International Drivers Permit In Canada
The process to get an international driving permit in Canada is rather straight forward if you’re 18 years old or more. Print out the application form or fill out their online form. Photocopy the front and back of your drivers license.
Consider what country you’re traveling to. If you’re traveling to an English-speaking country, you’re probably fine just using your US driver’s license.[3] If you travel for business, think about where your company does business and what countries you might be asked to travel to. If you’re traveling for pleasure, you will have a better idea as to where you want to go.- In either case, if you intend to travel to any nation within the English-speaking world, you might be able to get away with skipping the application for an International Driving Permit. For instance, an American driver can probably rent a car in Canada or South Africa without needing an IDP.
- Japan requires the IDP for foreign drivers.[4]
- In France and Germany, you can drive with just a US driver’s license as long as it is accompanied by a notarized French or German translation, respectively.[5]
- 15 nations (Bahrain, Brunei, Croatia, Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles), Georgia, Israel, Lebanon, Mauritius, Namibia, the Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Tanzania) require an IDP to hire a car.[6]
International Drivers Permit Germany
An international driving permit (IDP), often (incorrectly) referred to as an international driving licence (IDL), is any valid, legal identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country or jurisdiction that recognises the document. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence issued in the applicant's country of residence.[1]
International driving permits issued by any party who does not have the authority to do so are considered invalid. An international driving permit is invalid if its format largely differs from that of the Vienna Conventions.[2][3][4]
The IDP, whose A6 size (148 × 105 mm) is slightly larger than a passport, is a multi-language translation of the driver's licence from the issuing nation, complete with photograph and vital statistics.
An IDP is not required if the driver's domestic licence meets the requirements of the 1968 convention; the domestic licence can be used directly in a foreign jurisdiction that is a party to that convention.
- 1Driver information
Driver information[edit]
1968 convention (as amended in 2011)[edit]
The main regulations about driving licences are in Annex 6 (domestic driving permit) and Annex 7 (International Driving Permit). The currently active version of those is in force in each contracting party since no later than 29 March 2011 (Article 43).
Article 41 of the convention describes requirements for driving licences. Key of those are:
- every driver of a motor vehicle must hold a driving licence;
- driving licences can be issued only after passing theoretical and practical exams, which are regulated by each country or jurisdiction;
- Contracting parties shall recognize as valid for driving in their territories:
- domestic driving licence conforms to the provisions of annex 6 to the convention;
- International Driving Permit conforms to the provisions of annex 7 to the convention, on condition that it is presented with the corresponding domestic driving licence;
- driving licences issued by a contracting party shall be recognised in the territory of another contracting party until this territory becomes the place of normal residence of their holder;
- all of the above does not apply to learner-driver licences;
- the period of validity of an international driving permit shall be either no more than three years after the date of issue or until the date of expiry of the domestic driving licence, whichever is earlier;
- Contracting parties may refuse to recognise the validity of driving licences for persons under eighteen or, for categories C, D, CE and DE, under twenty-one;
- an international driving permit shall only be issued by the contracting party in whose territory the holder has their normal residence and that issued the domestic driving licence or that recognised the driving licence issued by another contracting party; it shall not be valid for use in that territory.
| Category | Description | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Motorcycles with a cubic capacity not exceeding 125 cm³ and a power not exceeding 11 kW (light motorcycles) | ||
| Motor vehicles, other than those in category A, having a permissible maximum mass not exceeding 3,500 kg and not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat; or motor vehicles of category В coupled to a trailer the permissible maximum mass of which does not exceed 750 kg; or motor vehicles of category В coupled to a trailer the permissible maximum mass of which exceeds 750 kg but does not exceed the unladen mass of the motor vehicle, where the combined permissible maximum mass of the vehicles so coupled does not exceed 3,500 kg | Motor tricycles and quadricycles | ||
| Motor vehicles, other than those in category D, having a permissible maximum mass exceeding 3,500 kg; or motor vehicles of category С coupled to a trailer the permissible maximum mass of which does not exceed 750 kg | Motor vehicles, with the exception of those in category D, the permissible maximum mass of which exceeds 3,500 kg but does not exceed 7,500 kg; or motor vehicles of subcategory C1 coupled to a trailer, the permissible maximum mass of which does not exceed 750 kg | ||
| Motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and having more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat; or motor vehicles of category D coupled to a trailer the permissible maximum mass of which does not exceed 750 kg | Motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and having more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat but not more than 16 seats in addition to the driver's seat; or motor vehicles of subcategory D1 coupled to a trailer, the permissible maximum mass of which does not exceed 750 kg | ||
| Motor vehicles of category В coupled to a trailer the permissible maximum mass of which exceeds 750kg and exceeds the unladen mass of the motor vehicle; or motor vehicles of category В coupled to a trailer the permissible maximum mass of which exceeds 750 kg, where the combined permissible maximum mass of the vehicles so coupled exceeds 3,500 kg | |||
| Motor vehicles of category С coupled to a trailer whose permissible maximum mass exceeds 750 kg | Motor vehicles of subcategory C1 coupled to a trailer the permissible maximum mass of which exceeds 750 kg but does not exceed the unladen mass of the motor vehicle, where the combined permissible maximum mass of the vehicles so coupled does not exceed 12,000 kg | ||
| Motor vehicles of category D coupled to a trailer whose permissible maximum mass exceeds 750 kg | Motor vehicles of subcategory D1 coupled to a trailer, not used for the carriage of persons, the permissible maximum mass of which exceeds 750 kg but does not exceed the unladen mass of the motor vehicle, where the combined permissible maximum mass of the vehicles so coupled does not exceed 12,000 kg |
1968 convention (original)[edit]
The Convention on Road Traffic has been ratified by 72 countries/jurisdiction. Examples of countries/jurisdictions that have not ratified the Convention include Chile, Taiwan (Republic of China), Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Holy See, Indonesia, Ireland, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Venezuela.
