Rule for all foreign drivers
Rules are set by each province. In Ontario, visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 3 months; for longer visits you need an IDP from your own country. Other provinces have their own limits.
- Licence alone is enough if: Ontario: visits under 3 months
- Otherwise you need: Depends on the state or province
Source: Government of Ontario (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rule for all foreign drivers
Rules are set by each province. In Ontario, visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 3 months; for longer visits you need an IDP from your own country. Other provinces have their own limits.
- Licence alone is enough if: Ontario: visits under 3 months
- Otherwise you need: Depends on the state or province
Source: Government of Ontario (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Canada
Rules are set by each province. In Ontario, visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 3 months; for longer visits you need an IDP from your own country. Other provinces have their own limits.
- Licence alone is enough if: Ontario: visits under 3 months
- Otherwise you need: Depends on the state or province
- IDP format accepted: 1949
- How long a visitor can drive: Ontario: 3 months without IDP
Source: Government of Ontario (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Which IDP version Canada accepts
Canada is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the 1968 Vienna Convention, so it recognises the 1949 IDP.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 23 December 1965) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Canada
Ask for the 1949 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1949 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
An IDP is recommended for UK licence holders.
UK licence holdersIDP recommended.You may need an IDP.Source: UK FCDO, updated 2 June 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Questions
Can I drive in Canada with a foreign licence?
Rules are set by each province. In Ontario, visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 3 months; for longer visits you need an IDP from your own country. Other provinces have their own limits. Source: Government of Ontario.
How long can a visitor drive in Canada?
Ontario: 3 months without IDP. Source: Government of Ontario.
Can I drive in Canada with a 1968 IDP?
No. Canada is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so a 1968 IDP is not valid here. Canada recognises the 1949 IDP.
Can I drive in Canada with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Canada is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (acceded 23 December 1965), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Canada?
Recommended, not strictly required. You may need an IDP. Source: UK FCDO, updated 2 June 2026.
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 United States?
- How to get citizenship of Canada
Sources and methodology
- Government of Ontario: rules for foreign drivers in Canada (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Canada. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- 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.