International driving permit

Anyone who wishes to enjoy driving in a foreign country as long they have a driving permit should think about applying for the international driving permit (IDP) that allows motorists in foreign countries to drive without having to obtain local driver’s license ( recognized in over 150 countries worldwide). Carried in conjunction with a National / Domestic driver’s license, the IDP can help break down language barriers when traveling in across countries.

An IDP allows drivers to drive motor vehicles, even in foreign countries. It has a reasonable size of an A6 measuring
148 * 105 with a white color inside and a grey color outside. However, it has a period within which it can be used and is only applicable in countries with such jurisdiction. The IDPs are issued through the network of the AIT organizations that are authorized by their governments.  As there are many unofficial sellers on the internet, the AIT/FIA has created an approved directory to all IDP issuing organizations in the world. For IDP to be valid it must be accompanied by a valid driver’s license by the country of residence of the applicant.

What is IDP, and when can you use it?

IDP is a document that helps provide any information that is essential from your driver’s license. The best comparison would be – it is an official, approved translation of your license, that can be approved by the country where you travel. It does this based on the virtue of a treaty signed in 1949 by the United States and other foreign countries. The IDP is usually a transformation of a domestic driver’s license, which allows the holder of the international driving license to drive a private motor vehicle in any given country that only recognizes this particular document.

Why countries require International Driving permit?

  • A legal translation – the local authorities will recognize your credentials required for legal driving in the foreign country (English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Italian, German, Arabic and French, among others).
  • Authorization – the document certifies that you are allowed to drive vehicles of the certain category stated in your IDP.
  • Safety reasons – if you hold IDP, it means that they you have legally passed the exams of driving theory and practice, and you are able to participate in traffic securely.

What documents do you need to apply for the International Driving Licence?

  • Full valid driving licence (photocard or paper version)
  • 2 passport standard photographs
  • Form of payment for application fee
  • An identity document with identification photo if your driving licence doesn’t have a photo of you.

Format of the International Driving Permit

The IDP has a unique format compared to the local driver’s license. It is somewhat larger than a passport with a grey cover and white paper inside. The IDP should be printed inside the front cover in at least one of the state’s national languages, which is issuing the IDP. To make it valid, it should be accompanied by the driving license, which is to be issued in the applicant’s country of residence.

Check which IDP you need. There are 3 types of IDP:

  • 1926 (only required in Somalia, Mexico)
  • 1949 (valid one year)
  • 1968 (valid 3 years)

The IDP you need depends on what country you’re visiting. If you’re travelling through more than one country, you might need more than one type of IDP. Check with the embassy of the country you’re travelling to if the country you’re visiting is not included in the table. If you’re hiring a car, check with your car hire company.