The Convention had amendments on 3 September 1993 and 28 March 2006. There is a European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic (1968), which was concluded in Geneva, on 1 May 1971.
Note that before 29 March 2011 the convention demanded contracting parties to recognise as valid for driving in their territories:
- any domestic driver's licence drawn up in their national language or in one of their national languages, or, if not drawn up in such a language, accompanied by a certified translation;
- any domestic driver's licence conforming to the provisions of annex 6 to the convention; and
- any international driver permit conforming to the provisions of annex 7 to the convention.
Prior to 29 March 2011, annex 6 and annex 7 defined forms of driver's licences that are different from those defined after that date. Driving licences issued before 29 March 2011 that match older edition of the annexes are valid until their expiration dates (article 43).
| Class | Description |
|---|---|
| Motor cycles | |
| Motor vehicles, other than those in category A, having a permissible maximum weight not exceeding 3,500 kg and not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. | |
| Motor vehicles used for the carriage of goods and whose permissible maximum weight exceeds 3,500 kg. | |
| Motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and having more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. | |
| Combinations of vehicles of which the drawing vehicles is in a category or categories for which the driver is licensed (B and/or C and/or D), but that are themselves in that category or categories. |
1949 convention[edit]
The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic has been ratified by 96 states.[6] The 1949 Convention's description of a driving permit and international driving permit are located in Annexes 9 and 10. Switzerland signed but did not ratify the Convention.
There is a European Agreement supplementing the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, in addition to the 1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, concluded in Geneva on 16 September 1950.
| Class | Description |
|---|---|
| Motor cycles, with or without a side-car, invalid carriages and three-wheeled motor vehicles with an unladen weight not exceeding 400 kg (900 lbs). | |
| Motor vehicles used for the transport of passengers and comprising, in addition to the driver's seat, at most eight seats, or those used for the transport of goods and having a permissible maximum weight not exceeding 3,500 kg (7,700 lbs). Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a light trailer. | |
| Motor vehicles used for the transport of goods and of which the permissible maximum weight exceeds 3,500 kg (7,700 lbs). Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a light trailer. | |
| Motor vehicles used for the transport of passengers and comprising, in addition to the driver's seat, more than eight seats. Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a light trailer. | |
| Motor vehicles of category B, C, or D, as authorized above, with other than light trailer. |
- 'Permissible maximum weight' of a vehicle means the weight of the vehicle and its maximum load when the vehicle is ready for road.
- 'Maximum load' means the weight of the load declared permissible by the competent authority of the country(or jurisdiction) of registration of the vehicle.
- 'Light trailers' shall be those of permissible maximum weight not exceeding 750 kg (1,650 lbs).
1926 convention[edit]
The 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic is the older IDP Convention. It is only required in Iraq, Somalia[8] and Brazil.[9] International Driving Permits according to the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic are also valid in Liechtenstein and Mexico[10] which also didn't ratify any of the above-mentioned later conventions.[11][12] Mexico also recognizes[13] the Inter-American Driving Permit according to the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943.[14] This convention also contains regulations about driving licences and an international driving licence in its Articles VI and XIII and its Annex B[15] and thus gives an alternative opportunity for a valid driving permit based on a convention between several sovereign states. Article XIII paragraph 2 says 'the international driving licence issued in accordance with the international Convention of 1926 shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this Article' (which defines the requirements of the international driving licence according to the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943).
