Do I need a translation to drive in Europe with a non-EU licence?
Updated 21 Jun 2026
Direct answer
For short visits, non-EU licence holders can generally drive in the EU on their valid national licence accompanied by either a certified translation or an International Driving Permit. The translation matters most when your licence isn't in a Latin-script EU language — it lets police and rental desks read your categories and validity.
At a glance
- Visitors from outside the EU
- National licence + translation OR IDP
- Why a translation
- So EU officials can read your licence
- Especially needed
- Non-Latin-script or non-EU-language licences
- Stay length
- Short visits; long stays may need a local licence
- Always carry
- Your original national licence
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.
The EU 'translation OR IDP' rule
EU member states generally let visitors drive on a valid foreign national licence for short stays, provided officials can understand it. European insurers and travel guidance commonly state the requirement as a national licence accompanied by 'a certified translation or an International Driving Permit'. Both solve the same problem — legibility — so either is accepted. Spain, for example, explicitly names a certified translation as an option.
When you specifically need the translation
If your licence is already in a Latin-script EU language, a translation may be unnecessary for short trips. But if it's printed in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cyrillic, Thai or another non-Latin script — or in a non-EU language — a certified translation is the practical necessity. Rental desks in particular often won't hand over keys for a licence they can't read, even where the law is lenient.
Short visits vs settling in
These rules cover tourists and short-term visitors. If you become resident in an EU country, you'll usually need to exchange your licence for a local one within a set period. For a holiday, business trip or road trip, your original licence plus a certified translation (or an IDP) is the straightforward combination — confirm the specific country's rule, which we publish with official sources.
What to prepare
- Carry your valid original national licence
- Add a certified translation or an IDP
- Prioritise a translation if your licence isn't Latin-script
- Check the specific EU country's rule before driving
- For long stays, plan to exchange for a local licence
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in Europe with a non-EU licence?
Is a certified translation accepted across the EU?
Do I need a translation if my licence is already in English?
Government and authority sources
Also see our authorized issuer guidance for where to get a real IDP when your trip requires one.