# International driving licence from Pakistan: who issues it, fees, documents and which countries accept it

URL: https://which.pk/travel/guides/international-driving-license-pakistan/
Author: Asif
Updated: 21 Oct 2026

## Summary

An international driving permit is issued by the provincial licensing office that holds your Pakistani licence, not by an embassy. In Punjab, DLIMS lists a car permit at Rs 1,350 a year or Rs 4,050 for three years, plus Rs 480 courier, as of October 2026. You need your valid licence, a passport with the visa and your CNIC. Pakistan follows the 1968 Vienna Convention, which Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and the UK have also joined; the US, Canada and Japan have not.

## Key facts

- Car IDP, Punjab, 1 year: Rs 1,830 incl. courier
- Car IDP, Punjab, 3 years: Rs 4,530 incl. courier
- Convention Pakistan follows: Vienna 1968
- Must carry with it: Your Pakistani licence

An international driving permit (IDP), which Pakistani offices call an **international driving license**, is issued in Pakistan by the **licensing office of your province**, not by an embassy. In Punjab, DLIMS lists a car permit at **Rs 1,350 a year or Rs 4,050 for three years**, plus Rs 480 courier, as of October 2026. You need your **valid Pakistani licence**, a **passport with the visa** for the country you are going to, and your CNIC.

The permit doesn't replace your licence: the Islamabad administration says it must be carried with a valid driving licence.

## Who issues an international driving licence in Pakistan?

The office that issues ordinary licences where you live:

| Where your licence is from | Who issues the IDP | How you apply |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | DLIMS (Punjab traffic police), on the Dastak platform | City traffic police offices or Police Khidmat Markaz centres; renewal and duplicate online on Dastak |
| Islamabad | ICT Administration, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) | In person at the Citizen Facilitation Center, G-11/4 |
| Sindh | Sindh Police driving licence branches | Online at dlsonline.sindhpolice.gov.pk, or a licence branch |

The Punjab offices come from a Pakistan Observer report of 4 December 2025. A report of 2 August 2026 in The Pakistan Connect says you can also apply for a new international licence from home in the **Dastak app**. Dastak's own service list, checked on 21 Oct 2026, names only **renewal** and **duplicate** international licences, so a first permit may still need a visit.

For Sindh, Aaj News reported in October 2024 that residents with a valid licence could apply online, and that all 11 licence branches in Sindh issue international licences. We couldn't open the Sindh portal, which sits behind a browser check, so we couldn't confirm its current steps or fee.

In August 2026, Dawn reported that the federal government approved a **uniform nationwide system** for international permits through the National Police Bureau. No portal, fee or start date had been announced when we checked on 21 Oct 2026.

## What documents do I need?

Islamabad's page lists three originals, and you must appear in person:

- your original Pakistani **computerised driving licence**
- your original **passport with a valid visa**
- your original **CNIC**

For Punjab, Pakistan Observer listed an attested passport copy, two attested passport-size photos, three CNIC copies, a copy of your licence and the visa in your passport. Applicants over 50 may need a medical certificate. Take the originals as well.

## What is the international driving license fee in Pakistan?

Punjab's fees on DLIMS, checked on 21 Oct 2026:

| Category | 1 year | 1 year with courier | 3 years | 3 years with courier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | Rs 450 | Rs 930 | Rs 1,350 | Rs 1,830 |
| Car/jeep, or motorcycle + car | Rs 1,350 | Rs 1,830 | Rs 4,050 | Rs 4,530 |
| LTV, HTV or PSV | Rs 1,850 | Rs 2,330 | Rs 5,550 | Rs 6,030 |
| Rickshaw | Rs 400 | Rs 880 | Rs 1,200 | Rs 1,680 |

If you hold more than one category, the highest fee applies. If you renew and no longer have the original permit, DLIMS adds the duplicate fee.

Islamabad's page doesn't show its fee; you pay during your visit and get an e-receipt. We couldn't find Sindh's fee on any page we could open.

## How do I get an IDP in Islamabad?

1. Collect your original licence, passport with visa, and CNIC.
2. Go to the **Citizen Facilitation Center, G-11/4**, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm (break on Friday 12:30 to 2:30 pm).
3. Take a token and wait for your turn.
4. Give your data, **biometrics** and a live photo, and hand over your documents.
5. Pay the fee and keep the **e-receipt**.
6. Collect your IDP on the date on the receipt. You can check its status in the **City Islamabad** app.

ICT's phone number for the service is 051-8899611.

