1949 Geneva vs 1968 Vienna Convention: which IDP do I need?
Updated 21 Jun 2026
Direct answer
Which IDP you need depends on the convention your destination recognises. The 1949 Geneva Convention IDP (valid 1 year) is accepted by countries like the US, Japan and Australia; the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP (valid up to 3 years) covers much of Europe, Russia and Brazil. A few countries belong to neither — there, a certified translation is the practical route.
At a glance
- 1949 Geneva IDP
- Valid 1 year — US, Japan, Australia, India…
- 1968 Vienna IDP
- Valid up to 3 years — most of Europe, Russia, Brazil…
- Both conventions
- Many countries are party to both
- Neither
- e.g. China — rely on a certified translation
- Issued under
- The convention your licence country belongs to
Turn this guide into a clean travel plan
Use the guide as context, then confirm your exact license, destination, dates, and vehicle before buying anything.
Two treaties, two permits
Almost every country that recognises IDPs does so under one of two UN treaties: the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Your IDP is issued under the convention(s) your own country is party to, and it's recognised by destinations that share that convention. The 1949 permit is valid for one year; the 1968 permit for up to three years.
How to know which one applies
Check both your licence country's membership and your destination's. If both are party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, a 1968 IDP is ideal; if your destination only recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention (Japan and much of the Americas), you need the 1949 permit. Many countries are party to both, which simplifies things. Our per-country requirement pages list the relevant convention for each destination.
When a country belongs to neither
A handful of countries — China being the most significant — are party to neither convention, so no standard IDP is recognised for or by their drivers. In those cases, drivers rely on a certified translation of the licence (plus, sometimes, local formalities). If your licence was issued by a non-convention country, a certified translation companion is usually your only portable option, so confirm each destination's specific rule.
What to prepare
- Identify your licence country's convention membership
- Check your destination's convention membership
- Get the matching IDP (1949 = 1 yr, 1968 = up to 3 yr)
- If either side is non-convention, plan for a certified translation
- Carry your original national licence with whichever document you use
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the 1949 and 1968 conventions?
How do I know which IDP a country accepts?
What if my country is in neither convention?
Government and authority sources
- UN Treaty Collection — 1949 Geneva Convention parties
- UN Treaty Collection — 1968 Vienna Convention parties
Also see our authorized issuer guidance for where to get a real IDP when your trip requires one.