How to Get a Window Tint Exemption in Alberta (2026)

Reviewed 25 September 2026 against alberta.ca

Alberta does not allow tinting film on the windshield or on the windows to the left and right of the driver. The only way to have film on those windows legally is a medical exemption permit from the Government of Alberta. It is a permit you apply for, not a letter you carry; it costs $55; and the only film it allows is clear UV film with a combined visible light transmittance of 50% or more. This is the process as the province publishes it on its vehicle window tint exemption page.

Who Can Apply

• A driver with a valid Alberta driver's licence and a physician's note that clearly states the medical condition and shows that tinting is needed on the front driver or passenger side windows.
• Approved conditions: diagnosed or recurrent skin cancer (melanoma, basal or squamous cell), and diagnosed bullous pemphigus.
• Not considered: photophobia, migraine, cataracts and rosacea, "as these conditions can be mitigated by other treatment measures".
• Passengers: requests may not be supported, because a passenger can sit in the back of most vehicles, where tinting is permitted.

The Process, Step by Step

1. Check that you qualify. You need a valid Alberta driver's licence and a physician's note that clearly states one of the approved conditions.
2. Email your request to the permitting and exemptions address listed on the alberta.ca page, with your full name, a copy of the physician's note, and any relevant supporting information.
3. Wait for the review. It can take several weeks; a Medical Review Committee may look at the request.
4. Receive the decision. If approved, you are issued a permit and pay the $55 permit fee.
5. Install only the approved film: clear UV film with a combined visible light transmittance of 50% or more. If film already on those windows is below 50% combined, it must be replaced with clear UV film.
6. Carry the permit in the vehicle it was issued for, and show it to police when asked.

What the Permit Allows, and What It Doesn't

"Combined" matters: glass on its own doesn't let all visible light through, so the film and the glass are measured together. A film that reads well above 50% on its own can still fall below 50% once it is on the window, which is why the installed result is metered.

Checklist Before You Apply

Rear Windows and Other Provinces

The rear side windows and the rear window are outside Alberta's restriction, so film there doesn't need an exemption; our Alberta tint law guide covers the full rule. An Alberta permit is an Alberta document: other provinces set their own rules, and British Columbia, for example, doesn't allow film on the front side windows either (see tint rules in Canada).

If you hold a permit and want the clear UV film installed, bring the permit when you book so the film can be matched to its terms. For film on the rear glass, our window tinting page lists the options.