What documents and photos do I need for an International Driving Permit?
Updated 3 Jul 2026
Direct answer
An IDP application needs four things: your valid, full (non-provisional) driving licence; passport-style photos (US issuers ask for two); the issuer's application form; and the fee — about US$20 at AAA/AATA, £5.50 at a UK Post Office. Exact photo specs and extras vary by issuer, so check the official page of AAA, the Post Office, CAA or your Australian state auto club before applying.
At a glance
- Licence
- Valid, full licence — not provisional or expired
- Photos (US)
- Two passport-style photos at AAA/AATA
- Photos (UK)
- One passport-style photo at the Post Office
- Form + fee
- Issuer's application form; ≈US$20 (US), £5.50 (UK)
- Age
- Most issuers require you to be 18 or over
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 core document list
Every authorised issuer works from the same short list: proof you hold a valid licence, photos to laminate into the booklet, a signed application form, and the fee. In the US, AAA and AATA ask for two passport-style photos alongside your valid state licence and roughly US$20. In the UK, the Post Office needs your licence, a passport-style photo and £5.50, paid over the counter. Canada's CAA and Australia's state auto clubs follow the same pattern with their own forms and fees.
Photo specs — where most applications stumble
IDP photos follow passport-photo conventions: recent, front-facing, plain background, no heavy shadows, and signed on the back where the issuer asks for it. Photo-booth or pharmacy passport photos are fine; casual crops from phone photos frequently get rejected. If your issuer offers in-branch photos (many AAA branches do), that's the lowest-risk route.
Common rejection reasons
The recurring failures are: an expired or provisional/learner licence (IDPs are only issued on full licences); photos that don't meet passport spec; a name mismatch between the form and the licence; and applying to the wrong country's issuer — an IDP must come from an authorised body in the country that issued your licence, so a US association cannot issue an IDP for a French licence. Being under the issuer's minimum age (commonly 18) also disqualifies.
What an IDP application never requires
You never need to hand your original licence over for keeps, take a driving test, or pay large 'processing' or 'registration' fees — the official cost is small and flat. Sites demanding US$40+ or offering to 'issue' an IDP without seeing proof of a valid licence are private sellers, not authorised issuers. And note what the IDP itself is: a standardised translation of your licence. If your destination accepts a translation directly, a certified translation companion may be all the paperwork you need — but it is not an IDP, and we never present it as one.
What to prepare
- Valid, full (non-provisional) driving licence
- Passport-style photos — two for US issuers
- Completed application form from the official issuer
- Fee: ≈US$20 (AAA/AATA) or £5.50 (UK Post Office)
- Apply only to the authorised issuer in your licence's country
Frequently asked questions
How many photos do I need for an IDP?
Can I get an IDP with a provisional or expired licence?
Can I apply for an IDP in a different country from my licence?
Government and authority sources
- AAA — IDP application requirements
- GOV.UK — international driving permit
- USAGov — international driving permits
Also see our authorized issuer guidance for where to get a real IDP when your trip requires one.