International driving license abroad

Verified 12 August 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Is an international driving license required to travel abroad? If you are traveling in the European Economic AreaIn the U.K. or Switzerland, you don't need it. If you go to another country, the rules vary: either your French license is sufficient or you must have an international license. We tell you the rules to know.

Warning  

Before applying for an international driving license, check if the country where you are going requires it.

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You are traveling in Europe

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

A French driving license is sufficient if you are traveling in the European Economic Area, in the United Kingdom or Switzerland.

You are traveling to another country

A French driving license is enough to drive around in many countries.

See the summary of rules by country to check if you need an international driving license in addition to your license.

Before you leave, contact the consular services of the country or countries concerned and consult the travel advice from diplomatie.gouv.fr.

Example :

South Africa : the French driving license is recognized if it is certified and translated by the consulate.

United States : a French driving license is enough to drive for 3 months.

Morocco : the French license is sufficient to circulate for 1 year.

New Zealand : the French driving license accompanied by a certified translation allows driving for 1 year.

Province of Quebec (Canada) : a french driving license is sufficient for a stay of 6 months.

Senegal : a French driving license is sufficient for a temporary stay.

Tunisia : the French license is sufficient to circulate for 1 year.

Turkey : the French license is sufficient to circulate for 6 months

FYI  

Some countries do not recognize national and international permits.

You can apply for an international driving license if you have your normal residence in France and if you have obtained your driving license in one of the following countries :

France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Please note

Of specific rules apply if you have obtained your driving license in a Com or New Caledonia.

If the country of destination requires an international driving license in addition to your driving license, you must ask before you leave.

It is recommended to make the request at least 6 months before departure abroad.

In case occupational emergency, you must specify this in your application.

The approach varies if you are in France or abroad.

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You are in France

You must make an online request on the ANTS: titleContent then confirm your request by mail.

Online Request

You need the following documents, photographed or scanned:

  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of domicile less than 6 months
  • Valid driving license and in good condition
  • If you are a foreigner:
    - Justification for your normal residence in France if you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or national European (EU/EEA). For example, a rental contract, an employment contract, a social security voucher, or a tax notice.
    - Proof of the regularity of your stay in France if you are a national of another State (residence permit or sticker) Ofii: titleContent on your passport).

International Permit Pre-Application Online

Request Confirmation

In a 15-day period from your online application, you must submit the following documents by post (after 15 days, the application is automatically refused):

  • Proposed filing form at the end of the online process
  • Photo ID less than 6 months, conforms to standards
  • Envelope ready to mail, in letter followed 50 g, to your address.
In case of occupational emergency

If you live in Paris, you must contact the Paris Police Department.

If you live elsewhere in France, you must forward to the Cert de Cherbourg, at the end of your online application, the following documents:

  •  Dated and signed certificate from your employer justifying the trip abroad
  •  If you are a self-employed entrepreneur or representative of your company/brand: sworn certificate committing you in particular not to make false statements and justifying the business trip + K-bis extract or any official document less than 3 months old attesting to your activity.

You must send these documents by post to the Cert de Cherbourg address dedicated to professional emergencies. Also, place these documents in your digital folder.

Sending folder by mail

If you live in Paris, send the documents to the Paris police department.

Who shall I contact

  • Paris Police Department - International driving license

    By mail

    Paris Police Department

    Directorate for Users and Administrative Police (DUPA)

    Titles and User Relations Department (STRU)

    Driving Rights Office

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75 195 Paris Cedex 04

    By telephone

    34,30

    Toll-free number, cost of a local call, Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00.

    By email

    Access to contact form

If you live elsewhere in France, send the documents to Cert de Cherbourg

Who shall I contact

  • Cert de Cherbourg - International driving license

    Cert de Cherbourg processes applications for international driving licenses unless you live in Paris.

    General case

    CERT International driving licenses

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

    In case of occupational emergency

    CERT International driving licenses

    TSA 90098 OCCUPATIONAL EMERGENCY

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

You are abroad but your normal residence is in France

Your normal residence is in France if you are in one of the following 2 situations:

- you live in France 185 days or more per year (6 months) due to personal and/or professional ties

- your personal attachments are located in France but you are abroad to pursue your studies, a training, one internship or for the execution of a fixed-term assignment

Your normal residence is in France if you are in one of the following 2 situations:

- you live in France 185 days or more per year (6 months) due to personal and/or professional ties

- your personal attachments are located in France but you are abroad to pursue your studies, a training, one internship or for the execution of a fixed-term assignment

You have a postal address in France

You must make an online request on the ANTS: titleContent then confirm your request by mail.

