Are international driving permits required

Permit and Country of Travel

An international driving permit is most often needed where the national licence is not recognised locally. Licences in the Kazakh format are valid in a number of countries, but not everywhere. If you rent a car in Europe, an international driving permit is almost always requested together with the national one. In Asia and the Middle East the rules are softer, but the rental company has the right to refuse.

A licence without a translation or without the international booklet is sometimes not accepted even with a booking. Therefore, before departure from Almaty, check the requirements of the country. Whether you personally need an international driving permit is decided by your route.

What the International Document Gives You

An international driving permit is a translation of the national licence into several languages. A permit of this format is recognised in most countries of the world. The document does not replace the national licence but goes together with it. Without the national licence, the international driving permit is invalid. For a tourist from Almaty, this means that both documents are kept in one place.

The international driving permit is valid for a limited period and is usually tied to the validity of the national one. The permit is renewed together with the main licence. If the national licence expires during the trip, the international one also loses its force.

Where It Is Issued

Issuing an international driving permit in Kazakhstan takes several days. The permit is issued through authorised bodies; the exact procedure should be checked locally. Many tourists from Almaty submit the application in advance, a month before departure. An international driving permit is not issued at the airport before boarding.

It is better to obtain the permit before buying tickets so as not to change your plans.

Travel Seasons from Almaty

Summer is the time for beach holidays and short flights from Almaty. An international driving permit in this season is needed by those who drive along the coast. In autumn, prices fall and car rental becomes more affordable. The permit will be useful on mountain roads and in wine regions. In winter, tourists from Almaty fly to warmth or to snow.

An international driving permit is needed for renting a car at ski resorts. In spring, demand grows, and cars are booked in advance. The permit should be arranged before the start of the high season.

What to Take with You

On a trip from Almaty, take the national licence and the international driving permit at the same time. Keep both documents in your hand luggage, not in a suitcase. Store copies separately from the originals. If you do not plan to drive, the international driving permit need not be arranged. For a tourist without a car rental, the national licence is enough. The permit will be needed if you book a car on the spot.

Check the expiry date in advance so as not to be left without a document.

Car Rental Without Hassle

Renting a car abroad almost always begins with a document check. An international driving permit speeds up this procedure and removes questions at the counter. Tourists from Almaty often pick up a car at the arrival airport. The permit is needed if you are travelling to a country with a different language and alphabet. Inspect the car before signing the papers and photograph any damage.

Check the terms for returning fuel and mileage. An international driving permit does not override local traffic rules. The permit and attentiveness on the road matter more than any booklet.

How an international permit differs from a national one

An international permit is a booklet with a translation of the national license into eight languages, and by itself it does not give the right to drive a car. A national license confirms that the driver has passed the exam and is authorized to drive. An international document merely explains to an inspector or a rental clerk what is written in the Kazakhstani license.

The validity period of an international permit is tied to the validity of the national one and cannot exceed three years, even if the Kazakhstani license is valid longer. For a trip to countries of the Vienna Convention, a new-format national license with Latin script is often sufficient. Where the Geneva Convention applies, international driving permits are mandatory.

The conclusion is simple: before flying out of Almaty, check which convention the destination country belongs to.

In which cases you cannot do without it

International driving permits are needed if the destination country recognizes only the Geneva model or if the rental company requires both documents at once. At the rental counter in Europe and Asia, they often ask to show both the national and the international permit — one without the other is not accepted.

Without a valid document, the insurance company may refuse to pay in the event of an accident, and all expenses will fall on the driver. In Japan and Korea, the Kazakhstani license is not recognized for driving a car; there, a local document or an international model plus a translation will be required.

For a trip to Cyprus, Malta, or Ireland, it is worth checking the requirements in advance: they differ from continental Europe. If the national license is expired or the driver has been deprived of it at home, international ones will not help.

Southeast Asia: dry season and high demand

The dry season in Southeast Asia falls in November–March, when it is cold in Kazakhstan and hot and dry at the resorts. It is precisely in these months that demand is at its highest, and it is better to book a car in advance, without waiting for questions about international driving permits. In April the wet season begins: short downpours, high humidity, and some unpaved roads are washed out.

For a trip by car, this means more time on the road and caution on winding mountain roads, and keep your international driving permits at hand. In the low season, rental is cheaper, but the choice of cars at the counter is smaller. If the international driving permits are arranged in advance, the booking goes through faster. Conclusion: plan your trip for the dry months, and prepare the permit before buying tickets.