For states that have ratified the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic[16] but did not ratify the Convention on Road Traffic (1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic) (e.g. Germany) or the Convention on Road Traffic (1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic) (Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Spain, India, Ireland, Iceland, Lebanese Republic, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand and the Vatican City State [eventually via the Holy See as contract party]) the number of states in which the International Driving Permit according to the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic is valid, is higher.
| Class | Description |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicles of which the laden weight does not exceed 3,500 kg. | |
| Motor vehicles of which the laden weight exceeds 3,500 kg. | |
| Motor-cycles, with or without side-car. |
Validation[edit]
According to the 1968 Vienna Convention, an IDP must have an expiration date of no more than three years from its issue date or until the expiration date of national driving permit, whichever is earlier, and it is valid for a period of one year upon the arrival in the foreign country. The previous convention (1949 Geneva Convention) stated that an IDP remains valid for one year from the date of issue, with a grace period of six months.
The IDP is not valid for driving in the country or jurisdiction where it was issued, it can only be used in foreign countries, and it must be shown with the carrier's original driver's license.
Countries and jurisdictions that are parties to 1949 Geneva Convention[edit]
The current parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention are listed below.[18] These jurisdictions issue International Driving Permits.
Asia, Oceania (19)Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (Republic of), Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
Americas (15)Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Venezuela
Europe (36)Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of San Marino, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City (Holy See)
Lithuania accessed in 2019[19].
Middle East, Africa (32)Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Jordan, Kingdom of Lesotho, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe
Countries and jurisdictions that are parties to 1968 Vienna Convention[edit]
The current parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention are listed below.[20] These jurisdictions issue and recognize International Driving Permits.
| Participant | Signature | Accession(a), Succession(d), Ratification |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | 29 Jun 2000 a | |
| Armenia | 8 Feb 2005 a | |
| Austria | 8 Nov 1968 | 11 Aug 1981 |
| Azerbaijan | 3 Jul 2002 a | |
| Bahamas | 14 May 1991 a | |
| Bahrain | 4 May 1973 a | |
| Belarus | 8 Nov 1968 | 18 Jun 1974 |
| Belgium | 8 Nov 1968 | 16 Nov 1988 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 Sep 1993 d | |
| Brazil | 8 Nov 1968 | 29 Oct 1980 |
| Bulgaria | 8 Nov 1968 | 28 Dec 1978 |
| Cabo Verde | 12 Jun 2018 a | |
| Central African Republic | 3 Feb 1988 a | |
| Chile | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Costa Rica | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 24 Jul 1985 a | |
| Croatia | 23 Nov 1992 d | |
| Cuba | 30 Sep 1977 a | |
| Czech Republic | 2 Jun 1993 d | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 25 Jul 1977 a | |
| Denmark | 8 Nov 1968 | 3 Nov 1986 |
| Ecuador | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Estonia | 24 Aug 1992 a | |
| Finland | 16 Dec 1969 | 1 Apr 1985 |
| France | 8 Nov 1968 | 9 Dec 1971 |
| Georgia | 23 Jul 1993 a | |
| Germany | 8 Nov 1968 | 3 Aug 1978 |
| Ghana | 22 Aug 1969 | |
| Greece | 18 Dec 1986 a | |
| Guyana | 31 Jan 1973 a | |
| Holy See | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Hungary | 8 Nov 1968 | 16 Mar 1976 |
| Indonesia | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 8 Nov 1968 | 21 May 1976 |
| Iraq | 1 Feb 2017 a | |
| Israel | 8 Nov 1968 | 11 May 1971 |
| Italy | 8 Nov 1968 | 2 Oct 1996 |
| Kazakhstan | 4 Apr 1994 a | |
| Kenya | 9 Sep 2009 a | |
| Kuwait | 14 Mar 1980 a | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 30 Aug 2006 a | |
| Latvia | 19 Oct 1992 a | |
| Liberia | 16 Sep 2005 a | |
| Lithuania | 20 Nov 1991 a | |
| Luxembourg | 8 Nov 1968 | 25 Nov 1975 |
| Mexico | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Monaco | 6 Jun 1978 a | |
| Mongolia | 19 Dec 1997 a | |
| Montenegro | 23 Oct 2006 d | |
| Morocco | 29 Dec 1982 a | |
| Netherlands | 8 Nov 2007 a | |
| Niger | 11 Jul 1975 a | |
| Nigeria | 18 Oct 2018 a | |
| North Macedonia | 18 Aug 1993 d | |
| Norway | 23 Dec 1969 | 1 Apr 1985 |
| Pakistan | 19 Mar 1986 a | |
| Peru | 6 Oct 2006 a | |
| Philippines | 8 Nov 1968 | 27 Dec 1973 |
| Poland | 8 Nov 1968 | 23 Aug 1984 |
| Portugal | 8 Nov 1968 | 30 Sep 2010 |
| Qatar | 6 Mar 2013 a | |
