We have not yet checked Western Sahara’s own rules for foreign licences.
Western Sahara does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
We have not yet checked Western Sahara’s own rules for foreign licences.
Western Sahara does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Western Sahara
We have not yet checked Western Sahara’s own rules for foreign licences.
Western Sahara does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Which IDP version Western Sahara accepts
Western Sahara does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
| 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 Western Sahara
Check with the official source which IDP Western Sahara 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
UK licence holders need an IDP.
UK licence holdersIDP required. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.Source: UK FCDO, updated 29 June 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’ll need to have both the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel. … If you are staying in Western Sahara for longer than one year, you must apply for a Moroccan driving licence.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Western Sahara, updated 29 June 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Western Sahara with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Western Sahara’s own rules for foreign licences. Western Sahara does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Can I drive in Western Sahara with a 1968 IDP?
Western Sahara does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Can I drive in Western Sahara with a 1949 IDP?
Western Sahara does not appear on its own in the UN treaty list, which covers states. Check which IDP is accepted with the official source before you travel.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Western Sahara?
Yes. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP. Source: UK FCDO, updated 29 June 2026.
How long can I drive in Western Sahara with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 29 June 2026): “If you are staying in Western Sahara for longer than one year, you must apply for a Moroccan driving 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 Algeria?
- Do I need an IDP in Angola?
- Do I need an IDP in Benin?
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Western Sahara. 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 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.