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World Driving Permit

🇯🇴 Do you need an IDP to drive in Jordan?

IDP required· the 1949 Geneva Convention· Last reviewed 17 Jun 2026

Key facts

IDP validity
1 year from issue

Short answer

Yes — to drive in Jordan you generally need an International Driving Permit (IDP), carried together with your original national driving licence. Jordan recognises IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, so yours must come from your own country's authorised issuer under that convention. A certified translation of your licence smooths rental-desk and police checks, but it does not replace the IDP where one is required.

Driving in Jordan: the rule explained

Jordan is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, and an International Driving Permit (1949 version) carried alongside your home-country licence is the legally compliant way for a tourist to drive there. A foreign licence written in English or Arabic is generally accepted by authorities and rental desks, but if the licence is in any other script an IDP (or certified Arabic translation) is needed. Checkpoints are common.

Exemption: Licences issued in English or Arabic are most readily accepted; all other licences should be backed by an IDP or certified Arabic translation.

Renting a car in Jordan

International rental brands often accept just a home-country licence, but many local Jordanian agencies require an IDP, and for non-Latin-script licences an IDP is effectively mandatory to rent at all.

Motorcycles & scooters: An IDP with the appropriate two-wheeler (motorcycle) category endorsement is required to legally ride a rented motorcycle; helmets are mandatory.

What to carry when driving in Jordan

  • Original driving license (physical card)
  • Passport with valid visa/entry stamp
  • Translation companion or certified translation of your license
  • Proof of insurance covering the destination
  • Carry both the physical 1949 IDP and your original home-country licence at all times
  • Keep passport, vehicle registration and insurance papers in the car for police checkpoints
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Translation companion

A certified, multi-language translation of your licence to carry alongside it. It is not an IDP and does not replace one.

Jordan: frequently asked questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Jordan?
Yes — to drive in Jordan you generally need an International Driving Permit (IDP), carried together with your original national driving licence. Jordan recognises IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, so yours must come from your own country's authorised issuer under that convention. A certified translation of your licence smooths rental-desk and police checks, but it does not replace the IDP where one is required. Jordan is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, and an International Driving Permit (1949 version) carried alongside your home-country licence is the legally compliant way for a tourist to drive there. A foreign licence written in English or Arabic is generally accepted by authorities and rental desks, but if the licence is in any other script an IDP (or certified Arabic translation) is needed. Checkpoints are common.
Is a translated driving licence accepted in Jordan?
A certified translation companion helps officials and car-rental desks in Jordan read your licence, but where Jordan requires an IDP it must be one issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Always carry your original national licence with it.
What do I need to rent a car in Jordan?
International rental brands often accept just a home-country licence, but many local Jordanian agencies require an IDP, and for non-Latin-script licences an IDP is effectively mandatory to rent at all.
Which IDP convention does Jordan use?
Jordan recognises IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Make sure your IDP is issued by your own country's authorised issuer under the matching convention.
How long is an International Driving Permit valid in Jordan?
Because Jordan follows the 1949 Geneva Convention, an IDP is valid for one year from its date of issue. The permit is only valid alongside your original national licence, and it cannot be renewed — you apply for a new one from your home country's authorised issuer when it lapses.

Official sources

Need a real, government-recognised IDP? How to get an IDP from an authorised issuer.

Driving to Jordan from your country

Requirements for other countries