What is an international driving permit?
An International Driving Permit is a permit that allows you to drive in countries where a UK licence alone is not sufficient.
Do I need an international driving permit?
If you hold a UK driving license and plan to drive in these countries USA, Brazil and Japan you will require an IDP.
How to apply an international driving permit?
You can apply for an IDP at your local post office. Simply bring the required documents.
What do I need to apply for an International driving permit?
- Applicant’s valid UK driver’s license
- Applicant’s passport size photograph – this must meet passport photo standards
If you only have a paper Driving Licence, rather than a Photocard Licence, you or the person applying on your behalf, will need to provide the following supporting documents:
- Applicant’s Paper UK driver’s license
- Applicant’s passport size photograph – this must meet passport photo standards
- Applicant’s Proof of identity – valid Passport
What Countries require an International driving permit?
| Country | IDP | Other requirements |
| Albania | 1968 | |
| Algeria | 1949 | |
| Andorra | 1949 | |
| Argentina | 1949 | |
| Armenia | 1968 | |
| Australia | 1949 | |
| Austria | 1968 | If you have a photocard licence, you only need an IDP if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and your stay is over 6 months. If you have an older, paper licence, you will need an IDP if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, no matter how long you are staying. |
| 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 | 1949 | |
| Barbados | 1949 | |
| Belarus | 1968 | |
| Belgium | 1968 | You only need an IDP if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and you stay is over 185 days. |
| Benin | 1949 | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1968 | |
| Botswana | 1949 | IDP needed for car hire. |
| Brazil | 1968 | You need to get a certified translation of your IDP from the British consulate. |
| Bulgaria | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Burkina Faso | 1949 | |
| Cambodia | 1949 | |
| Canada | 1949 | |
| Cape Verde | 1968 | |
| Central African Republic | 1968 | |
| Chile | 1949 | |
| Congo | 1949 | |
| Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | 1968 | |
| Croatia | 1968 | |
| Cuba | 1968 | |
| Cyprus | 1949 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Czech Republic | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 1968 | |
| Denmark | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Dominican Republic | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Ecuador | 1949 | |
| Egypt | 1949 | |
| Estonia | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| 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 do not need an IDP to drive here. You will not need an IDP to drive here when the UK leaves the EU. |
| France | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| French Polynesia | 1968 | |
| Georgia | 1968 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Germany | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Ghana | 1949 | |
| Greece | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| 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 | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Iceland | 1949 | You only need an IDP if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and your stay is over 1 month. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. |
| India | 1949 | |
| Iran | 1968 | |
| Iraq | 1968 | |
| Israel | 1968 | |
| Italy | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| 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 | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Lebanon | 1949 | |
| Lesotho | 1949 | |
| Liberia | 1968 | |
| Libya | 1949 | |
| Liechtenstein | 1926 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Lithuania | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Luxembourg | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Macao (Macau) | 1949 | |
| Madagascar | 1949 | |
| Malawi | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Malaysia (Sabah) | 1949 | |
| Mali | 1949 | |
| Malta | 1949 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Mexico | 1926 | |
| Moldova | 1968 | |
| Monaco | 1968 | |
| Mongolia | 1968 | |
| Montenegro | 1968 | |
| Morocco | 1968 | |
| Myanmar (previously Burma) | 1968 | |
| Namibia | 1949 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Netherlands | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| New Zealand | 1949 | |
| Niger | 1968 | |
| Nigeria | 1949 | You’ll need a 1968 permit instead to drive here on or after 18 October 2019. |
| North Macedonia | 1968 | |
| Norway | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| 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 | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Portugal | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Qatar | 1968 | |
| Romania | 1968 | You do not need an IDP unless the UK leaves the EU without a deal. If you have an older, paper licence, you will need an IDP if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, no matter how long you are staying. |
| 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 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Slovenia | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| 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) | 1949 | If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October 2019, you’ll be able to drive here without an IDP until 31 July 2020. From 1 August 2020 onwards, you will need an IDP if you’re staying in Spain for more than 6 months. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. |
| 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 | 1968 | Required in case of no deal brexit. |
| Switzerland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. You will not need an IDP to drive here when the UK leaves the EU. |
| Syria | 1949 | |
| Tajikistan | 1968 | |
| Thailand | 1949 | |
| 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 |