International Driving Permit

Guide to Driving Abroad

An International Driving Permit (IDP), also known as an international driving license, serves as a globally recognized translation of a domestic driving license, enabling individuals to operate private vehicles in foreign countries that accept the IDP. This term was first introduced in the 1926 International Convention relative to Motor Traffic in Paris. It is a direct translation from the French 'permis de conduire international'. The term 'permit' is consistently used in international treaties to refer to all types of driving licenses.

The IDP is regulated under three major international conventions: the 1926 Paris Convention, the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, and the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. In cases where a country is a party to multiple conventions, the most recent convention supersedes the earlier ones.

Physically, an IDP is slightly larger than a passport, measuring 148 × 105 mm, with a grey cover and white inner pages. The outside and inside of the front cover are printed in the issuing country's national language(s). The final two pages are in French, and the preceding pages contain translations in several languages, including English, Russian, and Spanish. IDPs are issued either directly by national governments or through AIT/FIA organizations, or by authorized associations. Notable issuing organizations include the American Automobile Association in the United States, the Norwegian Automobile Federation in Norway, Riksförbundet M Sverige in Sweden and the Post Office in the UK. To counteract unofficial online sellers, the AIT/FIA maintains an approved directory of all IDP issuing organizations worldwide.

For an IDP to be valid, it must be presented alongside a valid driving license from the holder's country of residence. An IDP is unnecessary if the domestic license conforms to the standards of either the 1949 or 1968 conventions, allowing direct use in countries party to those conventions. Moreover, certain agreements, such as the European driving license within the European Economic Area, render the IDP unnecessary in specific regions.

You need an IDP when you're driving in or through certain countries. There are 3 types of IDP, depending on which particular piece of legislation the country follows:

• 1926 IDP
• 1949 IDP
• 1968 IDP

The 1926 International Convention relative to Motor Traffic represents the earlier framework for International Driving Permits (IDPs). Currently, this convention is only mandatory in Somalia. While IDPs based on the 1926 Convention might still be recognized in Liechtenstein and Mexico, it's important to note that these countries are also signatories to the more recent conventions mentioned earlier. Consequently, the latest convention a country has ratified typically takes precedence in terms of validity. Additionally, Mexico acknowledges the Inter-American Driving Permit as per the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic.

The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, embraced by 101 states, sets essential guidelines for driving permits and International Driving Permits (IDPs) detailed in Annexes 9 and 10. Switzerland, though a signatory, has not ratified this convention. According to the 1949 Geneva Convention, an IDP is valid for one year from its date of issue and includes a six-month grace period.

Additionally, there is a European Agreement that supplements the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic. This is complemented by the 1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, which was finalized in Geneva on September 16, 1950."

The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, updated in 2011, has been endorsed by 83 countries/jurisdictions. Notably, some countries like Australia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Iceland, Ireland, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, and the United States have not ratified the convention.

This convention primarily addresses regulations concerning driving licenses in its Annexes 6 (domestic driving permit) and 7 (International Driving Permit). The current version of these regulations has been in effect in each contracting party since 29 March 2011 or earlier, as stated in Article 43. The convention stipulates that an International Driving Permit (IDP) must have an expiration date no longer than three years from its issue or the expiration date of the national driving permit, whichever comes first. Furthermore, an IDP is valid for one year from the date of entry into a foreign country.

Key requirements for driving licenses outlined in Article 41 of the convention include:

1. Every motor vehicle driver must possess a driving license.
2. Driving permits are issued only after passing theoretical and practical exams, with standards set by each country or jurisdiction.
3. Contracting parties are required to recognize:
   - Domestic driving permits that comply with Annex 6 of the convention.
   - International Driving Permits conforming to Annex 7, provided they are accompanied by the corresponding domestic driving permit.
4. Driving permits issued in one contracting party are recognized in the territory of another, until the holder establishes residency in the new territory.
5. The convention does not apply to learner-driver licenses.
6. The validity of an IDP is either up to three years from the date of issue or until the domestic driving license expires, whichever is earlier.
7. Contracting parties may choose not to recognize driving licenses for individuals under 18, or under 21 for certain vehicle categories (C, D, CE, DE).
8. An IDP can only be issued by the contracting party where the holder resides and which issued or recognized the domestic driving permit. It is not valid for use within the territory of the issuing party."