C-24.2, r. 17 - Regulation respecting a Reciprocal Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the Gouvernement du Québec and the Government of Japan concerning the exchange of driver’s licences

Updated to 12 December 2023

This document has official status.

chapter C-24.2, r. 17

Regulation respecting a Reciprocal Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the Gouvernement du Québec and the Government of Japan concerning the exchange of driver’s licences

Highway Safety Code

(chapter C-24.2, s. 631).

1. The application of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2) to a person holding a driver’s licence issued by the Government of Japan is subject to the provisions in the Reciprocal Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the Gouvernement du Québec and the Government of Japan concerning the exchange of driver’s licences, the text of which is attached hereto.

O.C. 297-96, s. 1.

2. (Omitted).

O.C. 297-96, s. 2.

SCHEDULE

(s. 1)

Gouvernement du Québec

LE MINISTRE DES RELATIONS INTERNATIONALES

Québec, March 6th, 1996

Dear Consulate General:

I am honoured to quote the letter of the Consulate General of Japan in Montréal, dated 17 March 1993, pertaining to the obtention of a Québec driver’s licence.

The letter of your Consulate General read as follows:

“Dear Deputy Minister:

Because of the considerable number of Japanese staying in Québec, we have looked into the difficulty for them to obtain a Québec driver’s licence.

As you may well know, any person holding a Québec driver’s licence and staying in Japan may obtain a “regular” Japanese driver’s licence, provided that he passes an eye test and pays the fees prescribed by regulation.

We would like to see reciprocity applied by the Gouvernement du Québec in respect of Japanese nationals holding Japanese driver’s licences. Presently, a Japanese residing in Québec must pass a written examination, a road test and an eye test in order to obtain a Québec driver’s licence.

That situation causes a lot of inconvenience to Japanese residing here with their family, whose adaptation to Québec should be made as easy as possible.

The Consulate General of Japan in Montréal would be very grateful if the Gouvernement du Québec took the measures required to simplify the procedures for obtaining a driver’s licence.

Mr. Blouin, I would be extremely grateful if you would take action with the competent authorities of the Gouvernement du Québec.

Yours truly,

SHUNICHI SATOH

Consulate General of Japan

I am also honoured to provide you with the following answers to the requests made in the said letter.

The Ministère des Relations internationales has taken note of the fact that any person holding a Québec driver’s licence and staying in Japan may obtain a Japanese driver’s licence, provided he passes an eye test and pays the fees prescribed by regulation.

The Gouvernement du Québec accepts that reciprocity be applied in respect of Japanese nationals holding Japanese driver’s licences and residing in Québec, in accordance with the following terms and conditions.

The Japanese driver’s licences recognized as valid by the Consulate General or the Embassy of Japan and authorizing to drive a passenger vehicle will be considered valid in Québec and it will be possible to exchange them for a Québec driver’s licence for passenger vehicles (Class 5) without undergoing a road test or a theoretical examination, provided that the person applies therefor within 90 days of his settlement in Québec and that he pays the prescribed duties and insurance premium.

In the case of an international driver’s licence issued in Japan, non-resident Japanese nationals who hold one may drive in Québec road vehicles in the category for which such permit was issued, for the period of validity of the permit.

The terms and conditions for exchanging a Japanese driver’s licence for a Québec driver’s licence will come into force on 1 April 1996.

Yours sincerely,

SYLVAIN SIMARD,

Minister

Mr. Yuji Kurokawa, Consulate General

Consulate General of Japan

600, rue de la Gauchetière Ouest

Bureau 2120

Montréal (Québec)

H3B 4L8

O.C. 297-96, Sch.

REFERENCES

O.C. 297-96, 1996 G.O. 2, 1541