How do I drive in Sri Lanka with a foreign licence?

🇱🇰 LK · Updated 21 Jun 2026

Direct answer

To drive in Sri Lanka you need a temporary Recognition Permit from the Department of Motor Traffic (or the AA of Ceylon), issued on top of your home licence together with either a valid International Driving Permit or a certified translation of your licence. Your foreign licence alone is not enough — but you do not need to buy a dubious online 'IDP'.

At a glance

Foreign licence alone?: No — needs a local Recognition Permit
Recognition Permit: From the DMT or AA Ceylon, on arrival or online
Also required: A valid IDP or a certified translation of your licence
Online 'IDP' sellers: Not the legal requirement — avoid
Carry: Original licence + translation/IDP + Recognition Permit

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

LK 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.

The real Sri Lanka document chain

Sri Lanka does not let visitors drive on a foreign licence by itself. The legal route is a temporary Recognition Permit issued locally by the Department of Motor Traffic or the Automobile Association of Ceylon, which validates your foreign entitlement inside Sri Lanka. To get it you present your original national licence plus either a valid International Driving Permit or a certified translation of your licence. Since 2025 the permit has been available more quickly, including airport and online issuance in some cases.

Where the translation fits

The Recognition Permit office needs to read your licence to confirm your categories and validity. A certified translation does exactly that, and is accepted alongside the original — you do not have to hold an IDP if you carry a clear certified translation. This matters for licences not in English, where staff otherwise cannot process your application. The translation is a companion to your licence, never a replacement for it or for the Recognition Permit.

Avoiding the fake-IDP trap

Search results for 'Sri Lanka IDP' are dominated by private sellers whose product is a booklet, not the Recognition Permit the law actually requires. Buying one of those does not exempt you from the local permit, and some are outright scams. The honest setup is: original licence, a certified translation (or an IDP from your own country's authorised issuer), then the Recognition Permit obtained in Sri Lanka.

What to prepare

Your original national driving licence
A certified translation of your licence (or an authorised IDP)
A Sri Lanka Recognition Permit from the DMT or AA Ceylon
Passport with your entry stamp
Proof of insurance valid in Sri Lanka

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

Can I drive in Sri Lanka on just my foreign licence?

No. You need a local Recognition Permit on top of your licence, supported by a valid IDP or a certified translation. The foreign licence alone is not accepted.

Do I need to buy an IDP online for Sri Lanka?

No — and most online 'IDP' sites are not what Sri Lanka requires. You need the local Recognition Permit plus a certified translation of your licence (or an IDP from your own country's authorised issuer).

Where do I get the Recognition Permit?

From the Department of Motor Traffic or the Automobile Association of Ceylon — increasingly available on arrival or online. Bring your licence and its certified translation or IDP.

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.