International Driving Permit 2026: 21 Countries Demand It

Twenty-one countries make an International Driving Permit a legal requirement for visiting drivers and 58 more merely recommend one, but the detail that strands people is which convention issued it. A permit under the 1968 convention runs for three years; a 1949 one expires after a single year, and Japan accepts only the 1949 version, so an otherwise valid 1968 permit is refused at the roadside there. An IDP is a translation and never a licence on its own, so your original has to travel with it, and it must be issued at home before you leave. Rental desks add a rule of their own: many insist on one whenever the licence is not written in the Latin alphabet.

Key Findings

• 21 countries require an IDP for foreign drivers
• 58 countries recommend an IDP but do not strictly mandate it
• 2 countries do not require an IDP (mostly EU/EEA with mutual licence recognition)
• EU/EEA licence holders can drive in all EU member states without an IDP

Countries Where IDP Is Required

Countries Where IDP Is Recommended

EU Licence Recognition

How to Get an IDP

1. Apply through your home country’s automobile association (AA, AAA, ADAC, etc.)
2. You will need: a valid driving licence, passport photos, and a small fee (typically $15-30)
3. IDPs are usually issued on the spot or within a few days
4. An IDP is valid for 1-3 years depending on the issuing convention (1949 or 1968)
5. You must always carry your original licence alongside the IDP

Related Tools & Guides

• Driving Permit Checker — check IDP requirements for your trip
• Driving Age by Country — minimum age requirements
• Required Equipment by Country — what else to carry