautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 持台灣駕照短期旅遊 BC | 可以（效期內） | 台灣駕照正本＋國際駕照或官方英文翻譯、護照 | Not required | 國際駕照只是翻譯輔助文件，不是獨立駕照，仍需搭配台灣駕照正本 |
| WHV／工簽在 BC 短期居留 | 入省後最多 90 天內可用台灣駕照 | Same as above | 超過 90 天需換照才能繼續合法開車 | 90 天是 BC 的期限，其他省份不同（安省 60 天） |
| 搬到 BC 成為居民、台灣駕照滿 2 年 | 換照前如上，換照後正常 | 台灣駕照正本＋官方英文認證、護照、BC 地址證明、PR Card 或工簽/學簽 | No written test, no road test | 換照時通常須繳回台灣駕照正本，建議先影印保存 |
| 台灣駕照持有不足 2 年 | 換照前如上 | 同上，另加筆試與路考相關文件 | 需要（走 GLP 學習駕照流程） | 需先取得 L 牌、持牌滿一定月數後再考 N 牌，時程比滿 2 年者長很多 |
The good news is: if you've held your Taiwanese license for more than 2 years, both BC and Ontario allow you toNo written test, no road testexchange it directly for a local license. The bad news is that the whole process is more tedious than you'd think, and a few wrong moves mean starting over.
How long can you drive on a foreign license?
After arriving in Canada, you can use your foreign driver's licence (paired with an International Driving Permit / official translation) while it's still valid. But each province has different rules:
- BC:After entering the province, up to 90 days, beyond which you'll need to switch to a BC license
- Ontario:After entering the province, up to 60 days
- Alberta:After entering the province, up to 90 days
⚠️ Pitfall warning:An "international driving permit" in Canada is just a translation aid for your original license, not a standalone license. If you keep driving past the deadlines above without exchanging your license, it counts as driving without a license, with fines that can run from several hundred to several thousand Canadian dollars.
BC license exchange process (most detailed version)
The documents you'll need to prepare
- Your original Taiwanese driver's license(must be held for 2+ years)
- Official English certification of your Taiwanese driver's license(certified by Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications or the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada)
- Original passport
- Proof of BC residential address(bank letters, lease, phone bills, etc., which must show your name and BC address)
- PR Card or Work/Study Permit
- Fee: approximately $35 CAD(ICBC license exchange fee)
Step 1: Get an official English translation of your Taiwan driver's license
You have two options:
Method 1 (arrange it in Taiwan):Apply for an English driving record at your local DMV, then have it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Best done in Taiwan before you leave.
Method 2 (apply in Canada):Bring your Taiwanese license + passport to theTaipei Economic and Cultural Office in CanadaTo get it certified takes about $20 CAD, ready for pickup the same or next day.
- Vancouver office: 1200-1095 West Pender St, Vancouver
- Toronto office: 151 Yonge St, Toronto
Step 2: Go to an ICBC Driver Licensing Office to exchange your license
Bring all your documents to an ICBC office (not an Autoplan broker—look for an office that offers driver's license services).
Once your license exchange is successful, you'll receive:
- Temporary Class 5 license(paper copy) — you can use it right away
- The official plastic license will be mailed to you in about 2–3 weeks
? New 2026 rules in BC:BC has reformed its learner driving system. If you've held a valid Taiwanese license for more than 2 years, you can exchange it directly for a full Class 5, without going through the N license stage.
What if you've held your overseas license for less than 2 years?
You need to go through the GLP (Graduated Licensing Program) learner's license process:
- Written test → obtain an L (learner's) license
- Hold an L license for at least 12 months
- Road test → obtain your N (Novice) license
- After holding an N license for at least 24 months you can upgrade to Class 5
Ontario license exchange process
License exchange requirements
Held a Taiwanese license for 2+ years → direct exchange G-class license(a full, unrestricted license), with no written test and no road test.