List of countries that accept International Driving Permit

COUNTRYIDP TYPEDETAILS
Albania1968
Algeria1949
Andorra1949
Argentina1949
Armenia1968
Australia1949
AustriaNo need for IDP
Azerbaijan1968
Bahamas1968Required only if you stay longer than 90 days.
Bahrain1968Required only if you stay longer than 90 days or hire a car. Must be approved by the local authorities when you arrive.
Bangladesh1949
Barbados1949
Belarus1968
BelgiumNo need for IDP*
Benin1949
Bosnia and Herzegovina1968
Botswana1949Needed for car hire.
Brazil1968Certified translation required.
BulgariaNo need for IDP
Burkina Faso1949
Cambodia1949
Canada1949
Central African Republic1968
Chile1949
Congo1949
Côte d’Ivoire1968
CroatiaNo nee
Cuba1968
CyprusNo need for IDP*Up to 30 days.
Czech RepublicNo need for IDP*
DenmarkNo need for IDPUp to 90 days.
Dominican Republic1949If you stay longer than 90 days.
Ecuador1949
Egypt1949
EstoniaNo need for IDP*
Fiji1949
FinlandNo need for IDP
FranceNo need for IDP*
French Polynesia1968
Georgia1968If you stay longer than 90 days.
GermanyNo need for IDP*
Ghana1949
GreeceNo need for IDP
Guatemala1949
Guyana1968
Haiti1949If you stay longer than 90 days.
HungaryNo need for IDP*
IrelandNo need for IDPUp to 12 months.
India1949
IcelandNo need for IDPUp to 30 days.
Iran1968
Iraq1968
Israel1968
ItalyNo need for IDP*
Jamaica1949
Japan1949
Jordan1949
Kazakhstan1968
Kenya1968Needed if you stay longer than 90 days.
Kuwait1968
Kyrgyzstan1968
Laos1949
LatviaNo need for IDP
Lebanon1949
Lesotho1949
Liberia1968
Libya1949
LiechtensteinNo need for IDP
LithuaniaNo need for IDPUp to 6 months.
LuxembourgNo need for IDPUp to 6 months.
Macao1949
Madagascar1949
Malawi1949Needed if you stay longer than 90 days.
Malaysia1949
Mali1949
MaltaNo need for IDP*
Mexico1926
Moldova1968
Monaco1968
Montenegro1968
Morocco1968
Myanmar (Burma)1968
Namibia1949*
NetherlandsNo need for IDP*
New Zealand1949
Niger1968
Nigeria1968
North Macedonia1968
NorwayNo need for IDP*
Pakistan1968
Papua New Guinea1949For longer than 30 days.
Paraguay1949
Peru1968
Philippines1968For car hire and stays longer than 90 days.
PolandNo need for IDP*Up to 6 months.
PortugalNo need for IDP*Up to 6 months.
Qatar1968
RomaniaNo need for IDP*
Russia1968
Rwanda1949
San Marino1968
Saudi Arabia1968Needed to hire a car
Senegal1968
Serbia1968
Seychelles1968
Sierra Leone1949
Singapore1949Needed if you stay longer than 30 days.
Slovakia1968If you stay longer than 6 months.
SloveniaNo need for IDPUp to 90 days.
Somalia1926
South Africa1968*
South Korea1949
SpainNo need for IDPUp to 6 months.
Sri Lanka1949*
SwedenNo need for IDPFor up to 12 months.
SwitzerlandNo need for IDP
Syria1949
Taiwan1949Needed, if you stay longer than 30 days.
Tajikistan1968
Thailand1949
Togo1949
Trinidad and Tobago1949For stays longer than 90 days.
Tunisia1968
Turkey1968
Turkmenistan1968
Uganda1949For stays longer than 90 days.
Ukraine1968
United Arab Emirates1968
United KingdomNo need for IDPUp to 12 months.
United States1949*
Uruguay1968
Uzbekistan1968
Vatican City1949
Venezuela1949
Vietnam1968
Zimbabwe1968
*Exceptions apply. Visit the official embassy or consulate website of destination country to learn more.

What else should you know before applying

Before applying for an IDP, it is always prudent to know that you should hold a driving license in your local country and be at least 18 years old. The IDP cannot exceed that of the domestic drivers license. Some countries accepts IDPs of foreigners for a few weeks or for as a long as their tourist visa remain valid.

  • When filling out IDP application, write your domestic address.
  • Scanned passport standard photos are not accepted.
  • Choose an authorized IDP provider in your country ( often a type of official automobile club).
  • If you drive in a country where IDP is required and you do not have one, penalties can range from a fine to a citation. Highway patrols may seize the vehicle and arrest the driver or give him/her a citation for a mandatory court appearance.
  •  An IDP must be issued in the same country where the traveller’s domestic driver’s license was issued.
  • After a year you can renew your IDP (with a new photograph) , as long your domestic driving licence is valid.
  • You can apply for IDP only with a full driving licence.
  • N.B. while a certain country’s government may not require an IDP, car rental companies located in that country, may require an IDP to rent a car. 
  • Keep your domestic driving licence with you at all times!

Learn more about the IDP on the official website https://internationaldrivingpermit.org/