How to Get an International Driving Permit in Taiwan: Where to Apply, What to Bring, and Whether It Works in Japan, Korea and Thailand

How to Get an International Driving Permit in Taiwan: Where to Apply, What to Bring, and Whether It Works in Japan, Korea and Thailand

If you live in Taiwan and hold a Taiwan driving licence, you can get a Taiwan-issued International Driving Permit (IDP, 國際駕照) before a road trip abroad. You apply in person at a motor vehicles office — but an IDP is not a passport to drive everywhere. For Japan, the most popular self-drive destination from Taiwan, the country table provided by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs marks Taiwan's IDP as "No" and a Taiwan licence with a Japanese translation as usable. This guide summarises public information from the Motor Vehicles Office portal (監理服務網), the Highway Bureau (公路局) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: where to apply, what to bring, fees and validity, and how common destinations are marked in the table. Rules change, so always check the latest official notices.

Passport, Taiwan licence and IDP (or Japanese translation) travel together (Unsplash, illustrative)

Where to apply: a motor vehicles office, over the counter

Taiwan IDPs are issued over the counter at Highway Bureau motor vehicles offices and stations; an MVDIS newsletter says any office nationwide can handle it. Find the nearest one on the MVDIS office locator (Chinese). The portal also has a live counter-queue checker (窗口等待人數查詢) if you want to avoid a crowd.

• Online? The MVDIS online services do not currently list the IDP (checked 13 November 2026); the Japanese licence translation can be requested online.
• Waiting time, or sending someone else? Practice can vary between offices — call the office you plan to visit and ask before you go.

Documents checklist

From the "申請國際駕照" entry on the MVDIS required-documents lookup (Chinese):

Tip: the office checks your passport so that the name on the IDP matches it. If you have renewed your passport or changed the spelling of your name, take the current passport with you.

How long is it valid? Never beyond your Taiwan licence

MVDIS notes that a Taiwan IDP is valid for up to three years and not beyond the expiry date of your Taiwan licence (check the latest official notice from the motor vehicles office). Check the expiry date printed on your Taiwan licence first:

• Licence valid for a long time: go by the expiry date printed on the IDP when it is issued.
• Licence about to expire, or already expired: the IDP will not outlast it, so renew your Taiwan licence at the office first, then apply for the IDP.
• Carry both: the IDP is used together with a valid Taiwan licence (Ministry of Transportation 168 road-safety portal).

One more point for foreign residents: a Taiwan IDP is tied to your Taiwan licence. If you also hold a licence from your home country, the rules for that licence (and any IDP issued by your home country) are separate.

How the MOFA table marks Taiwan's IDP by country

A Taiwan IDP is not recognised everywhere. The Highway Bureau publishes a country table provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chinese) on how other countries treat Taiwan's international and domestic licences. Below is how it marks popular destinations in Asia, for short visits (long-term residence and licence exchange are covered separately in the table):

Countries set further requirements such as length of stay and registration — see the original table and the destination's authorities.

Japan: table marks the IDP "No" and licence plus translation as usable

In the MOFA table, Japan is marked "No" for Taiwan's IDP and "Yes" for a Taiwan licence with a Japanese translation. Travellers from Taiwan therefore usually prepare their Taiwan licence plus a Japanese translation, along with a passport — check with Japanese authorities and your rental company before you go. The translation can be obtained at a motor vehicles office or applied for online on MVDIS and mailed to you. How to apply, how long it lasts and what to do if you forget it are covered in our complete guide to renting a car in Japan.

Foreign residents: the Japan arrangement is based on your Taiwan-issued licence. If your situation is unusual (for example, you also hold a licence from another country), confirm with your rental company before you travel.

A country lane in Yufuin, Kyushu, within reach of Fukuoka Airport (Unsplash, location tagged by the photographer, illustrative)

South Korea: table marks the IDP as usable

The MOFA table marks South Korea "Yes" for Taiwan's IDP, and MOFA has published a press release on the Taiwan–Korea memorandum on mutual recognition of international driving permits. That announcement is framed for Taiwanese nationals, so foreign residents should confirm with the Korean side. Check the latest table, Korean authorities and your rental company before you go; Korean rental companies differ in what they accept from foreign customers.

A mountain highway in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province (Unsplash, location tagged by the photographer, illustrative)

Thailand: table marks the IDP as usable

The MOFA table marks Thailand "Yes" for Taiwan's IDP; check the latest table, Thai authorities and your rental company before you go. Also note that Thailand drives on the left with the steering wheel on the right — the opposite of Taiwan (see our list of left- and right-hand traffic countries) — so give yourself time to adjust before tackling city traffic.

The winding road up Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai (Unsplash, location tagged by the photographer, illustrative)

What to bring to the rental counter

Two common slip-ups: leaving the Taiwan licence at home because "I have the IDP", and taking only an IDP to Japan without the translation. Keep them all in one document wallet.

FAQ

Q1. My Taiwan licence expires soon. Can I still get an IDP?

MVDIS notes that the IDP will not run past your Taiwan licence's expiry date (check the latest official notice from the motor vehicles office). If your licence expires during your trip, or has already expired, renew it at the office first and then apply for the IDP.

Q2. How long is a Taiwan IDP valid?

MVDIS lists up to three years, not beyond your Taiwan licence's expiry date (check the latest official notice from the motor vehicles office); go by the date printed on the permit. How long each country lets you drive on an IDP is set by local authorities.

Q3. Can I apply online?

The MVDIS online services do not currently list the IDP (checked 13 November 2026); ask a motor vehicles office about other ways to apply. The Japanese licence translation can be requested online.

Q4. I only have a scooter licence, or I want someone else to apply for me. What should I do?

Please check both with a motor vehicles office (see the MVDIS office locator). Whether you can ride a scooter abroad depends on local authorities and the rental company.

Q5. Can I drive in Japan with just an IDP?

The MOFA table marks Japan "No" for Taiwan's IDP and "Yes" for a Taiwan licence with a Japanese translation. Travellers usually bring their Taiwan licence, the translation and a passport — confirm with Japanese authorities and your rental company. See our Japan car rental guide.

Q6. Friends are visiting Taiwan and want to drive here. Is it the same process?

No — that is the opposite direction, and it depends on their home country. Send them our guide to driving in Taiwan with an IDP.