Convention types1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Document
Valid for 1 year and accepted in 109 countries — including Japan, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It's the most widely recognized International Driving Document type, with wider country coverage than the 1968 Vienna Convention. If you're driving in a Geneva-only country, this is the document you need.
See the International Driving Document hub or the 1968 Vienna Convention guide.
- Countries accepted
- 109
- Validity
- 1 year
- Licence classes
- 5
- Ratifying countries
- 102
What is the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Document?
By Expedify Editorial Team · Fact-checked by Expedify Compliance Review on August 9, 2026.
The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty signed in 1949. It came into force on 26 March 1952, and 102 countries had ratified it as of March 2025. It sets uniform rules for international road traffic — vehicle safety standards, identification marks, and the International Driving Document.
It's one of three UN conventions governing International Driving Documents, alongside the largely superseded 1926 Paris Convention and the newer 1968 Vienna Convention. When a country is party to more than one convention, the newest one replaces the previous ones between those countries.
Many countries remain party only to the Geneva Convention — including Japan, the United States, Canada, Australia, and India. That makes the Geneva International Driving Document essential for travel to those destinations.
Key takeaways
- Accepted in 109 countries (47 Geneva-only + 62 both).
- Validity: 1 year from the date of issue.
- AAA / AATA issue it in the United States.
- Five licence classes: A, B, C, D, E.
- Germany and Vietnam do not accept it — they require the 1968 Vienna Convention type.
- Must be carried alongside your valid domestic licence.
Which countries accept the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Document?
The 1949 Geneva Convention has been ratified by 102 countries. 109 total countries recognize the Geneva International Driving Document (47 Geneva-only + 62 both).
Geneva-only
- Count
- 47 countries
- Accepts
- Geneva only — a 1968 Vienna permit is not accepted
Both conventions
- Count
- 62 countries
- Accepts
- Either Geneva or Vienna
Not a Geneva party
- Count
- Vietnam, Germany, Brazil, and others
- Accepts
- Vienna only, or neither (China)
Geneva-only countries (47)
A 1968 Vienna International Driving Document will not be accepted in these countries. Japan and the United States are the most notable.
Both-convention countries (62)
A Geneva International Driving Document will be accepted in all of these.
Authority: party-country and recognition claims are drawn from UN treaty records and official issuer guidance. Verify current requirements with the embassy of your destination country and your national auto association before traveling.
What it covers — and what it doesn't
The International Driving Document must be carried alongside your valid domestic licence. It is a translation, not a standalone licence.
Covers
- Translation of your domestic driving licence into multiple languages
- Proof that you hold a valid domestic driving licence
- Driving in countries party to the 1949 Geneva Convention
- Vehicle categories matching your domestic licence entitlements
Doesn't cover
- Replacement for a valid domestic licence
- Insurance — you still need separate vehicle insurance
- Driving in non-party countries
- Motorcycles or heavy vehicles unless your domestic licence includes them
Validity and renewal
Validity
1 year from the date of issue — it expires exactly one year after issue, regardless of when you start traveling.
Renewal
An expired Geneva International Driving Document cannot be renewed — submit a new application. Check the printed expiration date before each trip.
Domestic licence
Your domestic licence must remain valid. If it expires before the permit's 1-year period ends, the permit becomes invalid at that point.
1949 Geneva vs. 1968 Vienna
The Geneva permit has wider coverage but shorter validity. The Vienna permit lasts longer with more granular licence classes, but isn't accepted in Geneva-only countries like Japan. If your trip includes both Geneva-only and Vienna-only countries, you may need both types.
Validity
- 1968 Vienna
- Up to 3 years (or licence expiry)
- 1949 Geneva
- 1 year from issue
Countries accepted
- 1968 Vienna
- 95 (33 Vienna-only + 62 both)
- 1949 Geneva
- 109 (47 Geneva-only + 62 both)
Licence classes
- 1968 Vienna
- 13+ (A through D1E)
- 1949 Geneva
- 5 (A, B, C, D, E)
Key Geneva-only countries
- 1968 Vienna
- —
- 1949 Geneva
- Japan, USA, Canada, Australia
Key Vienna-only countries
- 1968 Vienna
- Vietnam, Germany, Brazil
- 1949 Geneva
- —
Format
- 1968 Vienna
- A6 booklet, grey cover (updated 2011)
- 1949 Geneva
- A6 booklet, grey cover
What it costs
One clear charge. Shown in full before you enter any details.
Printed permit
Most chosenThe physical booklet, posted to you. This is what rental desks and roadside checks ask for.
- 1 year$69
- 2 years$109
- 3 years$79
Digital only
A digital copy, no booklet. Cheaper, but not every authority accepts it — check your destination first.
- 1 year$49
- 2 years$55
- 3 years$59
Where the money goes
- Processing fee
- Checking your documents, confirming the correct convention type, preparing and filing the application, and shipping.
- Government fee
- An International Driving Document carries no government issuance fee. This line reads $0 rather than disappearing.
No hidden charges. No courier surcharge. No markup on anything we pass through. Applying direct through AAA costs about $20 plus photos and postage — cheaper, and you handle the research, the forms, and the shipping yourself.
A dedicated expert reviews your application. If something goes wrong on our end, we make it right.
Two ways to get one
You can do this yourself. Here's what each route actually involves.
We prepare and file it — you skip the issuer line
- Tell us your destinationYour destination country and where your licence was issued. About 30 seconds.
- We confirm what you needA 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna permit — picked for you, so you don't have to decide.
- We handle the paperworkYour dedicated expert checks your documents, prepares the application, and files it correctly with the authorised issuer.
- Review by a real personA dedicated expert reviews your submission before it goes anywhere — not a bot.
- Track every stepLive dashboard plus email and SMS updates, from submission until the permit is in your hands.
What to expect, not a promise: the issuer sets the delivery timeframe. We show the official ETA as a fact and track every step for you.
Straight through the issuer
Cheaper. You handle the branch visit or mail-in, the photos, the forms, and the shipping.
- United States
- AAA or AATA — 1949 Geneva only. About $20.
- United Kingdom
- Post Office or RAC — both types. About £5.50.
- Canada
- CAA — 1949 Geneva only. About CA$25.
- Elsewhere
- Your national automobile association.
If you have the time and the confidence, you should do it this way.
Frequently asked questions
The 1949 Geneva Convention, explained — including why it's the only type Japan and the United States accept.
Where this comes from
Last updated August 9, 2026. Fact-checked by Expedify Compliance Review.
- UN Treaty Collection — 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic
- AAA — International Driving Document
- AATA — International Driving Document
- Wikipedia — Geneva Convention on Road Traffic
International Driving Document requirements, fees, convention membership, and country recognition rules can change. Verify current rules with your authorized issuer and your destination country's embassy or consulate before traveling.
Ready to get your permit?
A dedicated expert prepares, verifies, and files your 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Document — the type the United States issues, accepted in Japan, Canada, Australia, and 105 other countries. Picked for you, so you don't have to decide.
- No hidden fees — the official/agency fee is shown next to ours.
- Track every step from submission to your door.