International Driving Permit: Which Countries Require It
Some links on this page earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
Five of the twelve popular nomad destinations we checked ask a UK licence holder for an International Driving Permit (IDP), and one more, Vietnam, gets two different answers from two governments. The rest accept a modern photocard licence, although a rental desk can still ask for a permit. We read the official pages on 2 October 2026 and show the source next to every country, so you can check it yourself. If you plan to ride, our guide to renting a scooter in Southeast Asia goes deeper.
Quick answer
With a UK photocard licence you need an IDP in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey, and the version matters (1949 or 1968). Spain, Portugal, Mexico and the UAE accept the photocard, Colombia and Georgia may ask at the rental desk, and in Vietnam two official sources disagree. A licence from the US, Canada, Australia or the EU follows its own agreements, so read your own government's travel advice before you buy anything.
Re-checked on 5 October 2026 on the UK government pages: Thailand (1968 permit), Japan (1949), Turkey (1968, the 1949 permit is not accepted any more) and Malaysia (1949, a new permit for each additional year) still match the table below. The other countries were last read on 2 October 2026.
Two tools that go with the permit
SafetyWing
UK government advice warns that driving or riding without a valid licence could invalidate your travel insurance. Read more
DiscoverCars
Compare rental cars, then read the supplier's licence rules before you pay. Read more
What an IDP is, and what it is not
An International Driving Permit is a booklet that translates your national licence so officials abroad can read it. It is not a licence: UK government advice for Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Japan says you carry the permit together with your own licence. Three versions exist, named after the road traffic conventions of 1926, 1949 and 1968, and each country names the one it accepts. Japan and Malaysia name the 1949 version, Turkey names the 1968 version and says the 1949 one is no longer accepted, and Mexico mentions the 1926 version for paper licences.
The permit also has to fit what you ride or drive. UK advice for Thailand warns that many travel insurance policies expect the correct licence for the car, motorbike or scooter you drive abroad, and that riding without a valid licence could invalidate your cover.
The 12 destinations at a glance
The table shows the rule for a UK driving licence, taken from UK government travel advice (FCDO), plus Spain's traffic authority and the US Embassy in Vietnam where noted. Every row links to the page we read on 2 October 2026, and the notes for each country follow below the table.
Other licences work differently. Spain's traffic authority says EU and EEA licences are valid as they are, and that visitors from other countries need an international permit carried together with a passport or identity document. A US, Canadian or Australian licence follows the agreements of its own country, so read your own government's travel advice for each destination.
| Destination | IDP with a UK licence | Version named | Source, checked 2 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Yes | 1968 | UK FCDO |
| Vietnam | Sources differ | 1968 (UK advice) | UK FCDO US Embassy |
| Indonesia | Yes | Not named | UK FCDO |
| Malaysia | Yes | 1949 | UK FCDO |
| Japan | Yes | 1949 | UK FCDO |
| Turkey | Yes | 1968 | UK FCDO |
| Mexico | Not needed | Paper licence: 1926 | UK FCDO |
| Colombia | Optional | Rental firm decides | UK FCDO |
| Spain | Depends on licence | Not named | UK FCDO Spain DGT, page dated 5 Mar 2026 |
| Portugal | Not needed | Paper licence: "correct version" | UK FCDO |
| Georgia | Optional | 1968 | UK FCDO |
| UAE | Not needed | Paper licence: "correct version" | UK FCDO |
Asia: where the permit matters most
In Thailand, UK advice says to carry the 1968 permit and your UK licence while driving. It also says motorcycles and scooters for hire in tourist areas are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road. Malaysia and Japan both name the 1949 version. For Malaysia you buy a new permit for each additional year you plan to drive, and for Japan the advice says you could be arrested and fined for driving without the correct documents.
Vietnam is the confusing one. UK advice says to carry the 1968 permit and your UK licence for a car or motorbike. The US Embassy says foreign licences, even with an international permit, are not valid in Vietnam, and lists the documents for a Vietnamese licence: your foreign licence with a notarised Vietnamese translation, passport, visa page and residence permit. For Indonesia, UK advice says a UK licence alone is not enough, and that UK nationals with a limited stay permit card (KITAS) can apply for an Indonesian licence. More on riding in all three in our scooter rental guide.
