GD L Exemption
GD L Exemption
GD L Exemption
PROGRAM
Minimum Acceptance Standards
The process for submitting foreign drivers licenses for the GDL Exemption Program is
being changed to reduce the amount of time clients must be without a drivers license. This
change will provide better customer service and minimize inconvenience for GDL
Exemption applicants.
Under the new process, drivers licenses from the following jurisdictions submitted for GDL
Exemption are not to be forwarded or submitted to the Special Investigations Unit
(SIU), but should be retained by the client, until after the client has fulfilled the necessary
verification requirements:
Australia
Democratic Republic of Congo
India
Iran
Iraq
Kenya
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Nigeria
Pakistan
Philippines
Trinidad & Tobago
Rwanda
Sudan
Syria
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
This document will assist you in helping your clients understand the verification
requirements. Please note, this information may also be printed and provided to your clients.
A note will be added to the RA Net notifying you as additional information from other
jurisdictions are added to this list.
IMPORTANT: Please also advise all clients from all jurisdictions that
pursuant to s. 13(1) of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act - Operator
Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation, they are required to
Australia
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Australia
Most Australian drivers licenses presented for GDL Exemption
possess sufficient security features that allow SIU to grant a date first
licensed without requiring further documentation.
However, not all drivers licenses from Australia list a date first
licensed on the document.
Step 1.
If there is NO date first licensed indicated on the document:
The registry agent will advise the client to obtain documentation
outlining their driving history from their specific driving authority
PRIOR TO surrendering their original Australian drivers license for
GDL Exemption.
Step 2.
After this requirement has been met, the registry agent will submit the following
documents to their respective SIU office for approval:
The clients original Australian drivers license;
The clients driving history document;
The clients GDL Exemption form.
India:
For clients submitting licensing documentation from India
Endorsement documentation obtained through the Consulate General
of India is NO LONGER available. Similar to the prior process, all
drivers licenses from India presented for GDL Exemption must still
be accompanied by an original Regional Transport Office (RTO) or
District Transport Office (DTO) letter. If the client does not already
have this documentation, please inform them to obtain this letter
PRIOR to submission.
Step 1.
The client will produce their Indian drivers license and RTO or DTO letter to a Registry
Agent.
Step 2.
The Registry Agent must submit the following to their respective SIU office for approval:
Authenticated
Not authenticated
All clients who provide confirmation of previous driving experience and SIU can
authenticate the documents must complete and pass the following:
and
Basic Road Test (BRT), if less than two years driving experience
Clients who have more than 2 years experience who choose to take the Basic
Road Test (BRT) may take the Advanced Road Test (ART) at a later date and
exit the GDL program.
OR
Clients who provide confirmation of previous driving experience and SIU cannot
authenticate the documents must complete and pass the following:
If client is over 25 years of age client must complete and pass the following:
If client is under 25 years of age client must complete and pass the following:
Class 7 knowledge test.
Vision screening.
AND
Basic Road Test (BRT), regardless of number of years of driving experience.
Clients who do not have the required 2 years of authenticated driving experience or do not
want to complete the Advanced Road Test (ART) will be placed in the GDL Program upon
completing and passing the following:
Knowledge test.
Vision screening.
Basic Road Test (BRT).
Clients who do not have the required 2 years of authenticated driving experience and/or are
under 25 years of age will be required to complete the remainder of the GDL program and
complete 2 years as a Class 5 GDL driver before taking the ART.
Clients who do meet the Alberta GDL exit timelines (2 or more years of authenticated
driving experience) must complete and pass the following:
Knowledge test.
Vision screening.
Advanced Road Test (ART).
Registry Agents are encouraged to refer to Driver Licensing Policy 3.10.04 for further details.
Iraq
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Iraq
All drivers licenses from Iraq presented for GDL Exemption MUST be accompanied
by an original translation document endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Iraq. The endorsement is in the form of an ink stamp that reads Ministry of Foreign
Affairs or Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, typically in red, purple or blue ink.
The registry agent will submit the following documents to their respective SIU office for
approval:
Legalization Department
DFAIT
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa ON K1A 0G2
If clients have questions or require additional information they should
contact the Iraq Embassy, Consular Section at 613-236-9177 or by email at: http://www.iraqembassy.ca
Step 2.
