Policy

Clients originating from Saskatchewan (SK) who are lawfully entitled to be or to remain in Canada and have now established residency in Alberta may exchange their valid SK driver’s licence for an Alberta driver’s licence of an equivalent class.

• See Table 1 - Driver Licence Equivalencies to determine Alberta’s equivalent driver's licence class.
• See Table 2 – Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
• See Table 3 - Code Equivalencies to determine Alberta’s equivalent condition/restriction codes.
• When a SK driver’s licence has not been valid within the last three years, full testing is required; see 3.15.02 Out of Province Operator First.
  • When a client has passed their vision and Class 7 knowledge test and has had the Class 7 licence issued, the client may take a road test for the class of licence (or lower class) that they held at the time their licence expired (this does not apply to the Class 6 motorcycle licence category).  The client must meet all applicable licensing requirements, including passing the knowledge test for that class of licence; see 3.00.01 Driver Licence Classifications.
    • If the client fails the knowledge or road test for a Class 1 they must complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway to retain that Class of licence; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
• Clients have a 10-day waiting period when reclassifying their Alberta non-GDL Class 5 or 6 to an Alberta Class 1, 2, 3, or 4 driver’s licence.
  • During this period Alberta confirms the client’s SK driver’s information.

Medicals

The following clients must submit a current medical report before exchanging their SK driver’s licence:

• Clients with a medical condition or physical disability that may affect their ability to drive. 
• Clients exchanging for an Alberta 1, 2 or 4 driver’s licence. 
• Clients who are 75 years of age or older.

Licensing Requirements

A client must:

• Provide acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification/Enrolment. 
• Be 18 years of age or older.
  • When the client is less than 18 years of age, consent for a minor, proof of self-sufficiency or marriage, as is applicable, is required; see 2.00.02 Minor - Consent/Self Sufficiency.
• Meet all licence class requirements for the class of driver’s licence being applied for; see 3.00.01 Driver Licence Classifications.
• 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. 
• Provide proof of date first licenced or length of time licenced to determine if they should be placed in the GDL Program; see 3.20.02 Graduated Driver Licence (GDL) Program and 3.05.04 Date First Licenced (DFL).
  • Clients exchanging a SK Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 driver’s licence are not subject to the GDL Program.
  • Clients exchanging a non-GDL licence with less than two years of driving experience or have been suspended/received a traffic contravention in the past year are automatically placed in the GDL Program. 
• For Class 1 drivers, provide proof of length of time licenced in that class to determine if they are required to complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • Prior to issuing an Alberta Class 1 driver’s licence, see Table 2 – Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway below.
• Surrender their SK driver’s licence (including valid temporary/interim licences). 
  • When a client has lost their driver’s licence, an official document (such as a confirmation letter or a driver’s abstract), not dated more than 90 days, from SK’s licensing authority detailing the content of the driver’s licence, may be accepted in place of the lost driver’s licence.

Note:
Saskatchewan interim/temporary licences are printed on plain white paper and are acceptable: they are only printed at Saskatchewan motor licence issuers.

A registry agent must securely retain surrendered out of province licences for one week, then shred them.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the licensing requirements the client may also have to successfully complete a knowledge and/or road test when special restrictions are indicated on their SK driver’s licence such as: area, speed or hours of operation.

MOVES Processing

A registry agent must:

• Complete a CCMTA Interprovincial Record Exchange (IRE) search; see 3.10.20 Interprovincial Record Exchange Searches & Close Outs for Driver’s Licences (CCMTA).
• Enter the DFL date as displayed on the CCMTA IRE.
  • For a SK class 7 learner’s licence the issue date from CCMTA IRE must be used as the DFL or a confirmation letter displaying an earlier date (proof must be forwarded to Motor Vehicles).
• Enter the OOP-LIC field requirements using the following format:
  • SK/licence #/class as displayed in SK/codes as displayed in SK/expiry date in YYYYMMDD format (do not enter the CCMTA or Alberta equivalent licence class/conditions/restrictions).
• For clients exchanging a Class 1 SK driver’s Licence, enter the MLSTN field requirements in the following format (see table 2 “Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway” below for more information):
  • Applicable milestone/jurisdiction/today’s date.
• Process a driver's licence close out; see 3.10.20 Interprovincial Record Exchange Searches & Close Outs for Driver’s Licences (CCMTA).

Amendments to a Client File

When amendments or corrections are made to a client file, a registry agent must immediately send copies of the relevant support documents to Motor Vehicles. Examples:

• Proof of date of birth is required if the date of birth is different on the CCMTA search results and surrendered SK driver’s licence. 
• Proof of airbrake endorsement when adding a Condition Code Q.  

Note: A client must be created using the exact name and date of birth as it appears on their SK licence. If the client identifies that a name change is required; a registry agent must complete a tracked change to the MOVES client file.   If the client identifies that a DOB change is required; a registry agent must contact Registries Assurance to complete a DOB correction to the MOVES client file. The client must remain in the office while the DOB correction is completed.

Table 1 – Driver Licence Equivalencies

The below table displays the Alberta licence class equivalencies for licence classes from SK.