Required documents
- Your original Taiwanese driver's license
- Official English certification of your driver's license (same as BC; requires Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation or a Taiwanese office in Canada)
- Passport
- Ontario proof of address
- Immigration status documents
- Fee: approximately $90 CAD(including the exchange fee + photo)
Where to apply
到 ServiceOntario office to take care of it, and remember to book an appointment online first.
Alberta License Exchange Process
⚠️ Important correction (verified 2026/6/9):Alberta's official Alberta.ca license-exchange page explicitly lists Taiwan as aCountries with reciprocal agreements. Taiwanese license holders with 2 years of driving experience can, in Alberta,Direct exchange with no test, with no written or road test required.
License exchange requirements
- A valid Taiwanese driver's license (Class 5 passenger vehicle or an equivalent class)
- At least 2 years of non-learner driving experience
- Proof of Alberta residential address
- Valid Canadian immigration status document (Work Permit / Study Permit / PR Card)
⚠️ Note:When exchanging your license, you'll need toSurrenderYour original Taiwanese license. After the exchange, the Taiwanese license can no longer be used.
Where to apply
到 Alberta Registry Agent(available throughout the province), with some locations offering online booking. The fee is about $17–$30 CAD.
Alberta's GDL system for new drivers (applies to countries without a reciprocal agreement, such as China)
If your home country has no reciprocal agreement with Alberta (such as mainland China), you'll need to go through the GDL (Graduated Driver Licensing) process:
- Written test (Class 7 Learner’s test) → obtain a Class 7 learner's license
- Hold a Class 7 license for at least 1 year and accumulate driving hours
- Road test (Class 5 Road Test) → obtain your Class 5-GDL (novice license, restricted for 2 years)
- After holding a GDL license for 2 years, upgrade to a Class 5 Full
The Alberta government allows you to apply for "Experience Credit" — if you can submit documentation of your overseas driving record, some of the waiting time may be shortened.
Manitoba / Saskatchewan and other provinces
The reciprocal license-exchange policy for Taiwanese licenses in Manitoba and Saskatchewan is handled case by case. The general advice: if you hold a Taiwanese license, first check with that province's licensing authority. Some provinces grant a driving-experience exemption (skipping the full GDL process), but you'll still need a written test plus a road test. We recommend checking your province's official license-exchange policy as soon as you arrive.
Things to Note When Renting a Car
If you need to rent a car during the license-exchange process or in your first days after landing:
- Bring your Taiwanese driver's license + official English translation + passport
- Most rental car companies (Enterprise, Hertz, Budget) accept Taiwanese licenses
- A credit card is required (for the deposit); some companies don't accept debit cards
- Drivers under 25 usually face a "young driver surcharge" of about $25–$35 CAD/day
Cost summary
| project | British Columbia | Ontario | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwanese license certification (at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada) | ~$20 CAD | ~$20 CAD | Usually not required (submit the original directly) |
| License exchange fee | ~CAD 35 (ICBC) | ~$90 CAD (ServiceOntario) | ~$17–$30 CAD (Registry Agent) |
| Total | ~$55 CAD | ~$110 CAD | ~CAD 17–30(cheapest) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: My Taiwanese license has already expired in Taiwan—can I still exchange it?
No. Both ICBC and ServiceOntario require your Taiwanese license to be within its validity period (or expired by no more than a certain amount of time, which varies by province). We recommend confirming your home-country license's expiry date before you leave, and renewing it locally first if it's about to expire.
Q: I got my license switched in BC — can I keep using it after moving to Ontario?
Yes. Canadian provinces recognize each other's driver's licenses. A BC Class 5 is valid in Ontario, and vice versa.
Q: Will my Taiwanese license be confiscated after I exchange it?
BC: ICBC will require you to surrender your Taiwanese driver's license (because you can't hold two licenses of the same class in both places at once). We recommend making a photocopy beforehand to keep for your records. ServiceOntario in Ontario has a similar rule.
Q: After exchanging my license, will my traffic violation record from Taiwan affect my Canadian insurance premiums?
When exchanging your license, ICBC won't proactively check your Taiwanese traffic record, but the insurance company may ask about your driving history. Answer honestly — providing false information could get a claim denied.
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