An international driving permit goes with your Spanish licence and translates it; it does not replace it. You do not need one inside the European Union, and outside it depends on the country: according to the DGT (Spain's traffic authority), you need it anywhere that has no treaty with Spain, and Japan requires it even though it has one. It is issued by the Provincial Traffic Office, it is valid for one year (article 31 of the General Drivers Regulation) and the fee in 2026 is €10.51.
In this article
What the international permit actually is
According to the DGT, it is a grey 16-page booklet with your details and licence categories in eight languages, including English, French, Arabic and Russian. It lets a police officer in another country understand what you may drive.
Three things to be clear about from the start:
- It is not valid on its own. You must always carry it with your Spanish licence, and both must be in force.
- It does not work in Spain. The international permit lets you drive temporarily in the states that signed the Geneva Convention, except the one that issued it (article 31.1 of the General Drivers Regulation).
- It lasts one year and cannot be extended. If you need it again after that, you apply for a new one.
Where you need it and where you do not
Where your Spanish licence is enough
According to the DGT, with a valid Spanish licence you can drive with nothing else across the European Union, in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and in the countries that have a bilateral road traffic treaty with Spain: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and Uruguay.
The case of Japan
Japan is on the treaty list, but the DGT warns that the treaty does not include mutual recognition of licences. To drive there you need both your Spanish licence and the international permit, both in force. The Spanish Foreign Ministry's travel advice for Japan adds that the international licence is only valid for stays of under 90 days, and reminds you that traffic drives on the left.
Everywhere else
If your destination is not on that list, you will normally need the international permit before you leave. That said, the list is not closed: the agreement with Honduras, in force since 26 November 2024, also lets you drive there temporarily on your Spanish licence. There are two road traffic conventions, Geneva 1949 and Vienna 1968 (the Regulation mentions both in article 21), but the permit Spain issues follows the Geneva model (article 31) and is valid in the countries that signed that convention. If your destination did not sign it, or you are unsure whether it still has a treaty with Spain, the official advice is to ask its consulate or tourist office, a few weeks ahead rather than the night before.
What about the United States?
The Spanish Foreign Ministry's travel advice says Spain has no agreement with any US state on the validity of Spanish licences. It therefore says that anyone travelling for tourism or business should get the international permit in Spain before arriving, and that the US recognises it. Without it, you could be fined for not holding a licence the local traffic police recognise.
That said, the same advice admits it depends on the state. Some require you to carry the international permit together with your Spanish licence, and in others the international permit may not be needed if you have your Spanish one. Each state's rules are on the website of its Department of Motor Vehicles. In practice, at €10.51 it is worth getting one and carrying both. If you hire a car, also check what the rental company asks for.
Who can apply
Article 32 of the General Drivers Regulation sets three conditions:
- Your normal residence is in Spain.
- You hold a Spanish licence of the same category, valid and in force. A licence from another EU or EEA country also works, but it has to be registered with the DGT first.
- You are not banned from driving by a court, and your licence is not suspended or withheld.
If your licence expires during the trip, the international permit stops being any use that same day: the DGT says that with an expired Spanish licence you cannot drive on the international permit, in Spain or abroad. Renew it first. We explain how in can I drive with an expired licence?. And since the international permit is only issued on a Spanish or European licence, if yours is from outside the EU you will first have to exchange it for a Spanish one.
How to apply, the fee and how long it takes
Online
You need a digital certificate, an electronic DNI or Cl@ve. You fill in the form on the DGT's online register, pay the fee within the same form and choose the traffic office where you will collect it. According to the DGT, it is ready for collection 2 days later. You do not need an appointment to collect it, but you must go in person with your DNI, passport or NIE and an original colour photo of 32 x 26 mm with a plain background.
In person
At any Traffic Office, with an appointment booked online or by calling 060. If you live in Valencia, that will usually be the Valencia Provincial Traffic Office. Bring:
- Form 3, «Trámites de conductores», ticking «Solicitud de permiso internacional».
- A valid DNI or passport. If you are a foreign national, your residence documents.
- A 32 x 26 mm colour photo.
- Your valid Spanish licence (the DGT information sheet asks for a photocopy).
- Proof the fee is paid, or a card to pay there: the offices do not take cash.
The DGT does not give a turnaround time for in-person applications, so ask when you book if you are travelling soon.
The fee
It is DGT fee 4.5: €10.51, according to the DGT's official website in October 2026. If you pay it in advance, the application asks for the 12-digit fee number.
Common mistakes
- Applying the week you fly without a digital certificate. The in-person route needs an appointment, and in high season there is not always one for tomorrow.
- Forgetting your licence expiry date. If your Spanish licence expires during the trip, the international permit no longer covers you.
- Assuming Japan works like Morocco or the UK. All three have treaties, but only Japan requires the international permit.
- Driving your own car outside Europe without asking. Some countries ask for a «Carnet de Passages», a kind of passport for the vehicle. The DGT advises checking with the consulate.
When it makes sense to get help
If you have a digital certificate, your licence is up to date and you are going to one country, you can easily do it yourself. It is worth looking at it together if your licence is about to expire, if it was issued in another country and is not yet registered or exchanged, or if you are chaining several destinations. You can book an appointment and we will look at it with your travel dates.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an international driving permit to drive in the United States?
Yes, that is what the Spanish Foreign Ministry says: Spain has no agreement with any US state, and it advises getting the permit in Spain before you travel. It depends on the state: some require it alongside your Spanish licence and others may not. Check the state's Department of Motor Vehicles.
Do I need an international driving permit to drive in Europe?
No. With a valid Spanish licence you can drive across the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and also in Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco and the United Kingdom, which have treaties with Spain according to the DGT.
How much does an international driving permit cost in Spain in 2026?
€10.51. It is DGT fee 4.5, according to the DGT's official website in October 2026. At traffic offices you pay by card, not cash.
How long does it take to get an international driving permit?
2 days if you apply online: the DGT says you can collect it at the traffic office you choose from then on, without an appointment and with a 32 x 26 mm photo. For in-person applications the DGT gives no set time.
How long is an international driving permit valid?
One year, with no extension (article 31.2 of the General Drivers Regulation). It is also only valid while your Spanish licence is in force.