Driving licence translation by country

Planning to drive abroad on your national licence? Start with your country of licence below. Each page explains which International Driving Permit (IDP) your country issues — under the 1968 Vienna or 1949 Geneva Convention, both, or neither — and when a certified translation companion smooths police and rental-desk checks.

International Driving Permit type by country of licence
Country of licence	IDP available	Translation helpful?	Details
🇦🇷 Argentina	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇦🇺 Australia	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇦🇹 Austria	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇧🇭 Bahrain	1949 + 1968 IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇧🇪 Belgium	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇧🇷 Brazil	1968 Vienna IDP	Yes	View
🇨🇦 Canada	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇨🇳 China	No IDP — translation only	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇨🇴 Colombia	No IDP — translation only	Yes	View
🇭🇷 Croatia	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇨🇿 Czech Republic	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇩🇰 Denmark	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇪🇬 Egypt	1949 + 1968 IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇫🇮 Finland	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇫🇷 France	1968 Vienna IDP	Yes	View
🇩🇪 Germany	1968 Vienna IDP	Yes	View
🇬🇷 Greece	1949 + 1968 IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇭🇺 Hungary	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇮🇳 India	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇮🇩 Indonesia	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇮🇪 Ireland	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇮🇱 Israel	1949 + 1968 IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇮🇹 Italy	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇯🇵 Japan	1949 Geneva IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇯🇴 Jordan	1949 Geneva IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇰🇪 Kenya	1968 Vienna IDP	Yes	View
🇰🇼 Kuwait	1968 Vienna IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇲🇾 Malaysia	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇲🇽 Mexico	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇲🇦 Morocco	1949 + 1968 IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇳🇱 Netherlands	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇳🇿 New Zealand	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇳🇴 Norway	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇴🇲 Oman	1968 Vienna IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇵🇪 Peru	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇵🇭 Philippines	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇵🇱 Poland	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇵🇹 Portugal	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇶🇦 Qatar	1968 Vienna IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇷🇴 Romania	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	1968 Vienna IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇸🇬 Singapore	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇿🇦 South Africa	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇰🇷 South Korea	1949 Geneva IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇪🇸 Spain	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇸🇪 Sweden	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇨🇭 Switzerland	1968 Vienna IDP	Yes	View
🇹🇿 Tanzania	1968 Vienna IDP	Yes	View
🇹🇭 Thailand	1949 Geneva IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇹🇷 Türkiye	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	1949 + 1968 IDP	Strongly — non-Latin script	View
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1949 + 1968 IDP	Yes	View
🇺🇸 United States	1949 Geneva IDP	Yes	View
🇻🇳 Vietnam	1968 Vienna IDP	Yes	View

Want to know the rule at a specific destination instead? Browse requirements by destination country.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a translation of my driving licence to drive abroad?

It depends on where you drive and what your licence looks like. Many countries accept a foreign national licence for short visits, but officials and rental desks often can't read a licence written in another language or script. A certified translation companion lets them verify it quickly. Where a country legally requires an International Driving Permit (IDP), the translation does not replace it.

Is a translated driving licence the same as an IDP?

No. An International Driving Permit is an officially recognised translation issued under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna Convention by an authorised body in your own country. A certified translation companion is a readable, multi-language copy of your licence you carry alongside the original — helpful at checks, but not a legal substitute for an IDP where one is required.

Which International Driving Permit does my country issue?

It depends on the road-traffic conventions your country has ratified: party to the 1968 Vienna Convention means a 1968 IDP, the 1949 Geneva Convention means a 1949 IDP, and some countries are party to both. A few countries (such as China and Colombia) are party to neither, so their drivers cannot obtain a standard IDP and rely on a certified translation. Open your country below for specifics.

Requirements vary by country. Carry your translation together with your original driving licence and passport; some countries require an official IDP issued by an authorised body in your country of licence. Information provided is general guidance. Always check local regulations for your destination.