International driving permit in the Czech Republic: who needs one

Czech law does not require a visitor to carry an international driving permit (IDP) as long as their own licence is already valid in Czechia: a licence from another EU member state, or one issued under the 1968 Vienna or 1949 Geneva convention. An IDP is one more accepted document, not a precondition. What deserves a check is whether your licence follows the convention format, how old an IDP is if you carry one, and, if you live in Czechia, whether the three-month exchange deadline applies to you.

The search term is ambiguous, because Czechia issues permits of its own. A Czech IDP is for licence holders who live in Czechia and travel abroad. It can be issued on a valid foreign licence as well as a Czech one (§ 111(2)(b)), and it does not prove the right to drive inside Czechia (§ 104(3)). The application does not have to be made in person (§ 117), but you collect the permit in person (§ 111(6)) at the office of a municipality with extended powers. This guide covers the other question: driving here on a licence issued elsewhere, including in a rental car.

What Czech law accepts from a visitor

Section 104(2) of Act 361/2000 lists what confirms the right to drive in Czechia, provided the document is valid on the day you drive:

• a Czech driving licence;
• a licence from another EU member state;
• a licence from a third country, issued under the Vienna convention (1968) or the Geneva convention (1949);
• an international driving permit issued by a foreign state under those conventions.

A licence that follows neither convention counts only with a certified Czech translation and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs certificate of diplomatic privileges, which is a narrow exception. For EU licences the basis is Directive 2006/126/EC, Article 2(1). For the conventions, Article 41 of the Vienna text recognises national licences, licences meeting Annex 6 and permits meeting Annex 7 as alternatives.

A foreign IDP has a lifespan in Czechia: three years from the date of issue under the Vienna convention, one year under Geneva (§ 104(4)). Keep your licence with you whenever you drive. Section 6(7)(a) requires the driver to have a valid licence with them, and the only exemption is for licences issued in Czechia.

Which convention covers your country

Czechia is a party to both conventions. The UN treaty lists show how other countries line up:

Check your own country in the UN status lists for the Vienna and Geneva conventions before you travel.

Being on a list is half of the answer, because the licence itself has to follow the format. Annex 6 of the Vienna convention expects every entry to be in Latin letters or repeated in them. In case 78 A 7/2011 (2012) the regional court in Ústí nad Labem refused to treat a Russian licence as a national licence under § 104(2)(c), because only part of its entries were written in Latin letters beside Cyrillic. If your licence is not fully in Latin letters, ask our team when you book whether an IDP is needed. The entries in a permit under Annex 7 are written in Latin letters or English cursive.

If you live in Czechia

A holder of another member state's licence with ordinary residence in Czechia may ask for an exchange (§ 116(1)). It is a right, not an obligation, and Article 11(1) of the EU directive says the same.

Holders of a third-country licence with permanent residence, or with a stay longer than one year, must apply for an exchange within three months: for a foreigner, from the moment the stay is permitted (§ 116(3)). Without an application the licence does not entitle its holder to drive (§ 118(2)). The foreign police service confirms this for non-EU citizens with residence or a long-term visa longer than a year, and notes that the exchange concerns licences under the 1968 and 1949 conventions. Holders of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs certificate of privileges and immunities are an exception (§ 116(8)).

A licence that does not conform to the conventions is exchanged only after an exam and a medical certificate. Countries with a reciprocity arrangement are exempt from the exam; in the 1 July 2025 edition of the implementing decree (31/2001, Annex 6a) these are Japan, Korea and the UAE. The Vienna convention itself does not oblige a party to recognise a licence of someone who lived on its territory when the licence was issued or moved there afterwards (Article 41(6)).

What Masons asks for a rental

We have one base rule for every car: the driver is at least 21 and has held a licence for two years or more. Those figures are our own conditions, since Czech law allows category B from 18 (§ 83(1)(d)). Our guide to a first powerful car covers the age rule, and the step-by-step rental guide covers the rest of the paperwork.

As our FAQ explains, tell our team, before reserving, which country issued your licence and how long you have held it. We then confirm the documents needed for you and your chosen car, including whether an international driving permit is needed. Bring the valid documents listed in your booking confirmation.

The statute does not oblige a rental company to ask a guest with a valid convention licence for an IDP. Whether a permit or a translation is needed for your rental is something to ask our team when you book; name every person who may drive at the same time.

Frequently asked questions