Illustrative AI-generated image.
Quick answer: an International Driving Permit (IDP), often searched for as an “international driving licence”, is a one year travel document that supports your Indian driving licence abroad. You apply through the Sarathi portal in Form 4A, pay the prescribed fee of ₹1,000, and follow the verification and appointment instructions generated for your application. Maharashtra’s published guidance requires appearance before the licensing authority, so plan for an RTO visit unless your application explicitly confirms otherwise. You carry the IDP together with your original Indian licence, never instead of it.
This is general information, not legal advice. Forms, fees and checklists are updated from time to time and RTO practice can differ by office, so confirm the current requirements on Sarathi before you apply. This guide is independent and is not affiliated with the Maharashtra Transport Department or the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Do you need an IDP at all?
An IDP is not a licence and does not expand your driving entitlement. It is issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and only works together with your valid Indian driving licence. Whether you need one depends on the country you are driving in.
- Some countries let a visitor drive on a foreign licence for a limited period, sometimes only if it is in English or comes with an accepted translation. A car hire company may still ask for an IDP.
- Some countries or states expect an IDP, or a certified translation, from the first day.
- Check that the vehicle categories on your IDP match your valid Indian licence and the vehicle you intend to drive.
A valid IDP does not guarantee that you may drive abroad for its entire validity period. Your destination may impose a shorter limit based on your arrival date, residency status or vehicle category. Check its official rules before driving. For Great Britain, GOV.UK provides a checker for visitors and residents with a foreign licence (see GOV.UK driving with a non-GB licence). For other countries, use the destination’s own transport authority, not a general travel blog.
Before you book a vehicle abroad
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Driving entitlement | Whether the visitor rules or the resident rules apply to you, and for how long |
| Documents | Original Indian licence, the IDP, or an accepted translation |
| Vehicle | That the vehicle category is covered by your licence and your IDP |
| Rental conditions | Minimum age, how long you must have held your licence, and the deposit |
| Insurance | Whether you as the driver, and the intended use, are covered |
Who can apply
- You need a valid Indian driving licence. An IDP does not give you any category your licence does not already carry.
- Parivahan’s published guidance describes applicants as residents of India holding a valid Indian driving licence.
- The central application requirements include proof of Indian nationality. OCI status is not Indian citizenship, so applicants who are not Indian citizens should get confirmation from the licensing authority rather than assume they are eligible.
- You need a passport. Apply at the RTO that covers your residential address (see the RTO section below).
Documents and the checklist
The central amendment, G.S.R. 15(E), was notified on 7 January 2021 and took effect on 15 February 2021 (see the MoRTH notification). It provides for an online application through Parivahan in Form 4A, with a valid Indian driving licence, the prescribed fee, three recent passport size photographs, proof of Indian nationality and proof of the passport.
Maharashtra’s own published guidance is not fully aligned with that. Its fee table still lists a visa, a medical certificate in Form 1A and four photographs. The amended central rule omits the medical certificate and visa items found in older checklists. Check the requirements generated for your application, and clarify any conflict with your RTO before you arrange documents or attend.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Form 4A | Filled online on Sarathi |
| Valid Indian driving licence | Original, in the name that matches your passport |
| Passport | Original, and proof of the passport details |
| Proof of Indian nationality | As the application asks |
| Photographs | The central amendment says three. Maharashtra’s published checklist says four. For digital uploads, follow the application instructions |
| Visa and Form 1A medical certificate | Listed in Maharashtra’s published checklist and not in the central amendment. Carry them if the checklist for your application or your RTO asks for them |
How to apply: step by step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Sarathi and choose Maharashtra as the state. Use only the official Parivahan address, because look alike sites exist |
| 2 | Choose the International Driving Permit service and enter your licence details |
| 3 | Fill in Form 4A, upload the documents the application asks for, and check every detail against your passport and licence |
| 4 | Select the RTO that covers your residential address |
| 5 | Pay the fee online and save the application number and payment receipt |
| 6 | Follow the verification and appointment instructions generated for your application, and carry the originals |
| 7 | After the RTO clears the application, the permit is issued as a booklet |
Apply through Sarathi and follow the verification and appointment instructions generated for your application. Maharashtra’s published guidance requires appearance before the licensing authority, so plan for an RTO visit unless your application explicitly confirms otherwise.
Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Prescribed IDP issuance fee | ₹1,000 |
| Additional fee for the specified overseas application for an expired IDP | ₹2,000, as provided in the 2021 notification. Mission specific charges, if any, are separate |
The ₹1,000 fee is supported by the central notification and Maharashtra’s fee table. Another Maharashtra page may still show an older ₹500 figure, so rely on the amount in your payment breakdown. Check that breakdown for any separately identified applicable charges and keep the receipt.
