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The short answer
Nigeria is not on Alberta's reciprocal list, so you must take a Class 7 knowledge test at a registry office and then pass a Class 5 road test once Alberta's Special Investigations Unit has reviewed your file. Permanent residents must exchange within 90 days of becoming resident. If your surrendered licences prove two years or more of driving you receive a full Class 5; with less than 24 months you get a Class 5 GDL licence (Alberta, published August 2026).
Why you have to test
Alberta exchanges licences without testing only for drivers from places on its reciprocal list. That list covers the United States and Ukraine under their own rules, and a long list of European and Asia-Pacific countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. Nigeria is not on it, as at the page published 4 August 2026. Drivers licensed in Nigeria go through testing, and how much driving history you can prove decides which licence you end up with.
The 90-day rule
Alberta says permanent residents must exchange their current licence within 90 days of becoming a resident, and that the deadline still runs if you leave Alberta during that time. Start the process early: the knowledge test, the file review and the road test booking all take time, and you cannot rush the review.
Which tests, in what order
| Step | What happens | What you need to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Registry office | You take the Class 7 knowledge test | This is the learner-level written test; study the Alberta driver's guide |
| 2. Surrender and review | Your licence and application go to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) | You surrender all valid and expired licences you hold, and any International Driving Permit; none are returned |
| 3. While you wait | You may drive on a Class 7 licence | Only with a supervising driver aged 18 or over who holds a full Class 5 or higher |
| 4. Check back | After 10 business days you return to a registry office | You learn whether your application was accepted |
| 5. Road test | You pass a Class 5 road test | The page says Class 5 road test; check the booking page for which version applies to you |
The page does not list fees for these steps. Ask the registry office for the current knowledge test, road test and licence charges before you go.
Full Class 5 or Class 5 GDL
The outcome turns on experience you can prove. Alberta says that if the licences you surrendered can prove two years or more of driving experience, you receive a full Class 5 licence. With fewer than 24 months, you are issued a Class 5 GDL licence and enter the graduated driver licensing programme. You can shorten the GDL probation by up to six months by completing an approved driver training course.
Proof is judged against the "Minimum Acceptance Standards" in Alberta's GDL Exemption User Guide, and the page warns that some jurisdictions need more evidence of driving history. It recommends meeting those requirements before you apply. For a Nigerian driver whose current card was issued recently, that means bringing evidence of when you were first licensed rather than relying on the card's issue date.
Documents and translation
- Submit original documents only.
- Everything must be in English or come with a written translation by an Approved Document Translator. Nigerian licences are in English; other supporting papers may not be.
- Bring every licence you hold, including expired ones. Alberta asks for all valid and expired licences in your possession.
A worked example
This is why keeping your old Nigerian licence cards matters. Alberta asks you to surrender expired licences as well, and they may be the only proof of your first licensed date. If you no longer have them, see our guide on getting a driving experience letter from FRSC.
Before you surrender your Nigerian licence
Surrendered licences are not returned and Alberta does not give copies. Photograph both sides of every card first. If you plan to drive on visits home, think about what you will hold in Nigeria once the card is gone; ask FRSC about replacement before you travel. An International Driving Permit only works alongside a home licence, and in Canada the Canadian Automobile Association is the only body authorised to issue one; in Alberta you apply through AMA or a CAA club.
What to check first
- When did you become an Alberta resident, and when does your 90-day deadline fall?
- Do your licences, old and new, prove two years of driving?
- Are any documents not in English, and do you have an approved translation?
- Have you photographed every card before surrendering it?
- Is a supervising Class 5 driver available while you hold Class 7?
Health cover is the other early task in Alberta: see how to register for Alberta Health Care. For the full arrival list, read your first 90 days of money in Canada, and if you are driving in Ontario instead, compare Ontario's rules.
Questions people ask
Can I exchange a Nigerian licence in Alberta without a test?
No. Nigeria is not on Alberta's reciprocal list, so you take a Class 7 knowledge test and a Class 5 road test after the SIU reviews your file.
How long can I drive in Alberta on my Nigerian licence?
Alberta says permanent residents must exchange within 90 days of becoming resident, even if they leave the province during that period.
Will I get a full Class 5 or a GDL licence?
A full Class 5 if your surrendered licences prove two years or more of driving; a Class 5 GDL licence with fewer than 24 months.
Do I get my Nigerian licence back in Alberta?
No. Surrendered licences and documents are not returned and copies are not provided, so photograph them first.
Sources
- Alberta: Exchange non-Alberta licences (published 4 Aug 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission Ottawa: Driver's licence authentication (undated) · accessed Oct 2026
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