Many drivers, faced with the need to rent a car abroad, are surprised to discover that domestic licenses are not suitable for this purpose. Not many people know what an international driving license looks like. In Russia, a document of a completely different type is valid, and, unfortunately, not all countries accept it as confirmation of your driving skills. Those who like to travel in comfort will need to get extra crusts. What kind of document is this, where to get it and many other nuances we will clarify further in the article.
What does an international driver's license look like in Russia?
Why do you need an international driver's license and what kind of document is it?
The driver can prove his right to drive a car by presenting the appropriate certificate. In our country, it is issued by a structure such as the traffic police. Every citizen who has passed the following exams can immediately obtain a Russian driver's license:
- theoretical test on knowledge of traffic rules;
- an exam at a race track, proving that a novice driver can perform such basic actions as starting to drive uphill, parallel parking, driving along a complex trajectory, etc.
Personal transport has become commonplace for those who want independence when moving. Losing your driver's license creates a lot of inconvenience. And driving without them is risky. This threatens serious problems with the law. We will tell you in detail about how to restore lost rights in a special article.
Today there are two main types of driver's licenses:
- national;
- international.
Domestic licenses are not suitable for renting a car abroad; instead, you need to obtain a document in a different format containing information about the driver in several foreign languages
According to the rules in force in this area, in Russia you can move on the roadway on the basis of a national type certificate. It not only certifies that you have knowledge in the required area, but also confirms that you have successfully completed training at a driving school and passed both internal and state exams.
However, in some cases, having a national ID is not enough to travel outside our country. In these cases, you will need to obtain an international license.
In fact, an international license is an official document that is a translation of your driver's license, since it contains the following data:
- Driver's full name;
- date of issue of the document and duration of its validity;
- name of the authority that issued the issuance;
- series and document number;
- categories of vehicles that, according to the law, you have the right to drive
Since the rules under which driver training is carried out in our country and in other countries are significantly different, there was a need to create a single certificate that could remain valid throughout the world.
International rights do not give the right to travel on Russian roads; only national ones are suitable for this.
What does an international driving license look like?
You can see the international driver's license in the photo presented in this section of the article. They are a book printed on A6 format, which, in addition to data in Russian, also contains translations into the following seven languages:
- German;
- French;
- Chinese;
- Japanese;
- Spanish;
- Portuguese;
- Arab.
This international license cannot be called an independent document, since it is valid only if you have a domestic driver’s license.
In addition, in Russia it is in principle prohibited to use this paper separately. For legal travel on domestic roads, only a national license is suitable.
International driving licenses differ from national ones in appearance, but their content is one hundred percent the same.
Obtaining rights at the MFC
Starting from February 1, 2021, a new service has appeared at the Multifunctional Center (MFC). It is now possible to issue an international driver's license if you have lost it, the document has expired or the driver's information has changed.
The list of documents required for registration remains the same. But you can take a photograph for a document right on the spot, directly in the MFC itself, if, of course, the center is equipped accordingly.
The period for providing the service is from 3 to 5 days, which are necessary for the traffic police to verify your application and the attached package of documents.
It should be noted that the initial acquisition of a driver's license is possible only at traffic police departments.
Why get an international license?
There is only one reason for obtaining an international license - unhindered travel while driving a car on foreign roads. However, considering the nuances of the emergence of such a need in more detail, we can identify several grounds for obtaining rights.
Table 1. Reasons for obtaining an international driving license
| Cause | Description |
| Car rental | Most often, the need to obtain a license arises in cases where you plan to go on a trip and rent a car locally for greater mobility. With Russian rights this cannot be done almost anywhere, but with international rights – anywhere. |
| Simplification of bureaucratic procedures | In addition, having an international license deprives you of the need to prove every time that you know how to drive and know the rules of the road when arriving in a new state. It is necessary to prove the required competencies, for example, if you often go on business trips, or go abroad for permanent residence. |
The difference between international rights and domestic identification also lies in the rules for obtaining the required papers. So, in order to obtain a driver’s license valid all over the world, there is no need to take repeated exams, however, its validity period will be much shorter than that of a domestic license.