Which RTO should you apply to
- Maharashtra’s guidance tells applicants to apply within their residential jurisdiction. Do not simply pick whichever nearby office is convenient.
- On Sarathi, select the state and then the RTO that covers your current address, as the application directs.
- If the address on your licence is out of date, make the necessary licence address change before you apply for the IDP. The driving licence renewal guide covers licence updates.
- Check the office’s current contact details and working hours on the Maharashtra Transport Department site (transport.maharashtra.gov.in) or the RTO notice before you travel there.
- For the Vashi office, see the Vashi RTO guide. For the other licence steps, see the learning licence guide.
After submitting: status and common problems
- Save the application number and the payment receipt. You need them for any follow up.
- Check the status of your application on Sarathi using the application number. Rely on what the portal shows and the instructions it generates, not on processing times quoted elsewhere.
- If your licence details do not appear correctly, or the name on your licence differs from your passport, resolve the licence record with the RTO before the IDP is issued.
- If you do not receive verification or appointment instructions, contact the RTO you selected.
- When the permit is issued, check the name, dates and vehicle categories on it against your licence before you travel.
Validity and how to use it
- An IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue, or until your Indian licence expires, whichever is earlier. If your licence is close to expiry, renew it first (see the driving licence renewal guide).
- Carry the IDP with your original Indian licence at all times when driving. Driving on the IDP alone is not allowed.
- Since 2022 the IDP has followed a standardised format, with a QR code that links the permit to the driving licence, as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways through the Press Information Bureau in August 2022.
- India issues the IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Some countries recognise only IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, so check the rule for your destination.
Avoiding scams and common mistakes
- Only the Indian licensing authority can issue an Indian IDP. Websites that promise an IDP with no application, no licence check or an instant download are not issuing a valid document. The same warning is given for other countries by consumer bodies (see the US Federal Trade Commission alert).
- Do not pay agents who ask for your passport and licence scans before you have seen the official application.
- Do not rely on an IDP for a long stay abroad. Look up the local licence rules.
- Do not apply so early that it expires during the trip. It lasts only one year.
- Do not leave your original licence at home. Without it the IDP is of no use.
- If you are a victim of online fraud, report it on cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
If your IDP expires while you are abroad
- If your Indian issued IDP expires while you are abroad, check your nearest Indian mission’s reissuance procedure. The mission may verify your documents and provide a receipt for the Parivahan application. The Indian licensing authority processes the permit. Follow the mission’s country specific instructions.
- This is not automatically a route for obtaining a first IDP from abroad.
- If you are moving abroad permanently, an Indian licence and IDP may only cover a limited period. Plan to convert or replace the licence under local rules. For passport and other paperwork for the UAE, see the passport renewal guide for the UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IDP and who issues it in India?
An International Driving Permit is a travel document that supports your Indian licence abroad. It is issued by the Indian licensing authority, through the RTO, after you apply on Sarathi in Form 4A.
How much does an IDP cost?
The prescribed issuance fee is ₹1,000. Check the payment breakdown for any separately identified applicable charges and keep the receipt.
How long is an IDP valid?
One year from issue, or until your Indian licence expires, whichever is earlier. That does not mean you can drive abroad for the whole year, because each country sets its own limits.
Can I drive on an IDP alone?
No. You carry it with your original Indian driving licence.
Do I have to visit the RTO?
Maharashtra’s published guidance requires appearance before the licensing authority, so plan for a visit unless your application explicitly confirms otherwise.
Which RTO should I apply to?
The one that covers your residential address. If your licence address is out of date, update it first.
Do I need a visa or medical certificate?
The central amendment does not list them, but Maharashtra’s published checklist still does. Follow the requirements generated for your application and clarify any conflict with your RTO.
Can an OCI cardholder apply?
The central requirements include proof of Indian nationality, and OCI status is not Indian citizenship. Get confirmation from the licensing authority before you apply.
Sources
| Point | Source |
|---|---|
| Application requirements, Form 4A, fee and the overseas additional fee | MoRTH notification G.S.R. 15(E), 7 January 2021 |
| Maharashtra fee table, IDP page and residential jurisdiction guidance | Maharashtra Transport Department |
| Vehicle categories | The official Form 4A on Parivahan |
| Standard booklet and QR code | MoRTH announcement through the Press Information Bureau, August 2022 |
| Driving rights abroad | The destination country’s transport authority, for example GOV.UK for Great Britain |
| Portal | Sarathi, Parivahan |
Reviewed on 4 November 2026. Fees and checklists on official pages can differ, so confirm the amount and the requirements on Sarathi when you apply.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with any government body.
