When planning a trip abroad and renting a car, one of the first things you need to have is an international driver’s license. People applying for an international driver’s license for the first time often don’t know where or how to apply. In this post, we will look at three ways to obtain an international driver’s license and important information such as validity period, cost, and required documents.
How to issue an international driver’s license
How to issue an international driver’s license
1. How to obtain an international driver’s license
There are two ways to obtain an international driver’s license: online and offline applications. Below you will find detailed instructions on how to apply, along with the documents required for each application.
How to issue an international driver’s license 1. How to apply online
Please access the website and apply during the Safe Driving Comprehensive Complaint website operating hours of 07:30~22:00.
<Go to the Safe Driving Comprehensive Complaints website>
1. Road Traffic Authority
– Click ‘Issuance of Driver’s License (Mobile)’ in the homepage list → Click ‘International Driver’s License’.
How to issue an international driver’s license
2. Check various usage consents
– Agree to all terms of use, joint use agreement, and passport information inquiry and click Next.
3. Select receipt method and location
– If you apply online, you can only receive documents via registered mail. Click ‘Registered Mail Service’ and enter the recipient address where you can receive delivery.
4. Register contact information
– Sign up for SMS and E-mail notifications.
5. Photo registration
– A scanned passport photo is required. You can prepare it as a JPG file of 250kb or less.
6. Payment
– Cost: Fee 8,500 won + registration fee
– It may take approximately 3 to 7 days to receive the registration, and if there is a delay, it may take up to 2 weeks, so it is recommended to apply in advance to allow time.
International driver’s license issuance method 2. Offline issuance method
There are about 4 places where you can get it issued offline. Immediate issuance is required for urgent requests or when leaving the country on the same day, so if you need it, we recommend visiting the relevant location and picking it up in person.
How to issue an international driver’s license
How to issue an international driver’s license
Required documents when applying in person
– driver’s license
– 1 passport photo taken within 6 months (general ID photos other than passport photos are not allowed)
– Personal passport (copy available; for Korean nationals, passport can be omitted when agreeing to joint use of administrative information)
– Issuance fee 8,500
Required documents when applying as a representative
– Personal identification card (original)
– Agent ID (original)
– power of attorney
– Passport photo taken within 6 months – Issuance fee 8,500
1. Driver’s license test center and police station
Driver’s licenses can be issued at all driver’s license test centers and police stations nationwide. Please note that driver’s licenses can only be obtained at test centers and police stations, not at driving schools or police stations. When visiting these institutions, please be careful not to get confused or waste your time.
2. Incheon Airport International Driver’s License Issuance Center
– Location: Police Security Center on the 3rd floor of Passenger Terminal 1, Government Center on the 2nd floor of Passenger Terminal 2
– Operating hours: Weekdays 9:00 – 18:00 (lunch time 12:00 – 13:00) / Closed on weekends and public holidays
– Note: Due to the revision of the Road Traffic Act, if there are traffic fines or arrears, an international driver’s license will not be issued until payment is completed.
4. Gimpo Airport International Driver’s License Issuance Center
2. Countries where international licenses can be used
1. Geneva Convention countries
-Asia Pacific (17 countries)
Korea, New Zealand, Laos, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Japan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Philippines, Hong Kong (Macau)
-Americas (15 countries)
Venezuela, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Barbados, United States of America, Argentina, Haiti, Ecuador, Jamaica, Chile, Canada, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay, Peru
How to issue an international driver’s license
How to issue an international driver’s license
-Europe (37 countries)
Poland, France, Vatican, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Romania, Monaco, Montenegro, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, San Marino, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Iceland, Ireland, Albania , UK, Austria, Italy, Georgia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Turkicje, Portugal, Finland, Hungary, Estonia.
-Middle East and Africa (32 countries)
Malta, Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Niger, Lebanon, Lesotho, Rwanda, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Syria, Maliwi, Mali, Morocco, Sierra Leone, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Jordan, Uganda, Israel, Egypt, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Republic of Congo, Togo, Tunisia
2. Vienna Convention countries
-Asia Pacific (11 countries)
Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Philippines
How to issue an international driver’s license
How to issue an international driver’s license
-Americas (7 countries)
Guyana, Bahamas, Brazil, Honduras, Uruguay, Cuba, Peru
-Europe (41 countries)
Armenia, Monaco, Montenegro, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Russia, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Slovenia, Moldova, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia (Herzegovina), Bulgaria, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Albania, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Ukraine, Italy, Georgia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Turkicje, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary
-Middle East and Africa (25 countries)
Israel, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, South Africa, Nigeria, Niger, Liberia, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Senegal, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Congo, Kuwait, Tunisia, Palestine
3. Check precautions before issuing license
Even if the international driver’s license is still valid, it will not be recognized if one year has passed since entering the country in accordance with relevant laws and international conventions.
If the spelling of the applicant’s English name on the international driving license does not match the spelling in the passport, the license will not be accepted.
International driving licenses may operate differently in different countries, so it is important to ensure that the signature on your license matches the signature on your passport.
How to issue an international driver’s license
How to issue an international driver’s license
If you have a valid license from another country, such as the United States, you must have both that license and your Korean license to drive legally. Failure to comply may be considered driving without a license and may result in legal punishment. Therefore, when driving, be sure to bring your driver’s license, Korean driver’s license, and passport with you.
Additionally, it is important to note that in countries such as the United States and Canada, the scope of international driver’s license recognition may vary depending on the traffic laws of each state or province. Therefore, it is advisable to check with the consulate of each country you are visiting to see whether driving is permitted with an international driver’s license.
You are not permitted to drive in the country using an internationally issued driver’s license while your domestically acquired driver’s license is disqualified.
Before obtaining an international driver’s license, be sure to check whether you can drive a vehicle with an international driver’s license.