Online Request

You need the following documents, photographed or scanned:

  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of domicile less than 6 months
  • Valid driving license and in good condition
  • Proof of the right of residence in the country where you are established
  • Justification for maintaining your normal residence in France
    - Either a document certifying that you are pursuing studies, training, a traineeship or that you are on a fixed-term mission in that country
    - or a document certifying your residence in France for 185 days or more during the year preceding the receipt of your request by the instructor service. For example, a lease agreement, rent receipt, gas, electricity, or landline bills, a certificate of domicile issued by the energy supplier.
  • If you are a foreigner:
    - Justification for your normal residence in France if you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or national European (EU/EEA). For example, a rental contract, an employment contract, a social security voucher, or a tax notice.
    - Proof of the regularity of your stay in France if you are a national of another State (residence permit or sticker) Ofii: titleContent on your passport).

International Permit Pre-Application Online

Request Confirmation

In a 15-day period from your online application, you must submit the following documents by post (after 15 days, the application is automatically refused):

  • Proposed filing form at the end of the online process
  • Photo ID less than 6 months, conforms to standards
  • Envelope ready to mail, in letter followed 50 g, to your address in France.
In case of occupational emergency

If you live in Paris, you must contact the Paris Police Department.

If you live elsewhere in France, you must forward to the Cert de Cherbourg, at the end of your online application, the following documents:

  •  Dated and signed certificate from your employer justifying the trip abroad
  •  If you are a self-employed entrepreneur or representative of your company/brand: sworn certificate committing you in particular not to make false statements and justifying the business trip + K-bis extract or any official document less than 3 months old attesting to your activity.

You must send by post these documents to the Cert de Cherbourg address dedicated to professional emergencies. Also, place these documents in your digital folder.

Sending folder by mail

If you live in Paris, send the documents to the Paris police department.

Who shall I contact

  • Paris Police Department - International driving license

    By mail

    Paris Police Department

    Directorate for Users and Administrative Police (DUPA)

    Titles and User Relations Department (STRU)

    Driving Rights Office

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75 195 Paris Cedex 04

    By telephone

    34,30

    Toll-free number, cost of a local call, Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00.

    By email

    Access to contact form

If you live elsewhere in France, send the documents to Cert de Cherbourg

Who shall I contact

  • Cert de Cherbourg - International driving license

    Cert de Cherbourg processes applications for international driving licenses unless you live in Paris.

    General case

    CERT International driving licenses

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

    In case of occupational emergency

    CERT International driving licenses

    TSA 90098 OCCUPATIONAL EMERGENCY

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

You have a mailing address only abroad

You must make an online request on the ANTS: titleContent then confirm your request by mail.

The address of domicile to be declared on the NTA website is the address of residence at the time of issue of the driving license.

You can retrieve this information on the My Points Allowed site.

Online Request

You need the following documents, photographed or scanned:

  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of domicile less than 6 months
  • Valid driving license and in good condition
  • Proof of the right of residence in the country where you are established
  • Justification for maintaining your normal residence in France
    - Either a document certifying that you are pursuing studies, training, a traineeship or that you are on a fixed-term mission in that country
    - or a document certifying your residence in France for 185 days or more during the year preceding the receipt of your request by the instructor service. For example, a lease agreement, rent receipt, gas, electricity, or landline bills, a certificate of domicile issued by the energy supplier.
  • If you are a foreigner:
    - Justification for your normal residence in France if you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or national European (EU/EEA). For example, a rental contract, an employment contract, a social security voucher, or a tax notice.
    - Proof of the regularity of your stay in France if you are a national of another State (residence permit or sticker) Ofii: titleContent on your passport).

International Permit Pre-Application Online

Request Confirmation

In a 15-day period from your online application, you must submit the following documents by post (after 15 days, the application is automatically refused):

  • Proposed filing form at the end of the online process
  • Photo ID less than 6 months, conforms to standards
  • Envelope ready to mail, in letter followed 50 g, to your address.
In case of occupational emergency

If your address of residence was in Paris when issuing a driving license, you must contact the Paris Police Department.