SK Classes	1	1, 2	1, 3	4	5 Novice I 5 Novice II	6	7	8
AB Equivalent	1	2	34	4	5	6	7	No Equivalent

• A SK Class 1 with an airbrake endorsement, issued over 24 months ago, must be exchanged for an Alberta Class 1 driver’s licence.
  • For Class 1 Equivalencies for MELT; see Table 2.   
• A SK Class 1 without an airbrake endorsement, issued over 24 months ago, must be exchanged for an Alberta Class 2 (medical required) or an Alberta Class 3 driver’s licence. 
  • The client is allowed to later upgrade to an Alberta Class 1 when an air brake endorsement is presented within one year of a licence exchange without having to complete a knowledge and road test.
  • For Class 1 Equivalencies for MELT; see Table 2. 
• Contact Registries Assurance when you receive a SK Class 1 with a Restriction Code G “May only drive under special conditions”. 

Table 2 – Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway

Jurisdiction	Class	Length of time Licenced in Class	Class 1 Knowledge and Road Test?	Class 1 Learning Pathway?
SK	1 with ELT designation	N/A	No	No
	1 without ELT designation	>24 months	No	No
		12-24 months	Yes	Yes (if client failed enhanced knowledge or road test. May apply for the Experience and Equivalency Program.)
		< 12 months	Yes	Yes

• An SK Class 1 driver’s licence with MELT designation, regardless of the length of time licenced, does not require a Class 1 knowledge or road test, or the Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • A registry agent must add the OOPELT1 milestone in the MLSTN field, which will result in the ELT1 designation being printed the Alberta driver’s licence. A copy of the licence or CCMTA IRE search results showing successful completion of MELT must be sent for imaging.
• An SK Class 1 driver who does not have an ELT designation but has held a Class 1 licence in SK for more than 24 months is not required to complete a knowledge test, road test, or the Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • A registry agent must enter the MANLOOP1 milestone in the MLSTN field. The Alberta driver’s licence will print with no designation.
• An SK Class 1 driver who does not have an ELT designation and has held a Class 1 licence in SK for 12 – 24 months must complete a Class 1 knowledge and road test. If they fail either the knowledge test or road test, they must complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway through the Experience and Equivalency program; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • If client passes the knowledge and road test, when processing the licence exchange, a registry agent must enter the MANLOOP1 milestone in the MLSTN field. The Alberta driver’s licence will print with no designation.
• If the CCMTA IRE Issue Date is less than 24 months and the client has more driving history, they must provide a confirmation letter from SK that states when they first obtained a Class 1 driver’s licence.
  • A copy of the confirmation letter must be sent to Motor Vehicles and attached as a support document to the service.
• Clients can use their valid (not expired) SK driver’s licence for the road test.
• If a client fails either the knowledge or road test, they must be issued the next allowable Class of licence in Alberta.
  • A registry agent must place a five year alert on the client file stating “Client has failed the out of province Class 1 testing and cannot reclass to a Class 1 driver’s licence without successfully completing the Class 1 Learning Pathway and passing the Class 1 knowledge and road test.”
    • If the client passed the knowledge test but failed the road test, the knowledge test permit results are still valid for one year from the date validated as passed.

Table 3 – Code Equivalencies

The following table shows the Alberta equivalent for condition/restriction codes that may appear on a SK driver’s licence. When the SK driver’s licence has a condition/restriction code, an equivalent Alberta condition/restriction code must be placed on the Alberta driver’s licence.

When no Alberta Equivalent code appears in Table 3 – Code Equivalences for a specific endorsement/restriction/condition code on a client’s SK driver’s licence, the registry agent must question the client to determine the reason/purpose of the code.

For more information on the Alberta equivalent codes, including requirements for adding and removing, see QR 3.3 Condition Codes / Endorsements. 

Saskatchewan Restriction Codes	Alberta Equivalent
A - Corrective lenses	Condition Code A
B - Prohibited from driving at night	Condition Code H
C - Within 40 km radius of address shown on licence	Road Test Required
D - Within 80 km radius of address shown on licence	Road Test Required
E - Outside limits of any city except as a learner	No Equivalent
F - Equipped with 2 outside mirrors	Condition Code J
G - Medical Condition or Examiner Condition (Customized wording) – Client must submit a driver’s medical if a medical condition is indicated.	No Equivalent
H - Three wheeled motorcycles only in Class 6 or Endorsement M.       2-wheeled motorcycles as a learner only.	Condition Code V
J - Motorcycles under 50 cc’s only in Class 6 or Endorsement M.      Larger motorcycles as a learner only.	No Equivalent
L - Not to operate Class 2 or 4 vehicles	Condition Code N
M - Automatic/electronic shift transmissions only in Classes 1, 2, & 3.        May drive standard shift as a learner.	If Class 1 - Condition Code R If Class 2 or 3 - No Equivalent
N – School bus with automatic transmission. May only drive a school bus with an        automatic transmission.	No Equivalent

 

Saskatchewan Endorsement Codes	Alberta Equivalent
A - Airbrake endorsement combinations	Condition Code - Q
M - Motorcycle	Issue Class 6
S - School Bus	No Equivalent
A number 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 in the endorsement space means the driver is authorized to operate that class of vehicle as a learner.	No Equivalent

For condition/restriction codes that may appear on the CCMTA IRE search, see 3.10.20 Interprovincial Record Exchange Searches & Close Outs for Driver’s Licences (CCMTA) and QR 3.6 CCMTA Condition Code Equivalencies. 

Imaging

All supporting documents, including documentation from other jurisdiction showing driver record information (such as confirmation letters/driver’s abstracts) must be sent for imaging; see the appropriate sub-section in 1.15 Imaging.

Date Originally Issued: Feb 08, 2011
Date Last Revised: Apr 01, 2025