Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Lebanon?We have not yet checked Lebanon’s own rules for foreign licences.
Lebanon is a party to the 1949 convention only, but the UK government says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted. Check which document you need with the official source before you travel.
We have not yet checked Lebanon’s own rules for foreign licences.
Lebanon is a party to the 1949 convention only, but the UK government says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted. Check which document you need with the official source before you travel.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Lebanon
We have not yet checked Lebanon’s own rules for foreign licences.
Lebanon is a party to the 1949 convention only, but the UK government says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted. Check which document you need with the official source before you travel.
Which IDP version Lebanon accepts
Lebanon is a party to the 1949 convention, but the UK government says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 2 August 1963) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Lebanon
The government advice and the treaty status disagree for Lebanon, so check with the official source which document you need 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
UK and Canadian licence holders need an IDP.
UK licence holdersIDP required. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.Source: UK FCDO, updated 10 August 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersIDP required.Source: Government of Canada, updated 5 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 need either a 1968 international driving permit (IDP) or a UK driving licence to drive in Lebanon. The 1949 IDP is not accepted anymore. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Lebanon, updated 10 August 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You must carry an international driving permit.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Lebanon, updated 5 November 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Lebanon with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Lebanon’s own rules for foreign licences. Lebanon is a party to the 1949 convention only, but the UK government says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted. Check which document you need with the official source before you travel.
Can I drive in Lebanon with a 1968 IDP?
No. Lebanon is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so a 1968 IDP is not valid here. Lebanon recognises the 1949 IDP.
Can I drive in Lebanon with a 1949 IDP?
Not according to the UK government: it says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted, although Lebanon is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention. Check with the official source which document you need.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Lebanon?
Yes. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP. Source: UK FCDO, updated 10 August 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Lebanon?
Yes. Source: Government of Canada, updated 5 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 Lebanon
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Lebanon. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Lebanon. 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.