The international driving permit

An international driving permit is an official translation of your national licence. It carries over its main details (identity, authorised vehicle categories, validity date) and presents them in several languages so that they can be understood by the authorities of a large number of countries. It is designed to accompany your national licence, never to replace it.

In practice, it becomes useful when you drive outside the European Union and the European Economic Area: tourism, business travel, relocation or car rental in a non-EEA country. Some States formally require it, while others accept it as a facilitating document. Within the EEA, by contrast, your national licence remains fully valid and the international permit is not required.

There are also several models of international permit, linked to different international conventions. The expected model can vary depending on the destination country, which is why it is wise to check the exact requirements of the country concerned before you travel.

The general principle across Europe is the same: to obtain an international permit you must hold a valid national driving licence in good standing and reside in the country where you make the application. The international permit is issued in your country of residence, on the basis of your national licence.

The competent body and the procedures differ from one country to another, however. Depending on your situation, the application is made to the national administration, an approved automobile club or a dedicated office, in Czechia, Luxembourg, Belgium or France. Processing times, required documents and the period of validity also vary by country.

If you have just registered or transferred a vehicle in Europe and plan to drive in a non-EEA country, we tell you who the competent body is and which conditions apply at your place of residence, so the procedure fits smoothly into your file.

The exact documents depend on your country of residence, but a typical file almost always rests on the same items. It is best to gather them in advance to avoid an unnecessary second trip.

You will generally need:

• your national driving licence, valid and in date;
• a valid identity document (and often a copy);
• recent proof of residence in the country of application;
• one or more identity photographs meeting the applicable standards;
• the duly completed application form, where one is required.

An administrative fee is usually payable on issue. Its amount is set by each administration or body and may change: we do not quote a price here, but we direct you to the official source for your country.

An international permit has a limited period of validity, which depends on the country of issue and the permit model. Beyond that period, or if your national licence itself expires, the document must be renewed. It is therefore advisable to apply ahead of a long stay abroad.

An essential rule to remember: an international permit is never presented on its own. You must always carry it together with your original national licence. During a check, both documents are verified together; an international permit presented in isolation has no value.

Before you leave, always check the requirements of the destination country: the expected permit model, how long you may drive on a foreign licence, and any obligation to take out local insurance. Also keep a copy of your documents, separate from the originals, in case of loss or theft.

Our role is administrative support: we help you make sense of a procedure that depends both on your country of residence and on the country where you intend to drive. Together we identify the competent body, the documents to gather and the order of the steps, so that nothing is overlooked before departure.

This assistance fits naturally alongside the other operations relating to your vehicle: registration, transfer or import, insurance, technical inspection or document preparation. If your project involves several countries among Czechia, Luxembourg, Belgium and France, we tailor our guidance to each situation.

For precise information about your case, contact us by telephone or via the contact form: we will reply according to your place of residence and your destination.