Driving abroad
Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP)
You may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries. The permit you may need depends on:
- which country you’re visiting
- how long you’re staying
You need to have a valid Great Britain (GB) or Northern Ireland driving licence to get an IDP.
Driving in Europe
You do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you have a photocard driving licence issued in the UK.
You might need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway if you have either:
- a paper driving licence
- a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
Check with the embassy of the country you will be driving in.
Check which IDP you need
Check the table to find out if you need an IDP. There are 3 types of IDP:
- 1926
- 1949
- 1968
The IDP you need depends on what country you’re visiting.
If you’re travelling through more than one country, you might need more than one type of IDP.
If the country you’re visiting is not included in the table, check with the embassy of the country you’re travelling to.
If you’re hiring a car, check with your car hire company.
If you already have an IDP, make sure it’s still valid in the country you’re visiting.
Country or territory | Type of IDP | More information |
---|---|---|
Albania | 1968 | |
Algeria | 1949 | |
Andorra | 1949 | |
Argentina | 1949 | |
Armenia | 1968 | |
Australia | 1949 | |
Austria | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
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 can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or Isle of Man photocard driving licence for up to 6 months without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Benin | 1968 | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1968 | |
Botswana | 1949 | IDP needed for car hire. |
Brazil | 1968 | |
Bulgaria | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
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 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP. Check with the Croatian Embassy. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Cuba | 1968 | |
Cyprus | 1949 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence for up to 30 days without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP for any length of visit. Check with the High Commission of Cyprus. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Czech Republic | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence, or a licence from the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP. Check with the Czech Republic Embassy. |
Democratic Republic of Congo | 1968 | |
Denmark | 1968 | You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or Isle of Man photocard licence for periods up to 90 days without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you may need an IDP, check with the Danish Embassy. |
Dominican Republic | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
Ecuador | 1949 | |
Egypt | 1949 | |
Estonia | 1968 | You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, or Jersey photocard driving licence for periods up to 90 days in any 180-day period without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you will need to get an IDP to drive in Estonia. If you hold a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Eswatini (previously Swaziland) | 1949 | If you have a paper 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 | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
France | 1968 | You do not need an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
French Polynesia | 1968 | |
Georgia | 1968 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
Germany | 1968 | You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, or Jersey photocard licence to drive for periods up to 6 months without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you will need to get an IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Ghana | 1949 | |
Greece | 1968 | You do not need an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
Guam | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. If you have a paper 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 | You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, or Jersey photocard licence without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you’ll need an IDP to drive in Hungary. If you hold a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Iceland | 1949 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. Check with the Icelandic Embassy. |
India | 1949 | |
Indonesia | 1968 | |
Iran | 1968 | |
Iraq | 1968 | |
Ireland | 1949 | You do not need an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
Israel | 1968 | |
Italy | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you will need to get an IDP to drive in Italy. If you hold a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
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 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence, or any licence from the Isle of Man, you need an IDP. |
Lebanon | 1949 | |
Lesotho | 1949 | |
Liberia | 1968 | |
Libya | 1949 | |
Liechtenstein | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you need to update it to a photocard licence or get a 1968 IDP. |
Lithuania | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you need to update it to a photocard licence or get a 1968 IDP. |
Luxembourg | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Macao (Macau) | 1949 | |
Madagascar | 1949 | |
Malawi | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
Malaysia (Sabah) | 1949 | |
Mali | 1949 | |
Malta | 1949 | You can use a UK, Gibraltar, or Jersey photocard driving licence without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP. Check with the Maltese High Commission. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
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 a paper 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 | 1968 | If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
New Zealand | 1949 | |
Niger | 1968 | |
Nigeria | 1968 | |
North Macedonia | 1968 | |
Norway | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
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 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
Portugal | 1968 | You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or Isle of Man photocard driving licence to drive for periods up to 185 days without an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Qatar | 1968 | |
Romania | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
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 | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Slovenia | 1968 | You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you’ll need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. |
Somalia | 1926 | |
South Africa | 1968 | If you have a paper 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 | You do not need an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
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 | You do not need an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
Switzerland | 1968 | You do not need an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. |
Syria | 1949 | |
Tajikistan | 1968 | |
Taiwan | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. |
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 |