Can I drive in Georgia (the country) with a foreign licence?

🇬🇪 GE · Updated 21 Jun 2026

Direct answer

Yes. Visitors can drive in Georgia (the country) for up to one year on a valid foreign national licence. If your licence is not in English or Georgian, carry a certified translation so police and rental desks can read it — that, not a dubious online 'IDP', is what you actually need. After a year of residence you must obtain a Georgian licence.

At a glance

Foreign licence accepted?: Yes — up to 1 year for visitors
Non-English/Georgian licence: Carry a certified translation
After 1 year (residents): Get a Georgian licence
Online 'IDP' sellers: Not required — avoid
Great for: Tourists, digital nomads, overlanders

Trip decision path

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.

3 authority sources

1 · Verify the rule

GE destination prefilled; choose your license country.

2 · Use an authorized IDP route

If the checker says an IDP is required, get it from your license country's authorized issuer. We do not sell IDPs.

3 · Add a translation companion

Use the translation pack when rental desks, insurers, or checkpoints need to read your license. It is not a permit.

First, the right Georgia

Search results mix up the country of Georgia with the US state — half of page one is the US Georgia DDS. This guide is about the country in the Caucasus, a fast-growing destination for tourists, digital nomads and overlanders. There, visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence for up to a year, which makes it unusually friendly for long-stay travellers.

When you need a translation

Georgian authorities and rental companies need to read your licence. If it's in English (or Georgian) you're generally fine for the one-year window. If it's in another language or a non-Latin script, carry a certified translation — it lets police and rental desks verify your categories and validity. You do not need to buy an 'international driving permit' from an online seller; a certified translation alongside your original licence is the legitimate, low-cost route.

Nomads and the one-year clock

Georgia's generous visa-free stays and the one-year driving window suit digital nomads. But the clock matters: once you're effectively resident beyond a year, you're expected to convert to a Georgian licence. Keep your certified translation current (re-issue it if your home licence renews), carry your original card, and confirm your travel insurance covers driving there.

What to prepare

Your valid original foreign driving licence
A certified translation if it isn't in English or Georgian
Awareness of the one-year visitor driving window
Passport with your entry stamp
Travel/vehicle insurance valid in Georgia

Check your exact route

Starts with this guide's destination already filled in.

Need your license translated?

Clearly-labeled translation companion — never a fake permit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an IDP to drive in Georgia the country?

Not necessarily — a valid foreign licence is accepted for up to a year. If it isn't in English or Georgian, carry a certified translation. Online 'IDP' sellers are not what Georgia requires.

How long can I drive in Georgia on a foreign licence?

Up to one year as a visitor. Beyond that, as a resident, you must obtain a Georgian driving licence.

Is this about the country or the US state?

The country of Georgia in the Caucasus — not the US state. The rules here (one-year window, translation for non-English licences) apply to the country.

Government and authority sources

Also see our authorized issuer guidance for where to get a real IDP when your trip requires one.

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.