Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Namibia?We have not yet checked Namibia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Namibia, it must be the 1949 version. A 1968 IDP is not valid here.
We have not yet checked Namibia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Namibia, it must be the 1949 version. A 1968 IDP is not valid here.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Namibia
We have not yet checked Namibia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Namibia, it must be the 1949 version. A 1968 IDP is not valid here.
Which IDP version Namibia accepts
Namibia 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 (succeeded 13 October 1993) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Namibia
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 Canadian licence holders. The UK and US advice does not say.
UK licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: UK FCDO, updated 10 December 2025
US licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: US Department of State, updated 14 May 2026
Canadian licence holdersIDP recommended.Source: Government of Canada, updated 15 October 2026
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
US Department of State
You may use a U.S. license for up to 90 days or obtain an international driving permit prior to leaving the United States through either the American Automobile Association or the American Automobile Touring Alliance.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Namibia, updated 14 May 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
However, and particularly if your licence is in French, it is strongly recommended that you obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Canada before your departure, since it cannot be obtained once in Namibia. … Without an IDP, it can be extremely difficult to obtain car insurance for rentals. Insurance companies and rental car agencies may require an IDP or Namibian driver’s licence to honour insurance claims, even if such proof was not requested when purchasing the insurance policy.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Namibia, updated 15 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Namibia with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Namibia’s own rules for foreign licences. If you need an IDP in Namibia, it must be the 1949 version. A 1968 IDP is not valid here.
Can I drive in Namibia with a 1968 IDP?
No. Namibia is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so a 1968 IDP is not valid here. Namibia recognises the 1949 IDP.
Can I drive in Namibia with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Namibia is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (succeeded 13 October 1993), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Namibia?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice does not say. Source: UK FCDO, updated 10 December 2025.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Namibia?
The US Department of State advice does not say. Source: US Department of State, updated 14 May 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Namibia?
Recommended, not strictly required. Source: Government of Canada, updated 15 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Namibia with an IDP?
US Department of State (updated 14 May 2026): “You may use a U.S. license for up to 90 days or obtain an international driving permit prior to leaving the United States through either the American Automobile Association or the American Automobile Touring Alliance.”
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 Algeria?
- Do I need an IDP in Angola?
- Do I need an IDP in Benin?
- How to get citizenship of Namibia
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Namibia. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Namibia. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Namibia. 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.