‍What this means:

• Your IDP expires 1 year after issue.
• You can drive in Korea for up to 1 year from your entry date (whichever comes first).

2. 1968 Vienna Convention Countries

These countries issue IDPs valid for up to 3 years:

🇩🇪 Germany · 🇫🇷 France · 🇮🇹 Italy · 🇪🇸 Spain · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · 🇧🇪 Belgium · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · 🇦🇹 Austria · 🇵🇱 Poland · 🇨🇿 Czech Republic · 🇸🇰 Slovakia · 🇭🇺 Hungary · 🇷🇴 Romania · 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · 🇬🇷 Greece · 🇵🇹 Portugal · 🇸🇪 Sweden · 🇩🇰 Denmark · 🇳🇴 Norway · 🇫🇮 Finland · 🇪🇪 Estonia · 🇱🇻 Latvia · 🇱🇹 Lithuania · 🇸🇮 Slovenia · 🇭🇷 Croatia · 🇷🇸 Serbia · 🇲🇪 Montenegro · 🇲🇰 North Macedonia · 🇦🇱 Albania · 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina · 🇲🇩 Moldova · 🇺🇦 Ukraine · 🇷🇺 Russia · 🇬🇪 Georgia · 🇦🇲 Armenia · 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan · 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan · 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan · 🇹🇯 Tajikistan · 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan · 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan · 🇮🇱 Israel · 🇰🇼 Kuwait · 🇧🇭 Bahrain · 🇶🇦 Qatar · 🇴🇲 Oman · 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · 🇹🇷 Turkey · 🇮🇷 Iran · 🇮🇶 Iraq · 🇰🇪 Kenya · 🇹🇿 Tanzania · 🇿🇲 Zambia · 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire · 🇳🇪 Niger · 🇨🇫 Central African Republic · 🇲🇽 Mexico · 🇨🇴 Colombia · 🇻🇳 Vietnam · 🇮🇩 Indonesia · 🇲🇳 Mongolia · 🇹🇼 Taiwan

What this means:

• Your IDP may be valid for up to 3 years from issue.
• But in Korea: you can only drive for 1 year from your entry date.
• After 1 year in Korea, you need a Korean driver's license(even if your IDP has not expired yet).

In short: the 1-year rule in Korea is always more important

than your IDP’s total validity.

Example:

• You get an IDP in Germany on January 1, 2026 (expires January 1, 2029).
• You enter Korea on March 1, 2026.
• You can drive until March 1, 2027 (1 year from entry).
• After that, you need a Korean license (see Living in Korea section).

3. Countries Without IDP Convention

These countries do not issue recognized IDPs for Korea:

🇨🇳 China (mainland) · 🇰🇵 North Korea · 🇲🇻 Maldives · 🇧🇹 Bhutan · 🇳🇵 Nepal · 🇦🇫 Afghanistan · 🇾🇪 Yemen · 🇸🇴 Somalia · 🇪🇹 Ethiopia · 🇸🇩 Sudan · 🇱🇾 Libya · 🇲🇷 Mauritania · 🇬🇲 Gambia · 🇬🇳 Guinea · 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau · 🇱🇷 Liberia · 🇨🇻 Cape Verde · 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe · 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea · 🇬🇦 Gabon · 🇦🇴 Angola · 🇳🇦 Namibia · 🇲🇿 Mozambique · 🇲🇬 Madagascar · 🇰🇲 Comoros · 🇸🇨 Seychelles · 🇲🇺 Mauritius · 🇪🇷 Eritrea · 🇩🇯 Djibouti · 🇧🇿 Belize · 🇸🇷 Suriname · 🇬🇾 Guyana · 🇧🇴 Bolivia · 🇳🇮 Nicaragua · 🇭🇳 Honduras · 🇸🇻 El Salvador · 🇨🇷 Costa Rica · 🇵🇦 Panama · 🇧🇸 Bahamas · 🇧🇧 Barbados · 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia · 🇬🇩 Grenada · 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda · 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis · 🇩🇲 Dominica · 🇹🇴 Tonga · 🇼🇸 Samoa · 🇻🇺 Vanuatu · 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands · 🇰🇮 Kiribati · 🇹🇻 Tuvalu · 🇳🇷 Nauru · 🇵🇼 Palau · 🇫🇲 Micronesia · 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands

If your country is not on the Geneva or Vienna list:

• You cannot drive in Korea with an IDP.
• You need to get a Korean driver's license (see Living in Korea section).

What this means in Korea:

• ❌ You cannot drive with an IDP from these countries.
• ❌ Rental companies will refuse your booking.
• ❌ Driving with an unrecognized IDP is illegal.

Your options:

Short-term visitors (less than 1 year):

• Use public transportation (trains, buses, taxis, subways).
• Book private drivers or group tours.
• You cannot drive.

Long-term residents (more than 1 year with ARC):

• Get a Korean driver's license by taking the tests (written + practical).
• See Living in Korea section.

Special Note: China (🇨🇳)

Mainland China does not issue recognized IDPs for Korea.

What this means for Chinese citizens:

If you're visiting Korea (short-term):

• ❌ You cannot drive in Korea.

Your options:

• Use public transportation (KTX trains, buses, subways, taxis).
• Book private drivers (about ₩200,000–₩400,000/day).
• Join group tours (about ₩50,000–₩150,000/day).

If you're living in Korea (long-term with ARC):

You can get a Korean driver's license by taking the tests:

• Written test (40 questions; available in Chinese).
• Practical driving test.
• Cost: about ₩50,000–₩80,000.
• Timeline: about 3–5 weeks.

See Living in Korea section for full details.

But:

• 🇭🇰 Hong Kong issues IDPs (Geneva Convention) ✅
• 🇲🇴 Macau issues IDPs (Geneva Convention) ✅
  • If you have a Hong Kong or Macau license and IDP, you can drive in Korea.
• 🇹🇼 Taiwan issues IDPs (Vienna Convention) ✅

Important note about updates

These rules and details can change at any time.

This article was written in February 2026.

Always check the latest information from Korean government websites or your local licensing office.

Check the latest official information

Before you drive in Korea, always check:

• Korean government or public agencies
• Seoul Jung-gu Office – International Driving Permit guide (EN)

https://www.junggu.seoul.kr/english/content.do?cmsid=14866

• Korea Road Traffic Authority (KOROAD) – Foreign drivers information

https://www.koroad.or.kr

• Official convention lists
• United Nations – 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic

https://treaties.un.org

• UNECE – 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (Contracting Parties)

https://unece.org

• Your own country’s official IDP issuer
• Government transport/road office, or
• National automobile association (for example: AAA, JAF, etc.)

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