Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Belgium?We have not yet checked Belgium’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
We have not yet checked Belgium’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Belgium
We have not yet checked Belgium’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Which IDP version Belgium accepts
Belgium 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 (ratified 23 April 1954) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 16 November 1988) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Belgium
Ask for the 1949 or 1968 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1949 or 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 an EU/EEA licence. An IDP is recommended for Canadian licence holders. The UK advice does not say.
UK licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: UK FCDO, updated 17 October 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersIDP recommended.Source: Government of Canada, updated 26 October 2026- EU/EEA licence holdersEU/EEA licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
Government of Canada
You should carry an international driving permit.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Belgium, updated 26 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Belgium with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Belgium’s own rules for foreign licences. Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Can I drive in Belgium with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Belgium is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (ratified 16 November 1988), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Belgium with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Belgium is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (ratified 23 April 1954), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Belgium?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice does not say. Source: UK FCDO, updated 17 October 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Belgium?
Recommended, not strictly required. Source: Government of Canada, updated 26 October 2026.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in Belgium?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in Belgium. Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC.
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 the Netherlands?
- Do I need an IDP in France?
- Do I need an IDP in Germany?
- Do I need an IDP in Luxembourg?
- How to get citizenship of Belgium
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Belgium. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Belgium. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- Your Europe (European Union): recognition of driving licences, Directive 2006/126/EC.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.