If your address of residence was elsewhere in France at the time of issue of the driving license, you must Cert de Cherbourg, at the end of your online application, the following documents:

  •  Dated and signed certificate from your employer justifying the trip abroad
  •  If you are a self-employed entrepreneur or representative of your company/brand: sworn certificate committing you in particular not to make false statements and justifying the business trip + K-bis extract or any official document less than 3 months old attesting to your activity.

You must send by post these documents to the Cert de Cherbourg address dedicated to professional emergencies. Also, place these documents in your digital folder.

Sending folder by mail

If your address of residence was in Paris when issuing the driver's license, send the documents to the Paris police department.

Who shall I contact

  • Paris Police Department - International driving license

    By mail

    Paris Police Department

    Directorate for Users and Administrative Police (DUPA)

    Titles and User Relations Department (STRU)

    Driving Rights Office

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75 195 Paris Cedex 04

    By telephone

    34,30

    Toll-free number, cost of a local call, Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00.

    By email

    Access to contact form

If your address of residence was elsewhere in France when issuing the driving license, send the documents to the Cert de Cherbourg

Who shall I contact

  • Cert de Cherbourg - International driving license

    Cert de Cherbourg processes applications for international driving licenses unless you live in Paris.

    General case

    CERT International driving licenses

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

    In case of occupational emergency

    CERT International driving licenses

    TSA 90098 OCCUPATIONAL EMERGENCY

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

You are abroad and have your normal residence there.

Your normal residence is abroad if you live there more than 185 days per year (more than 6 months) for reasons other than pursuing your studies, following a training course, a traineeship or carrying out a fixed-term assignment.

Your normal residence is abroad if you live there more than 185 days per year (more than 6 months) for reasons other than pursuing your studies, following a training course, a traineeship or carrying out a fixed-term assignment.

You cannot apply for an international driving license in France.

You have to ask the local authorities the exchange of your french license if possible, or obtain a local license.

The international driving license is free.

One on-line service allows you to follow the manufacture and dispatch of your international driving license.

Track the progress of a driving license application

The PCI: titleContent is mailed to the address indicated on the prepaid envelope attached to your application.

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International driving license issued by the Cert de Cherbourg

If you notice an error upon receipt of your permit, you must contact the Cert de Cherbourg:

Who shall I contact

  • Cert de Cherbourg - International driving license

    Cert de Cherbourg processes applications for international driving licenses unless you live in Paris.

    General case

    CERT International driving licenses

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

    In case of occupational emergency

    CERT International driving licenses

    TSA 90098 OCCUPATIONAL EMERGENCY

    CS 20001

    50653 CHERBOURG EN COTENTIN Cedex

International driving license issued by the Paris Police Department

If you notice an error when you receive your permit, you must contact the Paris police department

Who shall I contact

  • Paris Police Department - International driving license

    By mail

    Paris Police Department

    Directorate for Users and Administrative Police (DUPA)

    Titles and User Relations Department (STRU)

    Driving Rights Office

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75 195 Paris Cedex 04

    By telephone

    34,30

    Toll-free number, cost of a local call, Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00.

    By email

    Access to contact form

The international driving license is issued for a period of 3 years or for period of validity of your driving license if this period is less than 3 years.

Example :

Your driving license expires on August 10, 2028.

If your international driving license is issued on August 10, 2024, it is valid for 3 years, until August 10, 2027.

If your international driving license is issued on August 10, 2026, it is valid for 2 years, until August 10, 2028.

The international driving license is the translation of your driving license.

He is valid abroad only if it is accompanied of your valid driving license.

He authorizes the conduct of same vehicle categories (car, motorcycle...) than those of your driving license.

Please note

The international driving license does not no value in France. You can't drive in France with an international driving license. It does not replace your French driving license which you must keep.

The international driving license is renewable when its validity ends.

To apply for renewal, you must provide the same documents as for a 1re request, accompanied by the international driving license.

The international driving license is renewable in the event of loss or theft.

To apply for renewal, you must provide the same documents as for a 1re request, accompanied by a declaration of honor of loss or theft.

You can apply for a new international driving license if you obtain one or more new categories after obtaining the international permit.

However, your new driving license (driving license) must be up to date with all categories obtained.

To apply for a new international driving license, you must provide the same documents as for a 1era request. Also attach your new license (driving license).

Example :

Your international driving license was issued on 10 November 2023.

You obtained category A of your driving license on June 2, 2024.

You can apply for a new international driving license to have category A listed.

International Permit Pre-Application Online

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