Europe, the Gulf and the Americas: mostly easy, with two catches
With a UK photocard licence, UK advice says you can drive in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia and the UAE. The first catch is the old paper licence: for Portugal and the UAE the advice says you may need to update it to a photocard or get the correct version of the IDP, and for Mexico it names the 1926 version. The second catch is the rental desk. UK advice says hire companies in Colombia may ask for a permit, and for Georgia it says to check with the car hire company whether they accept the UK licence or want a 1968 permit. Our guide to renting a car in Spain covers Spain in detail.
Turkey sits on the other side of the line: UK advice says you need a 1968 permit or a UK licence notarised in Turkish, that the 1949 permit is not accepted any more, and that you must carry a green card showing third-party insurance. If you settle in the UAE, UK advice says you need a UAE licence once you have residence.
Get it before you leave, and skip it if you move
The UK government page says you can get an IDP in person from certain shops that have PayPoint, and UK advice repeats that you cannot buy one outside the UK, so apply before you fly. The same page says not to apply for an IDP if you are moving abroad: you will need to exchange your licence or apply for a new one in the country you move to. That matters for nomads who turn a long stay into residency. We only checked UK government pages for this guide, so if your licence is from another country, use your own country's official issuer. We did not check any private website that sells "international licences", so we do not recommend one.
Two tools that go with the permit
1. SafetyWing: check that your insurance matches your licence
SafetyWing
The permit and your insurance need to agree. UK advice for Thailand says that if you drive a car or ride a motorcycle without a valid licence, it could invalidate your travel insurance and you would be unable to claim after an accident. SafetyWing's published description of coverage asks that protective headwear is worn for recreational activities and excludes injury while operating a motorized vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Read the current policy wording and ask them directly how motor vehicles are treated before you ride or drive; this is not a promise of cover. Our SafetyWing review has the wider picture.
If you want to compare more insurers side by side, HelloSafe is an independent comparison of 40+ insurers, and the certificate is instant once you pick a plan.
HelloSafe
2. DiscoverCars: read the supplier's licence rules before you pay
DiscoverCars
Rental desks apply their own rules on top of the law. UK advice says hire companies in Colombia may ask for a permit, and for Georgia it says to check with the hire company before you travel. DiscoverCars is a comparison site, so the licence conditions you need are the individual supplier's: read them on the booking page and bring both documents to the desk. Our DiscoverCars review explains how the comparison works.
Key takeaways
- With a UK photocard licence, UK government advice names an IDP for Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey, and the version differs by country.
- An IDP does not replace your licence. Carry both, and check that your licence covers what you ride.
- Vietnam is the exception where official sources disagree. For a long stay, plan for a Vietnamese licence.
- Do not apply for an IDP if you are moving abroad. Exchange your licence or apply for a local one instead.
Why we put this guide together
Chenzo, founder of NomadsToolsLab
Chenzo has been on the road for 27 years, including 11 years backpacking through South America and seven years traveling in a campervan and caravan. Papers get checked in different ways in different countries, which is why this guide shows the official source and the check date next to every country instead of one blanket rule.
Check twice, carry both
Rules change, and a table is only as good as its check date. Before you book a car or a scooter, open the source link for your country and confirm the rule still stands. If you are heading to Bali, our scooter or car in Bali guide covers what you need on the island.
FAQ
Do I need an IDP if my UK licence is in English?
It depends on the country, not the language. UK government advice says a UK licence alone is not enough in Indonesia and names a permit for Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey, while Spain, Portugal, Mexico and the UAE accept the UK photocard.
Does an IDP replace my driving licence?
No. UK government advice for Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Japan says you carry the permit together with your UK licence.
Which IDP version do I need?
UK advice names the 1968 version for Thailand, Vietnam and Turkey, and for Georgia if the rental company asks. It names the 1949 version for Malaysia and Japan and the 1926 version for a paper licence in Mexico. For Indonesia the advice does not name a version, so ask the issuer or the rental company.
Will travel insurance pay if I crash without the right licence?
UK advice for Thailand says driving or riding without a valid licence could invalidate your travel insurance, so you could not claim after an accident. Read your policy and ask your insurer before you travel.
Affiliate disclosure. This post contains affiliate links. If you click and book or buy something, this site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Information in this guide comes from official government and authority pages and from the partners' own websites, read on the date shown, and rules change, so check the current rule before you travel. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
Your next step
SafetyWing Review 2026: Is It Worth It for Long-Term Nomads? 