Europe and the Mediterranean: a window from May to September

Europe is most comfortable for a trip with a car from May to September, and international driving permits will be needed for rental. In August, on the Mediterranean coast, prices for rental and accommodation are at their maximum, and parking lots near the beaches are overcrowded. May and September offer mild weather and moderate traffic.

International driving permits will come in handy for rental in Italy, Spain, and Greece. In winter in the Alps, some passes are closed, and chains are required on the roads. For a trip through northern Europe, the season is shorter: from June to August. Conclusion: choose May or September if you want to save money and avoid the crowds.

The Middle East and Turkey: heat, mountain roads, and chains

For a trip to the UAE, the best time is from October to April. In summer, the heat above 45 degrees makes long car journeys difficult, and the air conditioner does not help in a parking lot. In Turkey, the car rental season opens in April and closes in October. In winter, chains are needed in mountainous areas, and some roads are closed due to snow. On the coast, winter is rainy but mild.

International driving permits are rarely asked for here, but the rental company may require both documents. Conclusion: for hot countries, take a car in the cooler months; for Turkey, in the shoulder season.

Rental company requirements for documents and card

The rental company usually asks for a national driver's license, an international permit, and a bank card in the driver's name. A card from a Kazakhstan bank may not work abroad when paying a deposit: you need a sufficient limit and the cardholder's name matching the driver's name. Sometimes a debit card is accepted, but more often a credit card is required.

The driver's age also matters: for young drivers the rate is higher. If the international permit is expired, the rental will not be processed even with a valid national license. Conclusion: check the card and document expiry dates before departure, not at the counter.

Deposit, limits and refunds

The deposit for a car rental is usually blocked on the card for up to a month after the car is returned. This money is unavailable during the trip, so plan your budget with a margin. The amount depends on the car class and the country. In case of damage, the rental company deducts the cost of repairs from the deposit.

An international permit does not affect the deposit amount, but without it the contract will not be signed. Refunds are sometimes delayed due to banking procedures. Conclusion: keep an available limit on the card and keep the car acceptance report.

Insurance: why Kazakhstan OSAGO does not work

OSAGO insurance issued in Kazakhstan does not apply abroad. On site, you will have to buy a local policy or extended insurance from the rental company. Without a valid permit, the insurer may refuse to pay in case of an accident. An international permit confirms that the driver is authorized to drive, and this affects the insurer's decision.

A deductible lowers the policy price, but the driver pays part of the repairs. Conclusion: do not save on insurance and keep copies of documents at hand.

Checking the validity period and status of the permit

Check the expiry date of your national driver's license: if it expires during the trip, the international permit will also become invalid. An international permit does not give the right to drive a car if the national license is expired or the driver has been deprived of it. The validity period of the international document does not exceed three years and is always tied to the national one.

For a trip to countries with left-hand traffic, it is worth checking in advance whether the country recognizes a Kazakhstan driver's license. If not, the rental will fail at the counter. Conclusion: check the dates a month before departure and renew the documents if necessary.

Left-hand traffic and countries with special requirements

In countries with left-hand traffic, driving requires habit, and sometimes additional documents. Cyprus, Malta and Ireland differ in requirements from continental Europe. In Japan and Korea, a Kazakhstan driver's license is not recognized for driving a car. There you will need a local document or an international sample plus a translation. Before the trip, it is worth practicing on an empty lot.

An international permit does not cancel local restrictions. Conclusion: study the country's rules in advance and do not get behind the wheel tired after a flight.

Notarized translation: when it helps and when it does not

A translation of a driver's license into English certified by a notary does not replace an international permit. Some rental companies accept it, but this is more of an exception. A notarized translation helps when communicating with the police in rare cases. For a trip to countries of the Geneva Convention, it is useless. An international permit is issued officially and recognized at the treaty level.

Conclusion: do not rely on a translation where an international sample is required.

Submission via a special TsON and egov.kz: what is important to know

In Almaty, an application for an international permit is submitted via a special TsON or the egov.kz portal. The finished document is still issued in paper form, so an electronic application does not cancel the visit. The validity period of an international driver's license is tied to the national one and does not exceed three years. For a trip to countries of the Geneva Convention, the document is mandatory.

An international permit is needed if the rental company requires both licenses. Conclusion: submit the application in advance to receive the booklet before departure.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the gov.kz portal, gov.kz. The information on this page was verified on 15.09.2026.