What is an international driving permit?
Answer
A document allowing Australians to drive abroad
Explanation
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of a person's home country driver licence into multiple languages, issued under the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic (1949 Geneva Convention or 1968 Vienna Convention). It accompanies the original home country licence and allows the holder to drive in foreign countries that recognise the convention.
An IDP is not a licence in itself: the original home country licence must always be carried alongside the IDP. The IDP only translates the categories of vehicle the holder is licensed to drive into the major UN languages and facilitates communication with foreign police and rental agencies. IDPs cannot create driving rights that the home licence does not include.
Australia issues IDPs through the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and its state member clubs (NRMA in NSW, RACV in Victoria, RACQ in Queensland, RAA in South Australia, RAC WA, RACT in Tasmania, and AANT in the Northern Territory). An IDP costs about 45 dollars and is valid for 12 months. Application requires a current Australian driver licence, two passport photos, and the applicant's signature. IDPs are issued only to people who hold a valid Australian licence; tourists in Australia cannot apply for an Australian IDP.
Visitors to Australia can drive on a valid overseas licence, supported by an IDP if the licence is not in English, for the duration of their visit (subject to maximum periods set by each state, usually three months for longer-term visitors). Permanent residents and Australian citizens must convert their overseas licence to an Australian licence within three months of becoming a resident. Some countries have direct exchange agreements with Australia that allow experienced drivers to swap their licence without retesting, including most Commonwealth countries, the United States, European Union countries, Japan, and South Korea. Drivers from countries without a direct agreement must take the relevant knowledge and practical driving tests.
Why this matters for your test
An IDP lets Australians drive overseas and lets visitors drive in Australia for a limited period, and recognising it as a translation of the home licence (not a stand-alone document) helps new citizens use it correctly when travelling.
Source: Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (2024)
