Applying for International Driving Permit (IDP)

You can easily get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from the post office (over the counter), and the application fee is just £5.50. Read on to know the details.

If you are a UK driving licence holder and would like to drive abroad, you might be required to hold an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with your full driving licence. The exact requirements vary country by country; for example, you can drive in all European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland without on your UK driving licence, but the same is not true for several Asian countries. Here is a word on the requirement from the UK government.

So, if you have decided to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP), this post is going to highlight the process as of Dec 2013. You can apply by post or by visiting the local crown post office in person. I personally prefer getting it over the counter to avoid postage costs and the associated delays.

Step 0: Get the application form

The application forms are available in the UK crown post offices. They are also available from the AA and the RAC website. Here is the Royal Mail page about International Driving Permits. Just visit one of the post offices which can issue an IDP.

Step 1: Fill in the application form and attach supporting documents

The application form is pretty simple to fill in. You'll need some personal details, driving licence number, the country you are visiting and the date you would like your IDP to become active. You can post date your application by 3 months. The IDP is valid for 1 year.

The required supporting documents are

• Your driving licence and the counter part
• An additional proof of identity (such as Passport or Biometric Residence Permit)
• A photo signed at the back

Step 2: Apply at the post office

Visit one of the post offices which can issue IDP, along with a filled in application form, the supporting documents and the application fee (£5.50). Provide these over the counter and they will issue you the IDP then and there.