We have not yet checked Hong Kong’s own rules for foreign licences.
Hong Kong does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
We have not yet checked Hong Kong’s own rules for foreign licences.
Hong Kong does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Hong Kong
We have not yet checked Hong Kong’s own rules for foreign licences.
Hong Kong does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Which IDP version Hong Kong accepts
Hong Kong does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
| 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 Hong Kong
Check with the official source which IDP Hong Kong 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
No IDP needed with a UK licence. An IDP is recommended for Canadian licence holders.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: UK FCDO, updated 1 April 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersIDP recommended.Source: Government of Canada, updated 14 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
If you are visiting, you can drive in Hong Kong with a valid UK driving licence for up to 12 months. … Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an international driving permit.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Hong Kong, updated 1 April 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
As a tourist, you can use your valid Canadian driver's licence for up to 12 months. You should carry an international driving permit.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Hong Kong, updated 14 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Hong Kong with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Hong Kong’s own rules for foreign licences. Hong Kong does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Can I drive in Hong Kong with a 1968 IDP?
Hong Kong does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Can I drive in Hong Kong with a 1949 IDP?
Hong Kong does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Hong Kong?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Hong Kong. Source: UK FCDO, updated 1 April 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Hong Kong?
Recommended, not strictly required. Source: Government of Canada, updated 14 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Hong Kong with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 1 April 2026): “If you are visiting, you can drive in Hong Kong with a valid UK driving licence for up to 12 months.” Government of Canada (updated 14 October 2026): “As a tourist, you can use your valid Canadian driver's licence for up to 12 months.”
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?
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Hong Kong. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Hong Kong. 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.