Apply by post with our simple application form and checklist. We’ll guide you through the requirements and issue your permit within 7 days.
Navigate Foreign Roads Safety with an International Driving Permit
International Driving Permit (IDP)
Hit the road with an International Driving Permit
An International Driving Permit is your legal permission to drive a private vehicle outside of Ireland when accompanied by your valid Irish driving license. With an IDP, you can confidently explore over 150 countries worldwide. Our IDPs are issued according to international standards and are recognized by authorities in nearly all countries.
International Driving License Features and Benefits
Our International Driving Permits are officially recognized in over 150 countries around the world under the 1949 Convention.
We offer both the 1949 and 1926 Convention permits to ensure you have the right permit for your destination country.
Our Express Service fee of €15 guarantees you’ll receive your permit within 7 working days.
As a leading travel services provider in Ireland for over 60 years, you can rely on us to issue you a valid International Driving Permit.
There are 2 types of International Driving Permits:
- A 1949 Convention IDP/permit is usually issued, and is recognised in most countries.
- A 1926 Convention IDP/permit is required for the following countries: Brazil, Burundi, Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia
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How much does an International Driving Permit cost?
Our €15.00 Express Service means your IDP will be sent to you within 7 working days.
How do I apply?
Fully completed IDP application form which you can download here: Download IDP Application PDF and enclose the following:
- A photocopy of your current valid Republic of Ireland drivers licence (front and back).
- A passport size photograph – signed by you on the reverse.
- A photocopy of a household bill dated in the last 3 months of the applicant (only necessary if applying with a non Republic of Ireland driving licence)
All applications must be sent by post in a sealed envelope to: AA Travel Services, P.O. Box 11331, Dublin 2.
Please Note:
For security reasons The AA cannot accept cash. You can pay your fee by credit/debit card, by cheque or postal order made payable to The AA.
If two or more permits are being requested, please send an additional passport photograph and applications form for each permit along with the appropriate fees. If the application isn’t fully complete or you haven’t included all the items listed above it will be returned to you to re-submit. We will only accept applications sent by sealed envelope.
FAQs on International Driving Permit (IDP) 🤔
IDPs are recognised internationally and normally allows you drive a motor vehicle without further formality. Permits cannot be issued to holders of provisional licences nor to holders of non EU/EEA licences.
All countries are listed on the IDP form. Click here to view
The IDP is valid for one year from date of issue.
No.
Standard IDP applications (€10.00) can take up to 10 working days to be issued once it has been received.
If you require an IDP sooner than this, we offer an express service which can take up to 7 working days once it has been received & will be returned by normal post.
If you’re applying for an IDP from outside of the Republic of Ireland please allow an additional 5 working days to either service for international postage delays.
€15.00 is for our Express Service (applications are completed within 3-5 working days). Please note this includes a €5.00 admin/postal delivery charge per permit requested which can be posted anywhere in the world.
Additional Notes
| 1 | If you travel to any country for longer than three months to take up residence or employment, or for any reason other than tourism, you should make enquiries about your personal position before relying on a permit. |
| 2 | You will be expected to have your own drivers licence with you for inspection when hiring a car overseas; an IDP should be seen as separate to your own licence. It does not act as a replacement. |
| 3 | Unfortunately permits cannot be issued to holders of provisional licences or non EU/EEA licence holders. |
| 4 | It is important to check that the information printed on your IDP is correct. If you need to make any changes to it, you should do this immediately & notify the authority that issued your licence. |
| 5 | Holders of EU/EEA* licences other than those issued in the Republic of Ireland, who are permanent residents of the Republic of Ireland, are eligible for an Irish IDP. However to qualify, you must submit with your application form a copy of a recent fixed-line telephone bill or electricity bill, clearly showing your address of residence. You must also sign and date the declaration of residency on the application form. Please read the definition of “normal residence” in Note 6 *EEA countries – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. |
| 6 | Normal Residency in the Republic of Ireland is defined as follows: “You shall be regarded as having your normal residence in Ireland if, because of personal and occupational ties, you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year. However, if you have personal ties in Ireland and occupational ties in another country, which require absences from this country, you may still be regarded as being normally resident in Ireland provided that you return here regularly. Working abroad on a specific task for a definite duration, or attending a foreign university or college, shall not imply that you have transferred your normal residence to another country”. |
| 7 | Permits cannot be forward-dated more than 3 months from the date the application is received by the AA. |
| 8 | IDPs can be issued at any time but will only be valid for 12 months or until the date of expiry of the Irish licence, whichever comes sooner. |
| 9 | The IDP application can only be completed by the person applying for the permit. |
| 10 | Only one IDP may be issued per licence per year unless you are looking for a replacement for an issued permit, in which case the IDP application form must be accompanied by a Garda report of the original IDP’s loss. |
| 11 | An IDP may be issued for an endorsed licence once there are not 12 penalty points or more on it. If an IDP applicant’s driving ban is still in force, an IDP cannot be issue |
| 12 | Passport-size photos must be provided and signed on the back by the applicant. |