A foreigner’s guide to obtaining a class 5 driver’s licence in Saskatchewan

This article is going to cover, in general, how you are able to obtain a class 5 driver's licence in Saskatchewan.  The Saskatchewan driver licensing authority, SGI, has outlined steps on their website from which we are basing our article on. 

In general, it will depend on whether you had a driver's licence in your home country, how long you drove for and from which country you are from.  What is also important is that within 90 days of moving to Saskatchewan (or before your foreign licence expires, whichever comes first), you contact SGI and arrange to obtain the local provincial licence.

For newcomers who had a driver's licence in their home country:

The first thing SGI will look at is where your foreign licence is from.  If it is from Australia, Austria, Germany, the Isle of Man, South Korea, Switzerland, the UK or the USA, you will be considered for a straight exchange of your foreign licence for a Saskatchewan licence.  You will need to provide proof of Saskatchewan residency, immigration status, and a foreign driver's abstract showing at least 2 years of driving experience.

If you hold a driving licence from a country other than those indicated above, you will need to provide the documents listed above AND pass written tests, a vision test and a road test.  Please click here for the driving manuals that you would need to study from to pass the 2 theoretical tests for signs and driving situations.

*If you cannot provide proof of having driven for at least two years prior to coming to Saskatchewan, you will be required to go through the Graduated Driving Licence program.*

**All foreign driving licences and abstracts must be translated into English or French.**

For newcomers who did not have a driver's licence in their home country:

If you did not hold a driver's licence before coming to Canada, you will need to go through the Graduated Driving Licence program from step 1.  This will be a process of several years from the time you obtain a learner's licence to when you will have no restrictions as an experienced class 5 driver.  In this time, you will need to write tests, carry restrictions on your licence, and also take lessons for theory and practical reasons.  Please click here for more information on this program.