Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Switzerland?We have not yet checked Switzerland’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Switzerland, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
We have not yet checked Switzerland’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Switzerland, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Switzerland
We have not yet checked Switzerland’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Switzerland, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Which IDP version Switzerland accepts
Switzerland 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 | Signed on 19 September 1949, not ratified |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 11 December 1991) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Switzerland
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 photocard licence.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.With a photocard licence.Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersNot covered by this source.
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 Switzerland. 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 Switzerland, updated 11 August 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Switzerland with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Switzerland’s own rules for foreign licences. If you need an IDP in Switzerland, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Can I drive in Switzerland with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Switzerland is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (ratified 11 December 1991), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Switzerland with a 1949 IDP?
No. Switzerland is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so a 1949 IDP is not valid here. Switzerland recognises the 1968 IDP.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Switzerland?
No. A UK photocard driving licence is accepted in Switzerland. Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 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 Germany?
- Do I need an IDP in France?
- Do I need an IDP in Italy?
- Do I need an IDP in Austria?
- How to get citizenship of Switzerland
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Switzerland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- 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.