Do I Need an International Driving Permit in China?We have not yet checked China’s own rules for foreign licences.
China has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
We have not yet checked China’s own rules for foreign licences.
China has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Rules for all foreign drivers in China
We have not yet checked China’s own rules for foreign licences.
China has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Which IDP version China accepts
China is not a party to either UN convention; check with the embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for China
China has not joined either UN convention, so check with its embassy which document it accepts before you apply. In the UK: PayPoint stores. 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
The UK and Canadian advice does not say.
UK licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 August 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: Government of Canada, updated 3 November 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 must have a Chinese driving licence and valid insurance to drive in China.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for China, updated 27 August 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in China with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked China’s own rules for foreign licences. China has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Can I drive in China with a 1968 IDP?
China has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Can I drive in China with a 1949 IDP?
China has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in China?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice does not say. Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 August 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in China?
The Government of Canada advice does not say. Source: Government of Canada, updated 3 November 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 Afghanistan?
- Do I need an IDP in Armenia?
- Do I need an IDP in Azerbaijan?
- How to get citizenship of China
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for China. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for China. 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.