An IDP is required for the following countries
Special conditions or requirements apply for those countries in the list below with one or more capital letters alongside. It is important that you refer to the corresponding note(s) at the foot of this page.
IDP 1926
Brazil (E, P)
Iraq
Somalia
IDP 1949
Afghanistan
Algeria (L)
Angola (L)
Argentina (E)
Armenia
Australia (E)
Bahamas (I)
Bahrain (A, M)
Bangladesh
Belarus (E)
Belize (E,I)
Benin
Bhutan (I)
Bolivia
Bosnia (E)
Botswana (A,E)
Brunei (A, E)
Bulgaria (D)
Burkina Faso (E)
Cameroon (E)
Canada (E)
Cape Verde (E)
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Congo (Republic of)
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Czech Republic (D)
Djibouti (C)
Dominica (C)
Dominican Republic (I)
Egypt
El Salvador (E)
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia (C)
Gabon (E)
Gambia (C,I)
Georgia (A, E)
Ghana (E)
Guadeloupe (E)
Guam (E, Q)
Guatemala (E)
Guinea Bissau (C)
Guinea Republic (F)
Guyana (C)
Haiti (E, I)
Honduras (E)
Hong Kong (E)
Hungary (F)
Iceland (E)
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel (E)
Italy (F)
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya (I)
Kiribati
Korea (South)
Kuwait
Laos (E)
Lebanon (C)
Lesotho (E)
Liberia (C)
Libya (E)
Macao (Macau)
Macedonia (E)
Madagascar (E)
Malawi (E,I)
Malaysia (E)
Mali (E)
Mauritania (E)
Mauritius (C)
Mexico (E)
Montenegro (E)
Mozambique (E, I)
Myanmar (Burma) (K)
Namibia (A, J)
Nepal (H)
New Caledonia
Nicaragua (E)
Niger
Nigeria
Oman (I)
Pakistan
Panama (E, I)
Papua New Guinea (Q)
Paraguay (E)
Philippines (A,I)
Portugal (F)
Qatar (C)
Reunion (E)
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Sabah (Malaysia)(E)
Sao Tome and Principe (E)
Saudi Arabia (A,B,E)
Senegal (E)
Serbia (E)
Seychelles (E)
Sierra Leone
Singapore (A, Q)
South Africa (D, J)
Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) (F)
Sri Lanka (N)
St. Lucia (G)
St. Vincent (G)
Sudan (C)
Surinam
Swaziland (D, J)
Syria
Taiwan (H)
Tanzania (C)
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago (I)
Tunisia (L)
Turkey (E)
Uganda (I)
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
USA (J,R)
Yemen
Zambia (E,I)
Zimbabwe (A, L)
Important Notes
A – Required for car hire.
B – Women not permitted to drive.
C – IDP recommended. Temporary local licence may be obtained on production of UK licence, but this may be time consuming and more expensive.
D – UK driving licences that do not incorporate a photograph must be accompanied by an IDP.
E – IDP recommended.
F – All valid UK driving licences should be accepted. Acceptance of driving licences that are not of the European Communities model cannot be guaranteed therefore drivers may wish to voluntarily update them before travelling abroad, if time permits. Alternatively, older licences may be accompanied by an IDP.
G – National licence or IDP should be presented to the police who will issue a visitors licence.
H – In Nepal, IDP valid for 15 days then a local licence must be obtained. In Taiwan, IDP valid for 30 days - over 30 days IDP and UK licence must be endorsed locally at a motor vehicle office (photo and passport required).
I – UK driving licences valid for 90 days.
J – IDP recommended as, in the event of an accident, some insurance companies will insist on seeing one. Additionally those licences which do not incorporate a photograph need to be accompanied by photographic proof of identity.
K – IDP must be exchanged for a local driving licence. A small charge will be made.
L – An IDP is compulsory for holders of driving licenses not incorporating a photograph and also recommended for photocard licence holders.
M – IDP compulsory and must be certified by the local authorities on arrival.
N – IDP must be accompanied by a recognition permit available for a small fee from the AA of Ceylon in Colombo.
P – Officially a certified translation is required from the Consulate.
Q – For stays longer than 30 days.
R – USA (Florida) compulsory IDP – 1 January 2013
A law was introduced in Florida, USA, on 1 January 2013 requiring all persons who hold a license issued outside of the US to carry an International Driving Permit along with their national driving license.