Policy

A Consul is appointed by a foreign government to operate a consulate office and represent that government’s interests in Alberta. Consular clients may exchange their out of province licence for an Alberta driver’s licence.

Consul licensing only applies to Career Consular Officers such as Consuls, Vice Consuls, Consular employees and family members. Honorary Consuls are not eligible.

Consul and Consular Attribute

Consuls and Vice Consuls receive the Consul attribute. Consular employees and family members will receive the Consular attribute. Motor Vehicles validates all appointments with the Alberta Protocol Office and adds the appropriate attribute to the client file.

Licencing Requirements

Licencing services for clients with the consul attribute must be processed as an out of province operator first; see 3.15.02 Out of Province Operator First.

A client must:

• Provide acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification / Enrolment.
• Pass a vision screening and disclose all medical conditions/physical disabilities that may affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle; see 3.05.05 Medicals / Visions.
• Surrender their driver’s licence from their home jurisdiction.
  • If the client has multiple licences, the most recently issued licence is to be used.
  • If the licence is not in English a translation of the driver’s licence is required.

Note:
Clients do not need to provide proof of legal presence or Alberta residency. Motor Vehicles will confirm these requirements at the time of adding the attribute.

Additional Requirements

A registry agent must:

• Inform the client that Alberta law requires clients to surrender the driver’s licence from their home jurisdiction.
• Forward the surrendered licence and International Driver’s Permit (IDP), if applicable, to Motor Vehicles immediately after completing the service.
  • Service Alberta
    Motor Vehicles and Registries Administration
    ATTN: Team Lead, Motor Vehicles
    Mezzanine Floor, John E. Brownlee Building
    10365 - 97 Street
    Edmonton, AB  T5J 3W7

MOVES Processing

The registry agent must:

• Capture a screen print of the Motor Vehicles alert and submit it for imaging.
• Issue the class of licence that is stated in the Reciprocal Licensing Agreement with Alberta; see 3.10.14 Reciprocal Agreement Countries.
  • If the client is exchanging a licence from a country that has not signed a Reciprocal Licensing Agreement with Alberta, they must be issued an Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence. A knowledge and road test are not required.
• Enter “CC” as the reciprocal jurisdiction in the out of province licence field.
• Use the date the foreign licence was issued as the date first licenced.
• Photocopy the front and back of the out of country reciprocal licence and support documents, if applicable, and submit for imaging.
• Fax a copy of the foreign licence and support documents, if applicable, to Motor Vehicles immediately after completing the service.

Fees

For out of province operator first fees see the Registry Agent Product Catalogue (pdf).

No Charge

The following regulation codes are used to issue a Consul licensing service:

• Regulation 00-fee to override the government fee.
  • Only for Consuls and Vice Consuls (clients with the consul attribute)
• Regulation no-comp to override the registry agent’s service charge.
  • For all Consul licensing services (including consular staff and family members)

The reason for the no charge Consul licensing service must be indicated on the driver’s licence application.

For reimbursement information, see 1.10.17 Registry Agent Service Fee Reimbursement.

Imaging

The signed application form and all supporting documents must be sent for imaging; see the appropriate sub-section in 1.15 Imaging.

Date Originally Issued: May 08, 2006
Date Last Revised: May 03, 2021