The Quebec government is making an important change for immigrants. They must absolutely pass the practical test, otherwise they will not be able to drive a vehicle alone.
Quebec restricts access to the right to drive to improve road safety
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Ms. Geneviève Guilbault, announced today that her government intends to modify the License Regulations in order to better regulate access to the right to drive for people wishing to establish in Quebec.
In the future, if they fail their practical test, holders of a foreign driving license will lose the right to drive alone and will be issued with a learner’s license which will allow them to improve their knowledge and skills of driving.
This measure will not apply to new arrivals from other Canadian provinces, the United States or the 14 countries with which Quebec has a reciprocity agreement, for whom skills exams are not required, except for certain classes of licenses.
Driving license applications made by people from abroad have seen a substantial increase in recent years:
2022 : 49 919
2023 : 85 329
2024 (projected): 120,000
What Minister Geneviève Guilbault says
“The dramatic increase in immigration to Quebec has significant repercussions on our services, but also on our roads. With high failure rates among newcomers, it was imperative to act to tighten the rules for access to driving. The change made ensures that a person who has not demonstrated their ability to drive cannot continue to get behind the wheel alone, until they have demonstrated their ability to respect the rules and adopt behaviors safe driving in Quebec. This change is necessary to protect all road users, especially vulnerable users like our children and our elders”
Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
