What documents and photos do I need for an International Driving Permit?
更新于3 Jul 2026
直接答案
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.
一览
- 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
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。
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.
需要准备什么
- 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
常见问题
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?
政府和官方来源
- AAA — IDP application requirements
- GOV.UK — international driving permit
- USAGov — international driving permits
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。