Transfers (National Mobility Agreement)
Permanent Transfer under the National Mobility Agreement
Purpose
Lawyers who wish to be licensed in Ontario who are from Canadian jurisdictions, which have signed and implemented the National Mobility Agreement (pdf) (NMA) and the Territorial Mobility Agreement (TMA) (reciprocating jurisdictions) may apply for permanent mobility under By-law 4 s. 9 (2).
Lawyers from the following reciprocating jurisdictions may apply for permanent transfer in order to be licensed in Ontario:
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland
Prince Edward Island
The Territories (permanent mobility only)
Northwest Territories
Yukon
Nunavut
Lawyers from Quebec who wish to be licensed in Ontario must apply for licence by way of the licensing examinations under By-law 4 s. 9 (1), as Quebec has not yet implemented the National Mobility Agreement.
Who can apply
Lawyers from reciprocating jurisdictions who are in good standing and entitled to practice in their home jurisdiction may apply to be licensed in Ontario under the National Mobility Agreement, and the Territorial Mobility Agreement, By-law 4 s. 9 (2).
Application Requirements
- Completed and original Application for licence under the NMA and By-law 4 s. 9 (2)
- Completed and original Certificates of Character and Reputation
- Non-refundable fee for administration, reading material, and Licensing
- Original Certificate(s) of Standing (dated within the last 30 days) from each law society of which the applicant is or has been a member. If the Certificate of Standing will be more than 60 days old by the deadline for the applicant to submit documents for Licensing, a new Certificate of Standing must be submitted for the file to be complete.
- Notarized copy of Canadian Birth Certificate as proof of age and full legal name, or, if applicant was not born in Canada, two other Canadian government issued documents with the applicant’s name appearing identically on each.
- Two coloured passport photos
- Required Reading Declaration
- Additional pertinent documents to comply with specific application requirements
- Complete information regarding your work history for the last 5 years
- All applications and related information and documentation must be correct, complete and received by the Administrative Compliance Department no later than 15 business days prior to the applicant's anticipated Licensing date
Application Process
This is a two-part process:
PART I Application for Mobility Transfer and Completion of the Required Reading Materials
All applications and pertinent attachments will be reviewed by Administrative Compliance (AC). If the review reveals that the application and/or attachments are deficient, an Administrative Compliance Representative will contact the applicant to request additional information or clarification.
Applicants must complete the required reading materials and submit the signed Reading Declaration before applications are approved for licensing.
Administrative Compliance requires 15 business days to process the Application for Transfer. The Administrative Compliance Representative will notify the applicants in writing confirming their approval.
PART II Licensing Process
Applicants will be notified by the Office of the Registrar to confirm details regarding the licensing process, once the permanent mobility application has been approved and the Reading Declaration has been submitted.
Non-refundable Administrative Fees
A non-refundable application fee in the amount of $1450 + HST must be submitted along with the Application for licence under the NMA and By-law 4 s. 9 (2). The application fee includes the administrative processing fee, the cost of reading materials, and licensing.
Links to Application and additional information
- Application for licence under the NMA and By-law 4 s. 9 (2) (pdf)
- Application for Licence Checklist (pdf)
- Application for Licence Fee Remittance Form (pdf)
- Certificate of Character and Reputation (pdf)
- Reading Declaration (pdf)
Links to Applicable By-law and the National Mobility Agreement
Questions
Application related questions should be directed to Administrative Compliance by contacting the Law Society Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-668-7380 X 3315) and asking to be transferred, or email Administrative Compliance using the Contact Page.
Questions concerning the Licensing Process should be directed to the Office of the Registrar by contacting the Law Society Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-668-7380 X 3315) and asking to be transferred, or email the Office of the Registrar using the Contact Page.