What documents do I need?

A photo of the front and back of your valid, unexpired driver's license, a clear front-facing selfie, and your signature (drawn on screen or uploaded as a photo). You don't need a passport.

Can I apply completely online?

Yes. The entire process — form, document upload, payment, and review — happens online. There's no office visit, no appointment, and nothing to mail in.

Do I need to mail anything?

No. Unlike some in-person or mail-in application processes, everything is submitted digitally through the online form.

How do I check my application status?

We don't have a separate status portal. If your application needs anything — a clearer photo or a correction — our team contacts you directly using the details you provided. You're welcome to reach out anytime through our contact page for an update.

What happens if my documents are rejected?

Your application isn't simply rejected outright — our team reviews it before your permit is prepared and flags anything that needs attention, such as an unreadable photo or a missing signature. You'll be contacted with what to fix before your permit is approved.

Can I correct a mistake after submission?

Yes. Contact us as soon as possible — corrections can usually be handled by replying to our review message rather than starting a new application.

Should I choose digital or printed delivery?

Digital delivery is typically the faster option, ready to show on your phone soon after approval. A printed booklet is available if you want a physical copy, but shipping adds time on top of review and approval. Many travelers choose digital first and add printed as a backup.

How much does the application cost?

Pricing depends on whether you choose digital, printed, or both — see our pricing page for current, published rates. It's a one-time payment with no subscriptions or hidden fees.

Can I apply with a temporary or expiring licence?

Generally, provisional or learner licenses aren't eligible, since an International Driving Permit is a translation of a full, valid license. If your license is close to expiring, it may not remain valid for your entire trip — apply with a license that will stay valid throughout your travel dates.

When should I apply before travelling?

There's no fixed minimum, but applying a few weeks ahead gives time for review and, if you choose printed delivery, shipping — since we don't guarantee a specific delivery date for printed booklets.

Is an International Driving Permit the same as an International Driver's License?

Yes. "International Driving Permit" is the official term defined by the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic. "International Driver's License" is the common name most travelers search for and use interchangeably — it refers to the same document.

Do rental car companies require an International Driving Permit?

It depends on both the destination country's law and the individual rental company's policy. Some countries legally require an IDP to rent or drive a car; separately, many rental companies request one as their own policy — for example when a license isn't printed in the Latin alphabet — even where local law doesn't strictly require it. Check your destination's requirements and your rental company's terms before you travel.

Is Apply IDP Online affiliated with AAA, AATA, or any government agency?

No. Apply IDP Online is a private, independent service. We are not affiliated with AAA, AATA, FIA, AIT, or the United Nations, and we are not a government agency, embassy, or motoring authority.

How to apply

How to Apply for an International Driving Permit

Q: How long does processing take?

There's no time limit to complete the guided form — take as long as you need. Once your application is submitted, paid, and approved, your digital IDP is typically delivered in approximately 8 minutes; a printed booklet is also available and ships after your application is reviewed and approved.

Everything you need to get an International Driving Permit online — eligibility, required documents, processing time, and how digital and printed delivery work. No office visit, no appointment, and nothing to mail in.

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Three simple stepsDigital or printedReviewed before dispatch

Apply IDP Online permit booklet preview with identity page and vehicle categories

steps to apply

delivery formats

office visits

DIRECT ANSWER

To apply for an International Driving Permit online — sometimes searched as getting an International Driver's License — complete a guided form with your driver details, upload a photo of your license and a selfie, add your signature, and choose digital or printed delivery. Our team reviews every submission before your permit is prepared; once your application is submitted, paid, and approved, your digital IDP is typically delivered in approximately 8 minutes, and a printed booklet ships afterward if you chose that option. Apply IDP Online is a private application-assistance service — you must still carry your original, valid driver's license when you drive abroad.

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Before you start

Who can apply

You must be 18 years of age or older.
You need a valid, unexpired driver's license issued in your name.
Provisional, learner, and expired licenses generally aren't eligible — see the FAQ below.

Required documents

The application stays simple — these are the standard items based on your original driver's license.

Valid driver's license

Your document is created from the details on your original, unexpired license.

Selfie

A clear, front-facing photo with good light and a plain background.

Signature

Draw it on screen or upload a photo — it's added to the prepared document.

