Getting an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Bangkok, Thailand, is a relatively simple process if you first familiarize yourself with the stack of documents required to get it done. Having the IDP is helpful if you’re living in Thailand and want to rent a motor vehicle while traveling in another country.

What is the International Driving Permit (IDP)?

The International Drivers Permit, commonly referred to as the IDP, is a driving permit that licenses holders to drive in any of the 83 countries that have ratified the Convention of Road Traffic from the Geneva Convention 1949.

There are many private companies online that offer versions of the IDP. There are also plenty of reasons not to pay for these services or documents. 

First, if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation that requires police and/or insurance while driving in a foreign country and your driving license wasn’t issued by an authority, you’d be screwed.

Second, there is only one official design, which was also covered in the convention. Many online vendors selling the IDP as a service will replicate the official format in minor ways. Still, it’s pretty simple for anyone familiar with the approved design of authentic IDP documents to know what is and isn’t real. 

The official design is not known for its beauty.

The International Driving Permit has a non-biometric identification page containing endorsements made with official stamps by authorities able to issue these licenses for various types of vehicles. I won’t list them all, but if you’re curious, you can find which category covers which types of vehicles here.  

Odds are, if you’re reading this and looking to travel, you’d be fine to drive just about anywhere around the world with endorsements in categories A and B, which is general cars and motorcycles, as pictured in my IDP above.

Who can get the IDP?

This part is key because only some are eligible to get the International Driving Permit in Thailand. The issuing authority’s requirements vary from country to country. In Thailand, the pre-requisites are simple:

• Thai nationals with a valid non-temporary driving license and Thai Identity Card
• Non-Thai nationals that have a non-temporary Thailand Driving License 

The “non-temporary” part of the driver’s license is noteworthy because the DLT first issues a two-year “temporary” driving license for all new applications. Once you have waited the initial two years, you can renew the license as a “non-temporary” license, valid for five years. This applies to all regular driving licenses, including cars and motorcycles.

Here’s how the 5-year driving license in Thailand looks:

If you meet those initial criteria, you can have the annual International Driving Permit issued in Bangkok by following the DLT’s paperwork requirements.

Documents needed for the International Driving Permit (IDP)

As with any other process in Thailand’s maze of bureaucracy, a specific stack of documents is required to obtain the International Driving Permit in Bangkok.

Also, similar to completing any other process involving your identification in Thailand, such as getting the tabien baan, you’ll always do better to bring more than required.

What’s required:

• Government-issued Identification
  • For Thai citizens, the Thai ID card or Thai Passport
  • For non-Thai residents, your original passport is required
• Official proof of address
  • For Thai citizens, proof of address can be the Thai ID card and/or tabien baan
  • For non-Thai residents, you can obtain an affidavit confirming your address in Thailand from your embassy, get a Certificate of Residence from immigration police, or bring your yellow house book (tabien baan). The document must be original and dated, at most, six months before the date you’re applying for the IDP
• Proof of valid permit to stay in Thailand
  • This only applies to non-Thai residents applying for the International Driving Permit. You must show your most recent visa extension stamp or Thailand permanent resident book
• 5 Year or Permanent Thai Driving License(s)
  • For Thai and non-Thai residents, you must bring your original 5-year driving license(s). If you are a Thai citizen with a permanent driving license, that is accepted
• Two photos taken within the last six months, 2″x2″ (5cm x 5cm)
  • These should be passport-style images on a white background, not wearing glasses
• Fee
  • The fee for issuing the International Driving Permit (IDP) in Thailand is 505 THB (approximately $15 USD). It is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

You must bring one copy of the above-listed items and the originals of everything you are presenting with your application. If you don’t have copies, most DLT offices have a copy vendor on the ground floor that will know precisely what you need copies of. They’ll charge you about 2 THB per page for the black and white copies.

Where to get the IDP in Bangkok?

You can get the International Driving Permit at any Department of Land Transport area office throughout the city. You can find those by googling กรมการขนส่งทางบก or checking out their website here: https://www.dlt.go.th/

I had mine renewed at the Department of Land Transport Area 3 office, which is located on Sukhumvit Road near Bangjak BTS Station. One silver lining of having to get this done is that if you drive to the DLT, there will always be plenty of free parking for your vehicle.

Tips + Tricks for getting the IDP easily

Like any other government office in Thailand, with few exceptions like One Stop Service at Chamchuri Square, you’ll always be better positioned to get what you want if you’re prepared with neatly organized documents stacked precisely in the order I wrote them above. 

The staff that works for the Department of Land Transport are tough when it comes to the rules. In my experience, they will not bend or make any exceptions to the outlined required documents. If you’re missing just one document, that does not matter to them, nor is it their problem- they’ll ask you to go get what’s missing and come back another day. 

Lastly, English proficiency in the DLT offices is relatively low. Getting the IDP will be a lot easier if you can speak conversational Thai language or bring someone with you that does. 

In all, it took 12 minutes to get mine done this year, without an appointment, from the time I parked until the IDP was freshly printed off of the typewriter.

I’ve used the International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent cars worldwide. Although the Thai Driving License has worked for car rental in some countries that accept licenses written in English, it is always better to be prepared with something globally official to ensure more seamless travel.