What is an IDP?

This internationally recognised document 
is required when driving overseas.

IDPs support a British or Northern Irish licence in countries where photographic proof of ID is needed, or where your licence alone may
not be enough. 


There are 3 types of IDPs, and the right one for you depends on the 
country or countries you wish to drive in.

How do I get an international driving permit?

If you have a full UK driving licence - either a photocard or paper version - you can apply for an IDP at PayPoint stores.

If you hold a driving licence from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a foreign country or drive under a diplomatic licence, you are unfortunately not eligible to apply.

Things you will need:

Full valid GB or Northern Ireland driving licence -

photocard or an older paper licence

The £5.50 application fee

(cash or card)

A passport standard photograph -

a recent true likeness of the applicant

Original valid passport as proof of identification,

if presenting an older paper version licence

Which IDP do I need?

Search for the country you intend to drive in and see which IDP you require.
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Country or region
Type of IDP
More information
Albania
1968
Algeria
1949
Andorra
1949
Armenia
1968
Australia
1949
Austria
None

You don't need an IDP to drive here

Azerbaijan
1968
Bahamas
1968

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Bahrain
1968

IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days. You must get your permit certified by local authorities when you arrive

Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Belarus
1968
Belgium
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. If you have a paper driving licence, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Belgian Embassy

Benin
1949
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1968

IDP needed for car hire

Brazil
1968
Bulgaria
None

You don't need an IDP to drive here

Burkina Faso
1949
Cambodia
1949
Canada
1949
Cape Verde
1968
Central African Republic
1968
Chile
1949
Congo
1949
Code d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
1968
Croatia
None

If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Croatian Embassy

Cuba
1968
Cyprus
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for visits up to 30 days. For visits longer than 30 days you’ll need a 1949 IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1949 IDP for any length of visit. Check with the High Commission of Cyprus

Czech Republic
None

If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Czech Republic Embassy

Democratic Republic of Congo
1968
Denmark
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days

Dominican Republic
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Ecuador
1949
Egypt
1949
Estonia
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you hold a paper driving licence you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Estonian Embassy

Eswatini (previously Swaziland)
1949

If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident

Fiji
1949
Finland
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here

France
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here

French Polynesia
1968
Georgia
1968

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Germany
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the German Embassy

Ghana
1949
Greece
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here

Guam
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident

Guatemala
1949
Guyana
1968
Haiti
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Hungary
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Hungarian Embassy

Iceland
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 30 days

India
1949
Iran
1968
Iraq
1968
Ireland
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months

Israel
1968
Italy
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here

Jamaica
1949
Japan
1949
Jordan
1949
Kazakhstan
1968
Kenya
1968

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Kuwait
1968
Kyrgyzstan
1968
Laos
1949
Latvia
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here

Lebanon
1949
Lesotho
1949
Liberia
1968
Libya
1949
Liechtenstein
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here

Lithuania
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months

Luxembourg
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months

Macao (Macau)
1949
Madagascar
1949
Malawi
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Malaysia (Sabah)
1949
Mali
1949
Malta
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1949 IDP. Check with the Malta High Commission

Mexico
1926
Moldova
1968
Monaco
1968
Mongolia
1968
Montenegro
1968
Morocco
1968
Myanmar (previously Burma)
1968
Namibia
1949

IDP needed for car hire. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident

Nepal
1968
Netherlands
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here

New Zealand
1949
Niger
1968
Nigeria
1968
North Macedonia
1968
Norway
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days. If you hold a paper driving licence you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Norwegian Embassy

Pakistan
1968
Papua New Guinea
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days

Paraguay
1949
Peru
1968
Philippines
1968

IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days

Poland
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months

Portugal
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months

Qatar
1968
Romania
None

If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Romanian Embassy

Russian Federation
1968
Rwanda
1949
San Marino
1968
Saudi Arabia
1968

IDP needed for car hire

Senegal
1968
Serbia
1968
Seychelles
1968
Sierra Leone
1949
Singapore
1949

IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 30 days

Slovakia
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. For visits longer than 6 months you’ll need a 1968 IDP

Slovenia
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. For visits longer than 6 months you’ll need a 1968 IDP

Somalia
1926
South Africa
1968

If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident

South Korea
1949
Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles)
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months

Sri Lanka
1949

As well as the IDP, you must get a Sri Lankan recognition permit from the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) in Colombo

St. Lucia
1949

Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor’s licence

St. Vincent
1949

Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor’s licence

Sweden
None

You don’t need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months

Switzerland
None

You don't need an IDP to drive here

Syria
1949
Taiwan
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days

Tajikistan
1968
Thailand
1968
Togo
1949
Trinidad & Tobago
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Tunisia
1968
Turkey
1968
Turkmenistan
1968
Uganda
1949

IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days

Ukraine
1968
United Arab Emirates
1968
United States
1949

If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident

Uruguay
1968
Uzbekistan
1968
Vatican City
1949
Venezuela
1949
Vietnam
1968
Zimbabwe
1968

Thinking of driving abroad?

To ensure you understand the rules when driving abroad, the GOV.UK website contains all the information you need. 

Got a question? Ask us anything

Popular topics

Which countries require an IDP?

Not every country requires an IDP. You can use our country checker tool to search for the country you wish to visit and its requirements.

I am a foreign national, can I apply for an IDP?

If you hold a full, valid GB or Northern Ireland driving licence, you can apply for an IDP. If you hold an international driving licence, you will need to check your country's agreement on driving in your destination country. 

Is someone else able to apply for an IDP on my behalf?

Yes, anyone can apply for an IDP on your behalf if they have all of your correct documents. They will need:

  • your full valid GB or Northern Ireland driving licence – which can be a photocard or an older paper licence (if you have a paper licence, a valid passport will be required as proof of identification)
  • your passport standard photograph (detailed in the FAQ below)
  • the correct fee
What photograph do I need for an IDP?

You will need a photograph for each permit you apply for, and it must be:

  • recent, a true likeness of the applicant and of the full head
  • in colour, against a light background
  • clear, in sharp focus, free from 'red eye’ and with no shadows
  • free from any reflection or glare from glasses
  • in good condition, not damaged, creased, torn, or marked
Will I need my driving licence and IDP to drive in my destination country?

Yes. You need to carry your IDP and a valid GB or Northern Ireland driving licence.

How long does an IDP last?

Depending on the type of IDP needed for your destination country, IDPs might be valid for one to 3 years. A 1968 IDP remains valid for 3 years, or until your driving licence expires, whichever comes first.

Providing you have the correct IDP, you can use your IDP in as many countries as you like whilst it is still valid. No matter how long the IDP is valid, some countries, like Japan, only let you drive with one for a year.

When can I apply for an IDP?

You may apply for an IDP up to 3 months before your date of travel. Permits cannot be backdated.

I am visiting more than one country; can I apply for more than one IDP?

You may apply for as many IDPs as you need. Please remember that you will need a passport standard photograph for each IDP.