Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Palau?We have not yet checked Palau’s own rules for foreign licences.
Palau has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
We have not yet checked Palau’s own rules for foreign licences.
Palau has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Palau
We have not yet checked Palau’s own rules for foreign licences.
Palau has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Which IDP version Palau accepts
Palau 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 Palau
Palau 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
No IDP needed with a UK licence or a Canadian licence. The US advice does not say.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: UK FCDO, updated 10 December 2025
US licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: US Department of State, updated 6 January 2026
Canadian licence holdersCanadian licence accepted, no IDP needed.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.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Palau for up to 30 days. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. After 30 days you must apply for a Palauan driving licence.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Palau, updated 10 December 2025. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
Traffic Laws: Palau accepts a driver's license issued by a U.S. state or military authority for up to 30 days. After 30 days in Palau, any foreign driver must obtain a Palauan driver license.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Palau, updated 6 January 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You can drive for 30 days with an international driving permit and a valid Canadian driver’s licence.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Palau, updated 15 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Palau with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Palau’s own rules for foreign licences. Palau has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Can I drive in Palau with a 1968 IDP?
Palau has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Can I drive in Palau with a 1949 IDP?
Palau 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 Palau?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Palau. Source: UK FCDO, updated 10 December 2025.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Palau?
The US Department of State advice does not say. Source: US Department of State, updated 6 January 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Palau?
No. A Canadian driving licence is accepted in Palau. Source: Government of Canada, updated 15 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Palau with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 10 December 2025): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Palau for up to 30 days. After 30 days you must apply for a Palauan driving licence.” US Department of State (updated 6 January 2026): “Traffic Laws: Palau accepts a driver's license issued by a U.S. state or military authority for up to 30 days. After 30 days in Palau, any foreign driver must obtain a Palauan driver license.” Government of Canada (updated 15 October 2026): “You can drive for 30 days with an international driving permit and a valid Canadian driver’s licence.”
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 American Samoa?
- Do I need an IDP in Australia?
- Do I need an IDP in the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue?
- How to get citizenship of Palau
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Palau. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Palau. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Palau. 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.