Geneva Convention on Road Traffic

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country that recognises IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence.

The IDP, which 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.

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:

The Convention on Road Traffic has been ratified by 72 countries. Examples of countries that have not ratified the Convention include Chile, China (Republic of China), Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Holy See, Indonesia, Ireland, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, 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 Article demanded Contracting Parties to recognise as valid for driving in their territories:

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).

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Wikipedia