SGI adds 24 European countries to skip driver’s license testing

As Saskatchewan marks record population growth in 2023 due largely to international immigration, the province is ensuring many newcomers can get behind the wheel with fewer barriers.

SGI announced Thursday an expansion to the driver’s license reciprocity program to include 24 European countries.

This agreement means drivers from these countries, listed below, will not need to take courses or pass a driving test to obtain a Saskatchewan Class 5 driver’s license.

“Saskatchewan continues to grow and welcome people from around the world,” Minister responsible for SGI Dustin Duncan said in a news release. “Extending driver’s license reciprocity to more countries makes it easier for newcomers to our province to live and work here with a sense of home.”

According to Statistics Canada data, Saskatchewan’s population hit 1,209,107 on July 1. Over the past year, the provincial government said the population jumped by 30,685 people, which adds up to “the largest increase in a single year in more than a century.”

In the second quarter of 2023, the province’s population rose by 8,567 people thanks largely to international migration, the provincial government added.

“Supporting newcomers and ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to make Saskatchewan their home is an important priority for our province,” Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jeremy Harrison said in the news release.

Drivers from the countries added to SGI’s reciprocity agreement use the same license, which SGI determined matched Saskatchewan’s policies and testing standards.