Once DFAIT has legalized the documents, DFAIT will forward them to the Embassy for
endorsement.
Step 3.
After the Embassy endorsement has been received, the registry agent will submit the
following to their respective SIU office for approval:
Iran
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Iran
All drivers licenses from Iran presented for GDL Exemption MUST be accompanied
by an original translation document endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Iran. The endorsement is in the form of an ink stamp that reads Ministry of Foreign
Affairs or Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, typically in red, purple or blue ink.
The registry agent will submit the following documents to their respective SIU office for
approval:
Kenya
For Clients submitting licensing documentation from Kenya
All drivers licenses from Kenya presented for GDL Exemption MUST
be accompanied by original endorsement documentation obtained
through the Kenya High Commission located in Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada. If they do not already have this documentation, please inform
them of the following necessary steps:
Step 1.
The client must submit the following to the Kenya High Commission:
The client must send the above information package in an Xpresspost envelope to:
Lebanon
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Lebanon
All drivers licenses from Lebanon presented for GDL Exemption MUST be
accompanied by an original translation document endorsed by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Lebanon. The endorsement is in the form of an ink stamp that
reads Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, typically in
red, purple or blue ink.
The registry agent will submit the following documents to their respective SIU office for
approval:
name of ______________ is original and unaltered, and all the information contained therein is
accurate to the best of my knowledge.
The client must send the above documents in an Xpresspost envelope to:
Embassy of Lebanon
640 Lyon St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 3Z5
There is further information on the Embassys website at:
http://www.lebanonembassy.ca/ or by calling 613-236-5825.
Step 2.
After the Embassy endorsement has been received, the registry agent will submit the
following to their respective SIU office for approval.
Libya
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Libya
All drivers licenses from Libya presented for GDL Exemption MUST be
accompanied by an original translation document endorsed by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Libya. The endorsement is in the form of an ink stamp that reads
Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, typically in red,
purple or blue ink.
The registry agent will submit the following documents to their respective SIU office for
approval:
http://www.libya-canada.org/power_of_attorney_eng.html
One passport-sized photograph, attached to one of the National Board for Information and
Documentation for Libyans Living Abroad forms;
Two (2) Canada Post Xpresspost prepaid envelopes one for sending the package to
the Consulate and a second, self-addressed one to include in the package. The Consulate
will use this to return the documents to the client. This style of envelope is all that will be
accepted by the Consulate. These envelopes are more secure and allow the client to track
receipt of the documents. The client is responsible for procuring these envelopes.
The client must send the above information package in an Xpresspost envelope to:
Morocco:
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Morocco
All paper drivers licenses from Morocco presented for GDL
Exemption (dark pink, folded into thirds, photograph secured with
two metal grommets) MUST be accompanied by original endorsement
documentation obtained through the Consulate General of Morocco
located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. If they do not already have this
documentation, please inform them of the following necessary steps:
Exception: If the original Moroccan drivers license is of a modern
credit card style, the license and English translation can be sent to SIU
without a verification letter. (Click here to view.)
Step 1.
The client must submit the following to the Consulate General of Morocco:
Nigeria
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Nigeria
All drivers licenses from Nigeria presented for GDL Exemption
MUST be accompanied by original endorsement documentation
obtained through the High Commission of Nigeria, located in Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada. If they do not already have this documentation,
please inform them of the following necessary steps:
Step 1.
The client must submit the following to the High Commission of Nigeria:
Pakistan:
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Pakistan
All drivers licenses from Pakistan presented for GDL Exemption
MUST be accompanied by original endorsement documentation
obtained through the Consulate General of Pakistan located in
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. If they do not already have this
documentation, please inform them of the following necessary steps:
Step 1.
The client must submit the following to the Consulate General of Pakistan.
Philippines
For clients submitting licensing documentation from the Philippines
*Please note that changes to this guideline have been made based on
specific requests from the Philippine Consulate in Calgary.
Step 1.
