Do you need an international driving licence abroad?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is the official translation of your national licence into the languages of the UN 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna conventions, recognised in 150+ countries. It is never a standalone licence — you carry it together with your national licence. Rules differ by destination: some countries require an IDP for every foreign driver, some only if your licence isn't in the local language, and some simply recommend it for car rental. Not sure? Use the free IDP requirement checker.
Featured country guides
International Driving License in New Zealand →
Is a New Zealand licence valid abroad, which countries accept it, and how to get an IDP online.
International Driving License in Qatar →
Is a Qatar licence valid abroad, which countries accept it, and how to get an IDP online.
International Driving License in Oman →
Is a Oman licence valid abroad, which countries accept it, and how to get an IDP online.
International Driving License in Suriname →
Is a Suriname licence valid abroad, which countries accept it, and how to get an IDP online.
Browse driving rules by country
Every country we cover, with the requirement, the side of the road, the minimum age and which convention it has signed. Open any row for the full guide.
| Country | IDP | Drives on | Min. age | Convention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Albania | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Algeria | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Andorra | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Angola | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Argentina | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Armenia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Australia | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Austria | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Azerbaijan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Bahrain | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Bangladesh | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Belarus | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Belgium | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Belize | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Bhutan | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Bolivia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Botswana | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Brazil | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Brunei | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Bulgaria | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Burkina Faso | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Cambodia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Cameroon | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Canada | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 16+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Central African Republic | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Chad | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Chile | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| China | IDP not recognised | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Colombia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Congo - Brazzaville | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Congo - Kinshasa | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Costa Rica | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Côte d’Ivoire | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Croatia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Cuba | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Cyprus | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Czechia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Denmark | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Dominican Republic | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Ecuador | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Egypt | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| El Salvador | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Estonia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Eswatini | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Ethiopia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Fiji | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Finland | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| France | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Gabon | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Georgia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Germany | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Ghana | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Greece | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Guatemala | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Guyana | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Honduras | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Hong Kong | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Hungary | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Iceland | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 17+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| India | IDP required | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Indonesia | IDP required | Left-hand side | 17+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Iran | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Iraq | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Ireland | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 17+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Italy | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Jamaica | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Japan | IDP required | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Jordan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Kazakhstan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Kenya | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Kuwait | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Kyrgyzstan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Laos | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Latvia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Lebanon | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Libya | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Liechtenstein | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Lithuania | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Luxembourg | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Madagascar | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Malawi | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Malaysia | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Mali | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Malta | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Mauritius | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Mexico | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Moldova | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Monaco | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Mongolia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Montenegro | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Morocco | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Mozambique | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Myanmar (Burma) | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Namibia | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Nepal | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Netherlands | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| New Zealand | IDP required | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Nicaragua | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Niger | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Nigeria | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| North Macedonia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Norway | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Oman | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Pakistan | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Palestine | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | — | Vienna 1968 |
