Converted my Japanese license to Ontario G2 — no test required
For anyone from Japan wondering about driver's license conversion in Ontario: Japan IS on the reciprocal exchange list, which means you skip the written and road tests and get a full G license directly. Here's what I brought to DriveTest: valid Japanese license + certified Japanese translation, valid Ontario address proof, passport, and study permit. Cost was $158 CAD. The whole thing took 45 minutes. BC has a similar exchange list — check if your country is on it before assuming you need to start from G1. Countries NOT on the list (India, China, Brazil) will need to do the full G1→G2→G process which takes about 18 months minimum.
Discussion (3 replies)
Just went through this process myself. One thing that saved me time was calling ahead to confirm what documents they'd accept. Some offices are stricter than others.
Perfect timing! I'm arriving next month and this guide is incredibly helpful. Did you have any trouble with the office being crowded?
Saved this post for later. Really thorough breakdown of the entire process. Will definitely share with my roommate who's just starting this journey.
Have thoughts on this post?
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