All drivers licenses from the Philippines presented for GDL Exemption MUST be
accompanied by:
An original Authentication Certificate bearing the red ribbon and gold seal from the
Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila;
An original drivers license certification letter from the Land Transportation Office
(LTO) from the Department of Transportation & Communications at East Avenue,
Quezon City, Philippines. NO OTHER LTO LETTER WILL BE ACCEPTED;
The original blue official receipt of payment must be included, as noted on the
bottom of the certification letter;
If there is NO Quezon City LTO Certification Letter and receipt presented, the
registry agent will advise the client to obtain this documentation PRIOR TO surrendering
their original Philippines drivers license for GDL Exemption;
The registry agent is requested to also ensure that the LTO letter presented has either a
valid date first licensed or date of issue reflected prior to submission to SIU. This
information is required to give the client a proper date first licensed.
Step 2.
The registry agent will submit the following to their respective SIU office for approval:
Rwanda
For Clients submitting licensing documentation from Rwanda
All drivers licenses from Rwanda presented for GDL Exemption
MUST be accompanied by original endorsement documentation
obtained through the Embassy of Rwanda located in Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada. If they do not already have this documentation, please inform
them of the following necessary steps:
Step 1.
The client must submit the following to the Embassy of Rwanda:
The client must send the above information package in an Xpresspost envelope to:
Sudan
For Clients submitting licensing documentation from Sudan
All drivers licenses from Sudan presented for GDL Exemption MUST
be accompanied by original endorsement documentation obtained
through the Embassy of Sudan located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. If
they do not already have this documentation, please inform them of
the following necessary steps:
Exception: If the original Sudanese drivers license of a modern credit
card style, the license and English translation can be sent to SIU
without a verification letter. (Click here to view.)
Step 1.
The client must submit the following to the Embassy of Sudan:
The client must send the above information package in an Xpresspost envelope to:
Embassy of Sudan
354 Stewart Street
Ottawa ON K1N 6K8
(CONTINUED on NEXT PAGE)
(Sudanese requirements continued...)
Syria
For clients submitting licensing documentation from Syria
All drivers licenses from Syria presented for GDL Exemption MUST be
accompanied by an original translation document endorsed by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Syria. The endorsement is in the form of an ink stamp that reads
Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, typically in red,
purple or blue ink.
The registry agent will submit the following documents to their respective SIU office for
approval:
One color photocopy of both the front and back of the original Drivers License;
The clients original Trinidad and Tobago drivers license;
One color photocopy of the applicants passport;
A completed Request for Certification of Drivers Permit which can be found at
http://ttcgtoronto.gov.tt/services-for-nationals/consular-services/79-driverspermit
The client should purchase two (2) Canada Post Xpresspost prepaid envelopes one
for sending the package to the Consulate and a second, self-addressed one to include in
the package. The Consulate will use this to return the documents to the client. These
envelopes are more secure and allow the client to track receipt of the documents.
The client must send the above information package in an Xpresspost envelope to:
34
(Trinidad &Tobago requirements continued...)
Step 2.
After the Consulate endorsement has been received, the registry agent will submit the
following documents to their respective SIU office for approval:
35
Abu Dhabi
Traffic and Licensing Department
Tel: 011-971-2- 419-5555
Fax: 011-971-2-419-5248
P.O. Box: 253
Abu Dhabi, UAE
www.adpolice.gov.ae
Dubai
Roads and Transport Authority
Dubai Traffic Department
Tel: 011-971-4-284-4444
Fax: 011-971-4 206-5555
P.O. Box 118899
Dubai, UAE
www.rta.ae
Sharjah
Traffic and Licensing Department Sharjah Police
Tel: 011-971-6-538-1111
Fax: 011-971-6-517-7577
P.O. Box: 261
Sharjah, UAE
www.shjpolice.gov.ae
36
(UAE requirements continued...)
Step 2.
When the client receives the validation letter from the traffic department, the client must
then send it to the UAE Embassy in Ottawa for legalization along with a $50.00 money order
payable to the UAE Embassy.
The client should refer to the embassy website at: http://www.uae-embassy.com for
further information about fees and other requirements. The embassy address is:
UAE Embassy
125 Boteler Street
Ottawa, ON
K1N 0A4
Step 3.
After the legalized validation letter has been received from the embassy, the registry agent
will submit the following documents to their respective SIU office for approval:
The clients legalized validation letter from the UAE Embassy in Ottawa;
The clients original UAE drivers license;
The clients GDL Exemption form.