International driving permit checker: Geneva 1949 or Vienna 1968?
An international driving permit (IDP) is a translation of your licence in a standard UN format, issued in your own country and carried with your licence when you drive abroad. Whether a country accepts it — and which version — depends on two treaties: the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and the 1968 Vienna Convention. This checker looks up both countries in the UN Treaty Collection lists and tells you which convention, if any, links them.
Pick the country that issued your licence and the country where you will drive. You get the convention status of each, a plain verdict (carry a 1949 IDP, a 1968 IDP is advisable, or no convention applies) and notes for common cases such as Japan, India and the United States.
How to use the International Driving Permit Checker
- Choose Licence issued in — the country of your driving licence, not your passport.
- Choose Driving in — where you will drive. Use the swap button to check the return trip.
- Read the verdict and the table of when each country joined the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
- Read the notes, then confirm with the destination’s embassy and your car-hire company before you go.
International Driving Permit Checker features
Official party lists
All 103 parties to the 1949 convention and 91 to the 1968 convention, with dates, as listed by the UN on 24 October 2026.
Right IDP format
Shows whether your country can issue a 1949 or 1968 IDP and which one the destination is bound to accept.
Japan rule
Japan accepts only 1949-format IDPs, or an official translation for a handful of licences.
India and US notes
How to apply in India (Form 4A, ₹1,000) and who may issue IDPs in the US.
How the two conventions work
Under article 24 of the 1949 Geneva Convention, a country lets visitors drive on a valid licence from another party, but it “may however require” an international driving permit. The 1949 IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue in every party except the one that issued it. The 1968 Vienna Convention goes further: parties recognise domestic licences that follow its model and IDPs in its own format, valid for up to three years but never longer than your licence. Between two 1968 parties, the 1968 Convention replaces the 1949 one.
If your country and the destination share no convention, the destination has no treaty duty to accept your licence. Many countries still do under their own law or ask for an official translation, so the embassy’s guidance is what counts.
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| India → Japan | Both 1949 parties: carry a 1949-format IDP |
| Germany → Italy | Both 1968 parties: licence recognised, IDP advisable |
| India → Germany | India 1949 only, Germany 1968 only: no shared convention |
| Germany → Japan | Licence with an official Japanese translation |
Getting an IDP in India and the US
In India the IDP is issued by the Regional Transport Office that holds your licence. Apply online in Form 4A on parivahan.gov.in with a valid Indian driving licence and your passport; the fee is ₹1,000 under rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (some states add a service charge). India is a 1949 party, so its IDP follows the 1949 model and lasts one year. In the US, only AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance are authorised by the State Department to issue IDPs.
Limits of this checker
It reports the treaty position from the UN lists and a few official notes; it does not list each country’s own rules, rental-company requirements, minimum ages or the 1926 Paris convention. Some countries ask for an official translation instead of, or as well as, an IDP. An IDP never replaces your licence — always carry both. Status as at 24 October 2026. Check your passport too with the passport validity checker, and country facts with the country information lookup.
International Driving Permit Checker FAQ
Do I need an international driving permit for Japan?
Yes, unless your licence is from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan (which use an official Japanese translation). Japan accepts only IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
How do I get an international driving permit in India?
Apply to your RTO in Form 4A through parivahan.gov.in with a valid Indian driving licence. The fee is ₹1,000 and the permit is valid for one year.
What is the international driving permit cost in India?
₹1,000 under rule 32 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989; some states add a small service charge.
Do I need an IDP to drive in Italy?
Italy is a party to both conventions. With a licence from a 1949-only country such as India or the US, carry a 1949-format IDP with your licence.
How long is an international driving permit valid?
A 1949-format IDP is valid for one year from issue; a 1968-format IDP for up to three years, but never beyond your own licence.
Can I use an IDP in my own country?
No. An IDP is not valid in the country that issued it.