## Which countries accept a Pakistani international driving licence?

Pakistan issues its permit under the **1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic**, which it joined on 19 March 1986, according to the UN Treaty Collection. Pakistan is **not** a party to the older 1949 Geneva Convention. Here is where some common destinations stand, from the UN's status lists checked on 21 Oct 2026:

| Country | 1968 Vienna | 1949 Geneva |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Yes (2016) | No |
| United Arab Emirates | Yes (2007) | Yes |
| Qatar, Oman, Kuwait | Yes | No |
| Bahrain | Yes | Yes |
| Türkiye | Yes | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes (2018) | Yes |
| Germany, France, Italy, Spain | Yes | Germany no; others yes |
| Thailand | Yes | Yes |
| United States, Canada, Australia, Japan | No | Yes |
| Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka | No | Yes |
| China | No | No |

**Sources disagree for some countries:** Islamabad's list of countries that accept the IDP includes the USA, the UK, Japan and Malaysia. The US, Japan and Malaysia have not joined the 1968 convention that Pakistan's permit follows. Before you travel, check the destination's own rules and ask your car rental company what it accepts.

For the UAE, Gulf News (updated 23 December 2025) says a tourist whose home licence isn't on the UAE's recognised list must carry a valid IDP with the original licence, usually held for at least 12 months. Rental companies may set stricter rules.

## How long is the permit valid?

Punjab sells it for **one year or three years**, as its fee table shows. It only works alongside your Pakistani licence, so renew your licence first if it expires before your trip. See [driving licence in Punjab](/money/guides/driving-license-punjab/) for renewal fees.

## What else should I sort out before driving abroad?

Check your visa first: the permit is issued against it. See [visa-free countries for Pakistanis](/travel/guides/visa-free-countries-pakistan/) for where you can go without one. Then compare [travel insurance](/money/guides/travel-insurance-pakistan/) for the trip.

More guides: [passport fee in Pakistan](/travel/guides/passport-fee-pakistan/), [Umrah from Pakistan](/travel/guides/umrah-from-pakistan/), [Plan your trip](/travel/plan/).

## Questions people ask

### What is the international driving license fee in Punjab?

For a car, Rs 1,350 a year or Rs 4,050 for three years, plus Rs 480 courier, as DLIMS lists in October 2026. A motorcycle permit is Rs 450 a year and an LTV permit Rs 1,850 a year.

### What documents are needed for an international driving licence in Pakistan?

Your valid Pakistani driving licence, a passport with the visa for the country you are going to, and your CNIC. Islamabad asks for the originals and for you to appear in person; Punjab reports also mention attested copies and two photos.

### Can I apply for an international driving licence online?

In Punjab, Dastak lists online renewal and duplicate permits, and a news report says new ones can be applied for in the Dastak app. Sindh has accepted online applications since 2024. Islamabad issues them at the G-11/4 facilitation centre.

### Is a Pakistani international driving licence valid in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?

Both have joined the 1968 Vienna Convention, like Pakistan. Gulf News says UAE tourists whose home licence isn't on the recognised list must carry an international permit with their licence.

### How long is an international driving licence valid?

Punjab sells it for one year or three years. It is only valid with your Pakistani licence, so it is no use once that expires.

## Sources

- [DLIMS fee structure: International License](https://dlims.punjab.gov.pk/fee_structure), Driving License Information Management System, Government of Punjab (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [Dastak services: DLIMS](https://dastak.punjab.gov.pk/citizen/services?dept=dlims), Dastak, Government of Punjab (PITB) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [International Driving Permit](https://ictadministration.gov.pk/international-driving-permit/), Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna 1968: status](https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-19&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg5&clang=_en), United Nations Treaty Collection (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva 1949: status](https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-1&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg5&clang=_en), United Nations Treaty Collection (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [Car, LTV international driving license for UK: check latest fee in Pakistan](https://pakobserver.net/car-ltv-international-driving-license-for-uk-check-latest-fee-in-pakistan/), Pakistan Observer (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [Driving license applications now possible from home](https://thepakistanconnect.com/?p=111396), The Pakistan Connect (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [Sindh launches online driving license services](https://english.aaj.tv/news/amp/330382123), Aaj News (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [Ask Gulf News: Driving in the UAE as a tourist](https://gulfnews.com/ask-gulf-news/ask-gulf-news-driving-in-the-uae-as-a-tourist-licence-rules-car-rentals-and-insurance-1.500388132), Gulf News (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
- [International driving permits, police clearance certificates go online](https://www.dawn.com/news/2020667), Dawn (accessed 21 Oct 2026)