Vehicle & Transport#038

Understanding International Driving Permit (IDP)

Obtain an International Driving Permit before driving a vehicle in a foreign country.

At a glance

Jurisdiction

India — State-level (Regional Transport Office where the applicant's current Driving Licence was issued)

Who applies

Indian citizens or residents holding a valid Driving Licence (non-transport vehicle category) who intend to drive a motor vehicle in foreign countries that are signatories to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949) or the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968).

Typical time

1–7 working days; many RTOs issue the IDP on the same day or next working day after application.

Fee

₹1,000 for the International Driving Permit (fee as per Motor Vehicles Act; may vary slightly by state).

Who should use this process

✓Must hold a valid permanent Driving Licence (not a learner's licence or expired DL) issued by an Indian RTO.
✓The DL must be for non-transport vehicle categories (LMV, MCWG, etc.); IDPs are not issued for commercial transport vehicle categories.
✓The DL must have at least 1 year of validity remaining at the time of applying (some RTOs may relax this; verify locally).
✓Must be a citizen of India or a resident with a valid Indian DL.
✓Must be travelling abroad; proof of travel (air ticket or travel itinerary) may be requested by the RTO.

Who does NOT need to apply

✕Persons holding only a Learner's Licence are not eligible; a valid permanent DL is required.
✕Expired or suspended Driving Licences cannot be used to obtain an IDP.
✕The IDP is valid for a maximum of 1 year and cannot be extended; a fresh IDP must be obtained for subsequent foreign trips.
✕IDPs are not valid for driving in India; they are valid only in participating foreign countries.

Documents required

#	Document	Type needed	Purpose
1	Original Driving Licence (valid)	Original	The primary document proving the applicant holds a valid Indian DL; the RTO will verify it before issuing the IDP.
2	Self-attested Copy of Driving Licence	Self-attested Copy	A copy to retain for RTO records.
3	Valid Indian Passport (original)	Original	Proof of identity and nationality; the IDP is linked to the passport details.
4	Self-attested Copy of Passport (data page + visa page if available)	Self-attested Copy	For RTO record-keeping and verification.
5	Proof of Travel (air ticket / travel itinerary / hotel booking)(optional)Required by most RTOs as a matter of practice; not universally mandated by law but advisable to carry.	Original	Many RTOs require evidence of imminent foreign travel to process the IDP application.
6	Passport-size Photographs (3 recent, white background)	Original	Required for the IDP booklet and application form.
7	Form 4A — Application for International Driving Permit	Download / Print	Mandatory application form for IDP; available at the RTO or on the Sarathi portal.
8	Proof of Address (Aadhaar / Voter ID / Passport)	Self-attested Copy	To confirm the applicant's current address for record purposes.

Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.

Step-by-step guide

1
Initiate the IDP application on Sarathi portal (optional in some states)
Both
Visit sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, log in, and select 'Apply for International Driving Permit' under DL services. In states where this is available online, fill in the details and upload documents. In states where only offline processing is available, this step is done at the RTO.
sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
2
Fill Form 4A and gather all documents
Both
Obtain and fill Form 4A (Application for IDP). Attach photocopies of the DL, passport, address proof, and travel proof. Affix passport-size photographs as required.
3
Pay the IDP fee
Both
Pay the ₹1,000 fee at the RTO cashier counter (cash/DD) or through the Sarathi portal (online payment) depending on the state's system. Collect the payment receipt.
Instantsarathi.parivahan.gov.in
4
Submit application at the RTO
Offline
Visit your issuing RTO with the original DL, passport, and all other documents. Submit the filled Form 4A along with photocopies and payment receipt at the Licensing section counter.
30–60 minutesLicensing Authority (RTO)
5
Document verification and IDP processing
Offline
The Licensing Authority or clerk verifies all submitted documents against originals. The IDP booklet is prepared as per the Geneva/Vienna Convention format, containing translations of your licence details in multiple languages.
1–3 working daysLicensing Authority (RTO)
6
Collect the IDP
Offline
Collect the IDP booklet from the RTO in person, or in some states it is dispatched by post. The IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.
Same day to 7 working days

Government officers involved

Licensing Authority (LA)

Regional Transport Office (RTO)

Document verification, approval, and issuance of the IDP

Reviews the IDP application, verifies the original DL and passport, and authorises issuance of the International Driving Permit.

RTO Cashier

Regional Transport Office (RTO)

Fee collection

Collects the IDP fee and issues an official payment receipt.

Government portals

Sarathi Parivahan Sewa

https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in

Online IDP application initiation, fee payment, and status tracking (available in select states).

Parivahan Sewa Main Portal

https://parivahan.gov.in

General information on IDP eligibility, fee, and RTO locator.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

https://morth.nic.in

Policy and legal reference for the Motor Vehicles Act provisions governing IDPs and international driving.

Things to watch out for

IDP is valid for only 1 year — plan ahead

The IDP is non-renewable; once it expires you must apply for a fresh one. Apply as close to your travel date as possible, but allow enough time for processing. Some RTOs take up to a week.

Verify destination country's convention participation

The IDP issued in India is recognised only in countries that are signatories to the 1949 Geneva Convention or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Some popular destinations (e.g., the USA accepts the Geneva IDP; most European countries accept the Vienna IDP). Verify with the destination country's embassy or transport authority before travelling.

IDP must be carried with the original Indian DL

An IDP is not a standalone document; it must always be presented together with the original Indian Driving Licence. Carrying only the IDP will not be accepted by foreign traffic authorities.

Processing varies significantly by RTO

Some RTOs issue the IDP within hours; others take several days. There is no national online system for IDP in all states. Visit the RTO directly and confirm the timeline well before your departure date.

No online IDP is currently issued

Unlike the DL, no digital/electronic IDP is issued by Indian RTOs. You must collect the physical booklet in person (or via authorised representative with power of attorney in some RTOs). Plan for a physical RTO visit.