Which Driving Licence ?

Most countries will recognize the licence of visitors from foreign countries. But if you come from a country which does not use an English alphabet and you rent a car abroad most likely you will need an International Driver's Permit (IDP). This booklet is authorized and has a translation of driver's licence information into many different languages. It is produced as there are some countries which do not recognize the validity of licenses in foreign languages which are not translated.

Countries where this may be the case are Japan, Russia, China and the Arabic countries like Yemen and Lebanon. You should be aware that an IDP is only valid when you produce it in conjunction with your original driving licence. If you plan to stay in the foreign country for a long period of time you are expected to transfer your foreign licence to a local licence. This time frame is normally between six months and one year.
The People's Republic of China, not including Hong Kong or Macau, does not accept IDPs and may require an alternative document known as a PRC licence. Within the EU, EU driving licences are accepted by all countries. This is also the case for the GCC, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, where a licence from one state allows you to drive in all states.

In Europe and Canada you must be able to produce your licence at all times, though this is not the case in  the United Kingdom where you are given a period of time in which you can take it to the nearest police station. It is worth noting that even if you have a licence entitling you to drive in another country if you are below the legal driving age for that country you may not do so. Hence if you are an English 17 year old with a driving licence you may still not be able to drive in parts of mainland Europe where the age restriction is 18.

Which Driving Licence by Country

Australia	IDP 1949
Argentina	IDP 1949
Austria
Algeria	IDP 1949
France
Brazil	IDP 1926
Belgium
Bulgaria
Ukraine	IDP 1949
China
Portugal	IDP 1949
Canada	IDP 1949
Cuba
Chile	IDP 1949
Czech Republic	IDP 1949
Croatia	IDP 1949
Denmark
Japan	IDP 1949
Egypt	IDP 1949
Estonia
El Salvador
Finland
Georgia	IDP 1949
Ghana	IDP 1949
Germany
Greece
Gibraltar
Hungary	IDP 1949
Hong Kong	IDP 1949
Norway
India	IDP 1949
Iceland	IDP 1949
Israel	IDP 1949
Ireland
Italy	IDP 1949
Jordan	IDP 1949
Jamaica	IDP 1949
Kenya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Mexico	IDP 1949
Malta
Malaysia	IDP 1949
Netherlands
New Zealand
Poland
Romania
Russia	IDP 1949
Serbia	IDP 1949
Slovakia
Switzerland
Slovenia	IDP 1949
South Africa	IDP 1949
Saudi Arabia	IDP 1949
Singapore	IDP 1949
Spain	IDP 1949
Sweden
Thailand	IDP 1949
Turkey	IDP 1949
United States
United Kingdom