International Driving Permit: who needs one and how to get it
An international driving permit is not a separate document that grants you the right to drive; it is an official translation of your national license into several languages in the format of the Vienna Convention. Ukrainians do not always need one: in most European countries an ordinary plastic license is enough, but for renting a car in the USA, Canada or Australia you cannot do without this translation, and you will have to prepare it in advance. Processing takes up to five working days and costs a symbolic amount, with no exams to pass.
Below we break down where you truly cannot manage without one, where it is a waste of time, and why Ukraine ended up in an awkward situation with Japan.
What an international driving permit actually is
The main misunderstanding: many people think it is a "license you can drive with all over the world." That is not the case. An international driving permit (IDP) is legally void on its own. It is an A6-format booklet with a translation of your national license, and it is valid only together with your national license. Leaving the plastic at home and taking only the "international" permit is the same as having no license at all.
Ukraine acceded to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968. This means that Ukrainian national licenses meet the international standard, and in all countries party to this convention they are accepted without any additional paperwork. That is exactly why in France, Italy, Germany or Poland an international driving permit will not be needed: you show your ordinary plastic and rent the car.
Who needs an international permit and where
The problem starts where a country signed not the Vienna but the older Geneva Convention of 1949. These two documents are not equivalent, and a license of one type formally does not work in a "foreign" country. The USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a number of other states follow the Geneva Convention, which is why they ask for a separate international permit there.
There is another scenario where an IDP becomes mandatory in practice, even if the law does not require it: rental companies. A rental office in Cyprus or Spain may well refuse to hand over the keys without an international permit, because their internal rules demand it. Legally your license is enough, but the counter says "no." So the rule is simple: renting a car far from home get an IDP just in case, it is cheaper than a ruined vacation.
| Where you are going | What applies | Is an IDP needed |
|---|---|---|
| EU, United Kingdom, Turkey, Georgia | Vienna Convention 1968 | No, a national license is enough |
| USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand | Geneva Convention 1949 | Yes, together with the national license |
| UAE, Thailand, most of Asia | Depends on the country and the rental | Advisable, often asked for at the counter |
| Japan | Neither one applies | An IDP does not help, details below |
It is not only the country's law that matters, but also your passport. Visa and transport rules are always tied to citizenship, so before the trip check the requirements specifically for citizens of Ukraine on the official portal of the destination you are heading to.
Why Ukrainian licenses do not work in Japan at all
This is the most unpleasant detail that most guides stay silent about. Japan recognizes only the Geneva Convention of 1949, and Ukraine did not sign it; it belongs to a different one, the Vienna Convention. As a result, neither a Ukrainian national license nor an international permit issued in Ukraine is valid in Japan. You will not be able to rent a car with them, and this is not the whim of a rental office but the position of the Japanese authorities.
There are two legal ways out for Japan: either obtain a Japanese national license on the spot, or use the official Japanese translation of a license through accredited organizations, but this route is not open to every country, and Ukraine is still in an awkward position. If you plan to drive in Japan specifically, this issue needs to be resolved well in advance, not at the rental counter at Narita Airport. The situation may change if Ukraine accedes to the Geneva Convention, so before the trip check the current status.
How to get an international driving permit in Ukraine
Here everything is unexpectedly simple, and this is that rare bureaucratic procedure that does not fray your nerves. There are no exams to take; you already passed the theory and the city driving test for your national license, and the international permit is issued on that basis. Your national license is not taken away in the process; it stays with you.
You can apply at any territorial MVS (Ministry of Internal Affairs) service center, regardless of your place of registration. You cannot fully complete it online, the document is issued offline, but booking in advance through the Diia app or the hsc.gov.ua website saves hours of waiting in a live queue.
What to bring with you
- the original national driving license;
- a Ukrainian citizen's passport or ID card;
- a foreign travel passport;
- one photograph 3.5 by 4.5 cm on matte paper.
| Application detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Where | Any MVS service center |
| Exams | Not required |
| Production time | Up to 5 working days |
| Administrative fee for the form | Roughly 6 to 35 UAH (check the current rate) |
| Validity period | Up to 3 years |
How much it costs and how long it is valid
The price is a pleasant surprise. The administrative fee for the form is small, roughly 6 to 35 hryvnias depending on the service center, that is cheaper than coffee and a pastry. This is the official rate of the service center, so any offers to "get an international permit for a couple of thousand online without a queue" come from middlemen who mark up the cost tenfold. The exact amount is always stated on the spot, and it may change, so check before your visit.
The validity period of an international driving permit is three years, but with an important caveat: it cannot be valid longer than your national license. If your national license has a year and a half left, the international one will be issued for that same term, not for the full three years. So first make sure your national license is not expiring soon, otherwise you will have to reissue both documents at the same time.
Common questions before the trip
Can you drive on the international permit alone?
No. Without the national license the international permit is invalid. Carry both documents together, otherwise at the very first check you are a violator.
How much time to allow for processing?
The standard is up to five working days, sometimes faster. Do not leave it for the last day before departure, especially if you are waiting for a visa or a foreign passport at the same time.
Do you need an international permit for Europe?
In the vast majority of cases no. Ukraine is in the Vienna Convention, so in the EU a national license is enough. A specific rental company may make an exception, so check the rental conditions in advance.
If you are traveling for the first time and within Europe, do not waste time, your ordinary license will do. But if you are planning to rent a car overseas or head to distant Asia, get an IDP in advance and put it in the same folder as your passport and insurance. It is the cheapest insurance against the situation where the car is booked but the keys are not handed to you.
