Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Bahrain?We have not yet checked Bahrain’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
We have not yet checked Bahrain’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Bahrain
We have not yet checked Bahrain’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Which IDP version Bahrain accepts
Bahrain is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Convention, so both IDP formats are recognised.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 11 March 2025) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 4 May 1973) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Bahrain
Ask for the 1968 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1968 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK licence. Canadian licence holders need an IDP.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 October 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersIDP required.Source: Government of Canada, updated 30 October 2026
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Bahrain for up to 3 months. … If you are staying longer than 3 months, you’ll need to have the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) or apply for a Bahraini driving licence. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Bahrain, updated 27 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You must carry an International Driving Permit.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Bahrain, updated 30 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Bahrain with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Bahrain’s own rules for foreign licences. Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Can I drive in Bahrain with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Bahrain is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (acceded 4 May 1973), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Bahrain with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Bahrain is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (acceded 11 March 2025), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Bahrain?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Bahrain. Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 October 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Bahrain?
Yes. Source: Government of Canada, updated 30 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Bahrain with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 27 October 2026): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Bahrain for up to 3 months. If you are staying longer than 3 months, you’ll need to have the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) or apply for a Bahraini driving licence.”
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Afghanistan?
- Do I need an IDP in Armenia?
- Do I need an IDP in Azerbaijan?
- How to get citizenship of Bahrain
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Bahrain. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Bahrain. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above are derived automatically from the government text quoted on this page. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.