Niger 2026: FCDO Says Do Not Travel; 1968 IDP for Drivers
United Kingdom
Niger
The FCDO advises against all travel to Niger. GOV.UK says a 1968 IDP lets you drive for up to 3 months, then a Nigerien licence is needed. Traffic keeps right.
Start with the travel advice: the FCDO advises against all travel to Niger, citing a rise in kidnappings of foreign nationals, and GOV.UK says the government only lets foreigners leave Niamey with permission and a security escort. Travelling against FCDO advice can affect your insurance.
On paperwork, GOV.UK says you can drive in Niger on a 1968 International Driving Permit for up to 3 months; longer stays need a Nigerien licence. Carry your UK licence and the car’s registration documents at all times, and buy the IDP before you leave, since it cannot be bought outside the UK.
That said, Niger is a place where the licence is the least of it. The first concrete change is the side of the road: the UK drives on the left, Niger on the right, a full switch. On limited infrastructure, with little margin for error, that reversal deserves real attention — keep your first stretch slow and deliberate.
The second documented point is alcohol. Niger’s recorded limit is effectively zero, far below the UK’s 0.08. With sparse enforcement and basic roads, treat that as an absolute: no alcohol at all before you drive.
Beyond those two facts, I will be straight with you — reliable, granular road data for Niger is thin. The figures that exist put town limits at 50 km/h, rural roads at 80 and the better roads at 100, with police on 17, ambulance on 15 and fire on 18. But posted limits are not consistently signed or enforced, road conditions vary enormously, and this is a region where security and route advice change. The sensible posture is to drive well within those numbers, treat every limit as a guide rather than a guarantee, check current official travel advice before any trip, and not rely on roadside signage to tell you what is safe.
For what is documented, see the Niger driving guide, and use the Driving Permit Checker to confirm exactly which permit and documents you should carry before you go.
Sources
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
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Frequently Asked Questions
With a 1968 International Driving Permit. GOV.UK says the 1968 IDP lets you drive in Niger for up to 3 months, after which you need a Nigerien licence. Carry your UK licence and the car's registration documents at all times; the IDP is only sold in the UK.
Niger drives on the right, so British drivers face a full side switch from the UK's left. With limited road infrastructure, that adjustment deserves extra care.
The recorded limit is effectively zero — far stricter than the UK. Combined with thin policing and basic roads, the only sensible approach is no alcohol at all before driving.