How long does an International Driving Permit take to get?
更新于3 Jul 2026
直接答案
In person, an International Driving Permit is typically issued the same day — AAA branches in the US, participating CAA stores in Canada, and UK Post Office counters issue on the spot. By mail, allow roughly 10–15 business days with AATA in the US, and longer for international shipping. No authorised issuer delivers a legitimate 'instant digital IDP' — the permit is a physical document.
一览
- AAA (US), in person
- Same day at a participating branch
- AATA (US), by mail
- ≈10–15 business days processing
- UK Post Office
- Over the counter, issued on the spot (£5.50)
- CAA (Canada)
- Same day in participating stores; mail takes longer
- 'Instant online IDP'
- Does not exist — a scam signal
将本指南转化为清晰的出行计划
将指南作为参考，然后在购买任何东西之前确认您确切的驾照、目的地、日期和车辆。
In person is almost always same-day
Authorised issuers designed the IDP to be quick: it's a standardised booklet transcribed from your existing licence, not a new credential requiring vetting. Walk into a participating AAA branch in the US, a CAA store in Canada, or a UK Post Office that offers the IDP service with your licence, photos and the fee, and you typically leave with the permit the same day. Availability varies by branch, so check the issuer's locator page before you go.
Mail routes: budget two to several weeks
If you can't reach a branch, mail applications work but are the slow path. AATA (the other authorised US issuer) processes mail applications in roughly 10–15 business days plus shipping each way, and expedited handling costs extra. Canadian and Australian clubs offering postal or online-application-with-mail-delivery routes have their own turnaround times — always check the current estimate on the issuer's official page rather than assuming.
When to start before a trip
If a branch is nearby, a few days' buffer is plenty; if you're relying on mail, start three to four weeks before departure to absorb processing and postal delays. Remember a 1949-convention IDP is only valid for one year from issue, so there's no benefit in applying many months early. Use our free checker to confirm whether your destination needs the IDP at all — some accept your licence directly or with a translation.
Why 'instant online IDP' is a scam signal
No authorised issuer sells an instant, purely digital IDP — the permit is a physical multi-page booklet, and government consumer agencies have repeatedly warned about websites selling 'international driver's licenses' online. If a site promises a downloadable IDP in minutes, it is not issuing an official permit. What such sites actually deliver is at best a translation — which is exactly what we sell, except we say so honestly: a certified translation companion, instant and digital, that never claims to be an IDP.
需要准备什么
- Check if your destination actually requires an IDP first
- Prefer an in-person branch visit for same-day issue
- Applying by mail? Start 3–4 weeks before departure
- Bring your valid licence, passport photos and the fee
- Skip any site promising an 'instant digital IDP' — it's not official
常见问题
Can I get an IDP on the same day?
Can I get an IDP online instantly?
How early should I apply before my trip?
政府和官方来源
- AAA — International Driving Permit
- GOV.UK — get an IDP at the Post Office
- USAGov — international driving permits & authorised issuers
另请参阅我们的 授权签发机构指引 了解当您的行程需要时在哪里获取真实的IDP。