Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Latvia?We have not yet checked Latvia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Latvia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
We have not yet checked Latvia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Latvia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Latvia
We have not yet checked Latvia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Latvia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Which IDP version Latvia accepts
Latvia is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, not the 1949 Geneva Convention, so it recognises the 1968 IDP.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 19 October 1992) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Latvia
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 or an EU/EEA licence. US licence holders need an IDP. The Canadian advice does not say.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 2026
US licence holdersIDP required.Source: US Department of State, updated 31 March 2026
Canadian licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: Government of Canada, updated 14 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.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can drive in Latvia with a UK driving licence.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Latvia, updated 11 August 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
If you plan to drive in Latvia, you are required to obtain an International Driving Permit. … If you drive without an International Driving Permit, police could confiscate your vehicle.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Latvia, updated 31 March 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Latvia with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Latvia’s own rules for foreign licences. If you need an IDP in Latvia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Can I drive in Latvia with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Latvia is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (acceded 19 October 1992), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Latvia with a 1949 IDP?
No. Latvia is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so a 1949 IDP is not valid here. Latvia recognises the 1968 IDP.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Latvia?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Latvia. Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Latvia?
Yes. Source: US Department of State, updated 31 March 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Latvia?
The Government of Canada advice does not say. Source: Government of Canada, updated 14 October 2026.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in Latvia?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in Latvia. 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 Albania?
- Do I need an IDP in Andorra?
- Do I need an IDP in Austria?
- How to get citizenship of Latvia
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Latvia. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Latvia. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Latvia. 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 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.