Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Turkey?Rule for all foreign drivers
Foreigners can use a foreign licence for up to 6 months from entry. Carry an IDP or a notarised Turkish translation if your licence is not easy to read for Turkish officials.
- Licence alone is enough if: valid foreign licence, up to 6 months
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Embassy of Türkiye in Prague (mfa.gov.tr) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rule for all foreign drivers
Foreigners can use a foreign licence for up to 6 months from entry. Carry an IDP or a notarised Turkish translation if your licence is not easy to read for Turkish officials.
- Licence alone is enough if: valid foreign licence, up to 6 months
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Embassy of Türkiye in Prague (mfa.gov.tr) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Turkey
Foreigners can use a foreign licence for up to 6 months from entry. Carry an IDP or a notarised Turkish translation if your licence is not easy to read for Turkish officials.
- Licence alone is enough if: valid foreign licence, up to 6 months
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
- IDP format accepted: 1968
- How long a visitor can drive: 6 months from entry
Source: Embassy of Türkiye in Prague (mfa.gov.tr) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Which IDP version Turkey accepts
Turkey is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Convention, but the UK government says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 17 January 1956) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 22 January 2013) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Turkey
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 US licence for up to 180 days. UK licence holders need an IDP or an official translation. An IDP is recommended for Canadian licence holders.
UK licence holdersIDP or official translation required. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.You need a 1968 IDP or a UK licence notarised in Turkish; the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted.Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 October 2026
US licence holdersUS licence accepted, no IDP needed.Valid for up to 180 days.Source: US Department of State, updated 8 June 2026
Canadian licence holdersIDP recommended.A Turkish licence is needed after 180 days.Source: Government of Canada, updated 28 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 need a 1968 international driving permit (IDP) or a UK driving licence notarised in Turkish to drive in Turkey. The 1949 IDP is not accepted any more. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Turkey, updated 27 October 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
For stays up to 180 days: A valid U.S. driver’s license or an International Driving Permit and a U.S. driver’s license is acceptable.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Turkey, updated 8 June 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You should carry an international driving permit. For stays longer than 180 days, you must obtain a Turkish driver’s licence from the Turkish Security Directorate.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Turkey, updated 28 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Turkey with a foreign licence?
Foreigners can use a foreign licence for up to 6 months from entry. Carry an IDP or a notarised Turkish translation if your licence is not easy to read for Turkish officials. Source: Embassy of Türkiye in Prague (mfa.gov.tr).
How long can a visitor drive in Turkey?
6 months from entry. Source: Embassy of Türkiye in Prague (mfa.gov.tr).
Can I drive in Turkey with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Turkey is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (acceded 22 January 2013), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Turkey with a 1949 IDP?
Not according to the UK government: it says the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted, although Turkey is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention. Use a 1968 IDP.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Turkey?
Yes, or an official translation. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP. You need a 1968 IDP or a UK licence notarised in Turkish; the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted. Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 October 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Turkey?
No. A US driving licence is accepted in Turkey for up to 180 days. Source: US Department of State, updated 8 June 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Turkey?
Recommended, not strictly required. A Turkish licence is needed after 180 days. Source: Government of Canada, updated 28 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Turkey with an IDP?
US Department of State (updated 8 June 2026): “For stays up to 180 days: A valid U.S. driver’s license or an International Driving Permit and a U.S. driver’s license is acceptable.” Government of Canada (updated 28 October 2026): “For stays longer than 180 days, you must obtain a Turkish driver’s licence from the Turkish Security Directorate.”
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 Greece?
- Do I need an IDP in Bulgaria?
- Do I need an IDP in Georgia?
- Do I need an IDP in Cyprus?
- How to get citizenship of Turkey
Sources and methodology
- Embassy of Türkiye in Prague (mfa.gov.tr): rules for foreign drivers in Turkey (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Turkey. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Turkey. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Turkey. 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 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.