Photo requirements that prevent delays

Photograph your license flat and out of any plastic sleeve or wallet — sleeves cause glare that obscures details.
Keep all four corners and edges of the license visible in the frame.
Use a photo taken specifically for this application — old, scanned, or screenshotted photos are usually rejected.
Avoid heavy compression — if text on the license looks blurry or pixelated once uploaded, retake it.
Photocopies aren't accepted — the license must be photographed or scanned directly.

Step by step

How to Get Your International Driving Permit — Step by Step

STEP 01

Enter your driver details

Fill in your name, date of birth, license categories, and where you're travelling. The form is a single guided flow — no account or password needed.

Apply IDP Online form step for entering traveler and driver license details

STEP 02

Upload your documents

Add a photo of the front and back of your license, a selfie, and a signature. You can draw your signature directly on screen.

Apply IDP Online selfie upload step with applicant photo guidance

STEP 03

Pay and let our team review

Pay the one-time fee for your chosen format, then a person checks your details and documents for anything that could cause a delay before your permit is approved and prepared.

Apply IDP Online permit package prepared for international travel

Payment

One-time payment, no subscriptions

You pay once, after completing the guided form, for whichever format you choose — digital, printed, or both. There are no subscriptions or recurring charges.

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Review & approval

Review, approval, and processing time

A member of our team reviews your details and uploaded documents before your permit is approved and prepared — this catches issues like an unreadable photo before they cause a delay. We can't guarantee approval; an application can be sent back for a quick correction if something doesn't check out. Once your application is submitted, paid, and approved, your digital IDP is typically delivered in approximately 8 minutes.

Delivery

Digital vs. printed permit

A digital copy is a downloadable, travel-ready document you can show on your phone at a rental counter or roadside check — typically emailed in approximately 8 minutes once your application is submitted, paid, and approved. A printed booklet in the standard IDP format is also available, shipped after your application is reviewed and approved.

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Apply IDP Online digital and printed permit options displayed together

Printed delivery

Shipping for a printed booklet

If you choose a printed booklet, it ships after your application has been reviewed and approved — not before. We don't promise a specific delivery date, since shipping time depends on your destination and local postal handling. Your digital copy, if you selected one, is typically available well before a printed booklet arrives, so many travelers use it to start and treat the printed booklet as a backup.

Read our shipping & delivery policy →

Avoid delays

Common mistakes and how corrections work

Most delays come from images that are hard to read. These checks keep things moving.

Plastic-sleeve glare

Take the license out of any wallet or sleeve before photographing it.

Cropped or cut-off edges

Keep all four corners of the license visible in the frame.

Blurry or compressed uploads

Retake the photo if any number, name, or expiry date is unreadable.

Old, scanned, or screenshotted photos

Use a fresh photo taken for this application, not a saved image.

Missing signature

The application can't be reviewed until a signature is added.

Details that don't match your license

Double-check spelling, dates, and license number against the original.

If something in your application needs attention, our team contacts you using the details you provided so you can fix it before your permit is prepared — you don't need to start over.

What the document does — and doesn't do

What it does

Translates your license details into multiple languages
Helps border staff and rental counters understand your license
Gives you a digital and, optionally, a printed copy

What it doesn't do

Replace your original driver's license
Independently grant driving rights
Guarantee acceptance by every police officer or rental company

Before you travel

After approval and before you travel

Once your permit is prepared, carry it together with your original, valid driver's license every time you drive abroad — it's a companion document, not a replacement. Requirements differ by destination, so check your destination's guide for what's typically expected there before you go.

Browse destination guides →

Expert tips

Practical tips before you apply

Apply before your final week of travel prep, not the night before you fly, in case anything needs correcting.
Make sure the name and details you enter match your driver's license exactly — small mismatches are a common reason for a follow-up request.
If you're choosing printed delivery, start well ahead of your trip — see the shipping section above.
Keep a digital copy accessible on your phone even if you also choose printed, so you always have a backup on hand.

FAQ

Application questions, answered

Complete a short guided form with your driver details, upload a photo of your license and a selfie, add your signature, choose digital or printed delivery, and pay the one-time fee. Our team reviews every application before your permit is prepared — the whole process happens online, with no office visit or appointment.

Ready to start your application?

The guided form has no time limit — complete it at your own pace.

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Guides and resources

Everything referenced on this page, in one place.

Browse destination guides →Compare pricing →Read the full FAQ →What is an IDP →Contact us →Our sources →Editorial policy →