Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Poland?We have not yet checked Poland’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
We have not yet checked Poland’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Poland
We have not yet checked Poland’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Which IDP version Poland accepts
Poland is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Convention, so both IDP formats are recognised.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 29 October 1958) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 23 August 1984) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Poland
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 for up to 6 months or an EU/EEA licence. US and Canadian licence holders need an IDP.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.Valid for up to 6 months.Source: UK FCDO, updated 7 November 2026
US licence holdersIDP required.You need your US licence plus an IDP; Polish licence needed after 6 months.Source: US Department of State, updated 4 June 2025
Canadian licence holdersIDP required.Get it before arrival.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 use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Poland for up to 6 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Poland, updated 7 November 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
U.S. citizens cannot obtain IDPs in Poland. If you stay in Poland for more than six months and continue to drive, you must obtain a Polish driver’s license.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Poland, updated 4 June 2025. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You must carry an international driving permit.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Poland, updated 14 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Poland with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Poland’s own rules for foreign licences. Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Can I drive in Poland with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Poland is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (ratified 23 August 1984), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Poland with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Poland is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (acceded 29 October 1958), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Poland?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Poland for up to 6 months. Source: UK FCDO, updated 7 November 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Poland?
Yes. You need your US licence plus an IDP; Polish licence needed after 6 months. Source: US Department of State, updated 4 June 2025.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Poland?
Yes. Get it before arrival. Source: Government of Canada, updated 14 October 2026.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in Poland?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in Poland. Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC.
How long can I drive in Poland with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 7 November 2026): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Poland for up to 6 months.” US Department of State (updated 4 June 2025): “If you stay in Poland for more than six months and continue to drive, you must obtain a Polish driver’s license.”
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 Germany?
- Do I need an IDP in Czechia?
- Do I need an IDP in Slovakia?
- Do I need an IDP in Lithuania?
- How to get citizenship of Poland
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Poland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Poland. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Poland. 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 were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.