An International Driving Permit is an official translation of your national license. Below, 14 countries where it's required and 139 where it's strongly recommended for foreign drivers.
Countries where an IDP is required
| Country | Drives on | Min age |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Germany | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Greece | Right-hand | 18+ |
| India | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Indonesia | Left-hand | 17+ |
| Italy | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Japan | Left-hand | 18+ |
| New Zealand | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Qatar | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Saudi Arabia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Singapore | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Thailand | Left-hand | 18+ |
| United Arab Emirates | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Vietnam | Right-hand | 18+ |
Countries where an IDP is strongly recommended
| Country | Drives on | Min age |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Albania | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Algeria | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Andorra | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Angola | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Argentina | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Armenia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Australia | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Austria | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Azerbaijan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Bahrain | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Bangladesh | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Belarus | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Belgium | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Belize | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Bhutan | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Bolivia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Botswana | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Brazil | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Brunei | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Bulgaria | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Burkina Faso | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Cambodia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Cameroon | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Canada | Right-hand | 16+ |
| Central African Republic | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Chad | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Chile | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Colombia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Costa Rica | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Croatia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Cuba | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Cyprus | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Czech Republic | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Denmark | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Dominican Republic | Right-hand | 18+ |
| DR Congo | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Ecuador | Right-hand | 18+ |
| El Salvador | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Estonia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Eswatini | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Ethiopia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Fiji | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Finland | Right-hand | 18+ |
| France | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Gabon | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Georgia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Ghana | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Guatemala | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Guyana | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Honduras | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Hong Kong | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Hungary | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Iceland | Right-hand | 17+ |
| Iran | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Iraq | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Ireland | Left-hand | 17+ |
| Israel | Right-hand | 17+ |
| Jamaica | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Jordan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Kazakhstan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Kenya | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Kuwait | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Kyrgyzstan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Laos | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Latvia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Lebanon | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Libya | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Liechtenstein | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Lithuania | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Luxembourg | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Madagascar | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Malawi | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Malaysia | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Mali | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Malta | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Mauritius | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Mexico | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Moldova | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Monaco | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Mongolia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Montenegro | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Morocco | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Mozambique | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Myanmar | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Namibia | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Nepal | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Netherlands | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Nicaragua | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Niger | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Nigeria | Right-hand | 18+ |
| North Macedonia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Norway | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Oman | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Pakistan | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Panama | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Paraguay | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Peru | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Philippines | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Poland | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Portugal | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Republic of the Congo | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Romania | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Russia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Rwanda | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Senegal | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Serbia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Seychelles | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Sierra Leone | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Slovakia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Slovenia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Somalia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| South Africa | Left-hand | 18+ |
| South Korea | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Spain | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Sri Lanka | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Sudan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Suriname | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Sweden | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Switzerland | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Syria | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Tajikistan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Tanzania | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Togo | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Tunisia | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Turkey | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Turkmenistan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Uganda | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Ukraine | Right-hand | 18+ |
| United Kingdom | Left-hand | 17+ |
| United States | Right-hand | 16+ |
| Uruguay | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Uzbekistan | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Venezuela | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Yemen | Right-hand | 18+ |
| Zambia | Left-hand | 18+ |
| Zimbabwe | Left-hand | 18+ |
Which countries require an International Driving Permit?
Many countries legally require foreign visitors to carry an IDP alongside their national license, and many more strongly recommend it. The lists below are grouped by requirement; tap any country for the specifics.
What if a country only "recommends" an IDP?
Even where it is not strictly mandatory, rental companies and police often expect one — and it is required whenever your license is not in the local language or Latin alphabet. Carrying one avoids problems.
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