International Driving Permit(IDP)

How to apply online?

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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