| Republic of Korea | 29 Dec 1969 | |
| Republic of Moldova | 26 May 1993 a | |
| Romania | 8 Nov 1968 | 9 Dec 1980 |
| Russian Federation | 8 Nov 1968 | 7 Jun 1974 |
| San Marino | 8 Nov 1968 | 20 Jul 1970 |
| Saudi Arabia | 12 May 2016 a | |
| Senegal | 16 Aug 1972 a | |
| Serbia | 12 Mar 2001 d | |
| Seychelles | 11 Apr 1977 a | |
| Slovakia | 1 Feb 1993 d | |
| Slovenia | 6 Jul 1992 d | |
| South Africa | 1 Nov 1977 a | |
| Spain | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Sweden | 8 Nov 1968 | 25 Jul 1985 |
| Switzerland | 8 Nov 1968 | 11 Dec 1991 |
| Tajikistan | Example | 9 Mar 1994 a |
| Thailand | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Tunisia | 5 Jan 2004 a | |
| Turkey | 22 Jan 2013 a | |
| Turkmenistan | 14 Jun 1993 a | |
| Ukraine | 8 Nov 1968 | 12 Jul 1974 |
| United Arab Emirates | 10 Jan 2007 a | |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 8 Nov 1968 | 28 Mar 2018 |
| Uruguay | 8 Apr 1981 a | |
| Uzbekistan | 17 Jan 1995 a | |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 8 Nov 1968 | |
| Viet Nam | 20 Aug 2014 a | |
| Zimbabwe | 31 Jul 1981 a |
Countries and jurisdictions that recognize IDP[edit]
|
|
|
* Requires presentation to local police and payment of special registration upon arrival
** IDP must be exchanged for a local driving licence.
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^'Canadian driver's licences valid in Florida, after all'. CBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^Hasham, Alyshah (14 February 2013). 'Florida Highway Patrol won't enforce international driver's permit rule'. The Toronto Star. ISSN0319-0781. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^'International Driver's License Scams'. Consumer Information. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/MTDSG/Volume%20I/Chapter%20XI/xi-b-1.en.pdf
- ^ ab'1968 Convention on Road Traffic (2006 consolidated version) in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic'(PDF). unece.org.
- ^'United Nations Treaty Collection'. un.org.
- ^Convention on Road Traffic of 1949
- ^'International Driving Permits'. AutoDriverClub. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ^'IDP Country List AA'. www.theaa.com. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^List of contract-party-states in the current version of the german International Driving Permit according to the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic. (In german language.) Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz (Federal Ministry for Justice and Consumer protection of the Federal Republic of Germany). Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^Status of the 1 . Convention on Road Traffic Geneva, 19 September 1949. United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^Status of the 19 . Convention on Road Traffic Vienna, 8 November 1968. United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^Countries Recognizing an Inter-American Driving Permit according to the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943. AutoDriverClub. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943. AutoDriverClub. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^Annex B of the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943. AutoDriverClub. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^French original text of the 1926 Convention internationale relative à la circulation automobile containig a list of states that form the area of application of the convention (Champ d'application de la convention). Les autorités fédérales de la Confédération suisse (The federal authorities of the Swiss Confederation). Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^Anlage 8b zu § 25b Absatz 2 der Verordnung über die Zulassung von Personen zum Straßenverkehr [Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung - FeV] vom 13. Dezember 2010 [BGBl. I S. 1980], die durch Artikel 2 der Verordnung vom 5. November 2013 [BGBl. I S. 3920] geändert worden ist: Muster eines Internationalen Führerscheins nach dem Internationalen Abkommen über Kraftfahrzeugverkehr vom 24. April 1926. (Appendix 8b to Section 25b Paragraph 2 of the Driving Licence Ordinance [of the Federal Republic of Germany]: Sample of an International Driving Permit according to the International Convention of the 24. April 1926.) (In german language.) Retrieved 19 March 2014.
- ^STATUS AS AT 2017-08-07-08. CHAPTER XI. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS. Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva, 19 September 1949
- ^United nations
- ^'1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic'. United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
External links[edit]
| Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to International Driving Permits. |
- IDP Requirements by Country — shows 1926 or 1949 IDP status and special requirements to use an IDP in each country
- FTC vs William Scott Dion, et al. Legal action against PT Resource Center for selling bogus IDP's and related identification documents