| Panama | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Paraguay | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Peru | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Philippines | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Poland | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Portugal | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Qatar | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Romania | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Russia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Rwanda | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Saudi Arabia | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Senegal | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Serbia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Seychelles | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Sierra Leone | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Singapore | IDP required | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Slovakia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Slovenia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Somalia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| South Africa | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| South Korea | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Spain | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Sri Lanka | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Sudan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Suriname | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Not a contracting state |
| Sweden | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Switzerland | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Syria | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Tajikistan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Tanzania | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Thailand | IDP required | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Togo | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Tunisia | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Türkiye | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| Turkmenistan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Uganda | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Ukraine | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| United Arab Emirates | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| United Kingdom | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 17+ | Geneva 1949 & Vienna 1968 |
| United States | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 16+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Uruguay | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Uzbekistan | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Venezuela | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Vietnam | IDP required | Right-hand side | 18+ | Vienna 1968 |
| Yemen | IDP recommended | Right-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Zambia | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
| Zimbabwe | IDP recommended | Left-hand side | 18+ | Geneva 1949 |
AfghanistanIDP recommended
AlbaniaIDP recommended
AlgeriaIDP recommended
AndorraIDP recommended
AngolaIDP recommended
ArgentinaIDP recommended
ArmeniaIDP recommended
AustraliaIDP recommended
AustriaIDP recommended
AzerbaijanIDP recommended
BahrainIDP recommended
BangladeshIDP recommended
BelarusIDP recommended
BelgiumIDP recommended
BelizeIDP recommended
BhutanIDP recommended
BoliviaIDP recommended
Bosnia and HerzegovinaIDP recommended
BotswanaIDP recommended
BrazilIDP recommended
BruneiIDP recommended
BulgariaIDP recommended
Burkina FasoIDP recommended
CambodiaIDP recommended
CameroonIDP recommended
CanadaIDP recommended
Central African RepublicIDP recommended
ChadIDP recommended
ChileIDP recommended
ChinaSee guide
ColombiaIDP recommended
Costa RicaIDP recommended
Côte d'IvoireIDP recommended
CroatiaIDP recommended
CubaIDP recommended
CyprusIDP recommended
Czech RepublicIDP recommended
DenmarkIDP recommended
Dominican RepublicIDP recommended
DR CongoIDP recommended
EcuadorIDP recommended
EgyptIDP required
El SalvadorIDP recommended
EstoniaIDP recommended
EswatiniIDP recommended
EthiopiaIDP recommended
FijiIDP recommended
FinlandIDP recommended
FranceIDP recommended
GabonIDP recommended
GeorgiaIDP recommended
GermanyIDP required
GhanaIDP recommended
GreeceIDP required
GuatemalaIDP recommended
GuyanaIDP recommended
HondurasIDP recommended
Hong KongIDP recommended
HungaryIDP recommended
IcelandIDP recommended
IndiaIDP required
IndonesiaIDP required
IranIDP recommended
IraqIDP recommended
IrelandIDP recommended
ItalyIDP required
JamaicaIDP recommended
JapanIDP required
JordanIDP recommended
KazakhstanIDP recommended
KenyaIDP recommended
KuwaitIDP recommended
KyrgyzstanIDP recommended
LaosIDP recommended
LatviaIDP recommended
LebanonIDP recommended
LibyaIDP recommended
LiechtensteinIDP recommended
LithuaniaIDP recommended
LuxembourgIDP recommended
MadagascarIDP recommended
MalawiIDP recommended
MalaysiaIDP recommended
MaliIDP recommended
MaltaIDP recommended
MauritiusIDP recommended
MexicoIDP recommended
MoldovaIDP recommended
MonacoIDP recommended
MongoliaIDP recommended
MontenegroIDP recommended
MoroccoIDP recommended
MozambiqueIDP recommended
MyanmarIDP recommended
NamibiaIDP recommended
NepalIDP recommended
NetherlandsIDP recommended
New ZealandIDP required
NicaraguaIDP recommended
NigerIDP recommended
NigeriaIDP recommended
North MacedoniaIDP recommended
NorwayIDP recommended
OmanIDP recommended
PakistanIDP recommended
PalestineIDP recommended
PanamaIDP recommended
ParaguayIDP recommended
PeruIDP recommended
PhilippinesIDP recommended
PolandIDP recommended
PortugalIDP recommended
QatarIDP required
Republic of the CongoIDP recommended
RomaniaIDP recommended
RussiaIDP recommended
RwandaIDP recommended
Saudi ArabiaIDP required
SenegalIDP recommended
SerbiaIDP recommended
SeychellesIDP recommended
Sierra LeoneIDP recommended
SingaporeIDP required
SlovakiaIDP recommended
SloveniaIDP recommended
SomaliaIDP recommended
South AfricaIDP recommended
South KoreaIDP recommended
SpainIDP recommended
Sri LankaIDP recommended
SudanIDP recommended
SurinameIDP recommended
SwedenIDP recommended
SwitzerlandIDP recommended
SyriaIDP recommended
TajikistanIDP recommended
TanzaniaIDP recommended
ThailandIDP required
TogoIDP recommended
TunisiaIDP recommended
TurkeyIDP recommended
TurkmenistanIDP recommended
UgandaIDP recommended
UkraineIDP recommended
United Arab EmiratesIDP required
United KingdomIDP recommended
United StatesIDP recommended
UruguayIDP recommended
UzbekistanIDP recommended
VenezuelaIDP recommended
VietnamIDP required
YemenIDP recommended
ZambiaIDP recommended
ZimbabweIDP recommended
Looking for tourist-focused driving guides instead? Browse all country driving-rules guides, or read the latest tips on our travel-driving blog.
Do I need an international driving permit for every country?
Not always. Some countries require an IDP for all foreign drivers, some only if your licence is not in the local language, and some merely recommend it for car rental. Requirements vary — check the specific country before you travel.
What is an International Driving Permit (IDP)?
An IDP is an official translation of your national driving licence into the languages of the UN 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna road-traffic conventions. It is recognised in 150+ countries but is never a standalone licence — you always carry it together with your national licence.
How do I check the rule for a specific country?
Use our free IDP requirement checker, or open the country guide below to see the driving side, minimum age, and whether an IDP is required or recommended there.
Get your International Driving Permit in minutes
Digital issuance plus optional worldwide shipping — ready before you fly.
Get my IDP →Checked 29 August 2026. An IDP is a translation companion to your national licence, not a standalone government licence. Acceptance varies by country — confirm requirements with the official authority before you travel.