Obtaining an international driving license is a rational solution for those who want to travel in comfort, or those who often go on business trips abroad. Those who are planning to go to another country for permanent residence will also need these rights.
Is it necessary to obtain an IDP in 2021?
Since 2011, residents of our country have received national rights in a new format, in the form of a card that is well protected from damage. It contains an exhaustive amount of information, which, upon verification, will be sufficient for representatives of foreign transport services.
Therefore, today the need for obtaining international rights has actually disappeared, but not completely, since practice shows that today various misunderstandings still arise in many countries.
Therefore, when answering the question regarding the need to obtain international rights for traveling abroad, you need to keep in mind which country you are traveling to, since each foreign country has different requirements on this issue.
- Thus, countries that have signed the relevant Geneva Convention require the presentation of not only international, but also national rights in order to be able to drive a car on roads running on their territory.
- Countries party to the Vienna Convention will calmly provide you with transport based on the presentation of national rights issued directly in the country at the place of citizenship.
- Those states that have not taken any of the agreements described above into account can allow you to drive a car only on the basis of a license obtained in their country.
Despite the fact that the format of national rights has been somewhat updated, they are still not enough for unimpeded movement on the roads of most countries
How to get an IDP
You can get an international driving license in Russia at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. Not necessarily at the place of registration; the document can also be drawn up at the location.
We would like to remind you that in all cases, by the time you receive an international license, you must already have a national one. Only then does the preparation of the paper we are interested in become possible.
In addition, you can order an international driver's license through:
- official electronic resource of the traffic police;
- website "Public Services";
- multifunctional
Another method, which is rarely used, is to submit an application to the International Automobile Alliance, which is recognized by countries around the world. She is engaged in the translation of driver's licenses, so if there is a certified intermediary in your city, you can ask him to help you obtain the desired document.
You can obtain an IDP remotely or through a personal visit to the traffic police or MFC
The procedure for obtaining international rights will be as follows:
- you prepare the necessary documents;
- choose the method of obtaining rights;
- fill out an application.
What documents are needed to obtain an IDP?
Today, to obtain an IDP you do not need:
- retake exams;
- undergo a medical examination.
Therefore, all you need to become an “international driver” is:
- national ID;
- passport;
- several photographs in 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters format.
Prepare your passport and driver's license
How to obtain international rights of the Russian Federation in 2021
The driver has the right to choose which department is best to contact with such a request.
Responsible authorities should not refuse extradition. Moreover, this is not affected by either the place of registration or the region where the application was submitted. The main thing to remember is that not every department issues an international certificate. Therefore, it is first recommended to find out which nearest branch provides this service. There is a misconception that holders of international rights are exempt from presenting a national document. But that's not true. A state ID must be required. Its absence is a violation. In this case, the driver faces administrative penalties for driving without a license. When traveling abroad, an international document can replace a passport, and therefore can be used in various legal transactions.
Having arrived in another country, the driver should contact the authorized authorities. They must certify the translation of the document into the language of the given state. If a driver is stopped by a traffic police inspector on the territory of the Russian Federation, there is no need to present an international license. If this is the only document the driver has, he faces a fine. From this we can conclude that every driver must carry a state license with him, both in the Russian Federation and abroad.
Required documents to obtain an international driving license
To obtain an international license, you will need to collect the following documents:
- passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- international passport;
- application for an international document;
- state driver's license;
- photo;
- a receipt confirming payment of the state duty.
You need to understand that responsible employees have the right not to accept documents for various reasons. For example, many people make statements incorrectly. It happens that some document is simply missing, or it has expired. That is why, before visiting the branch, you should carefully check all the collected documents to make sure that the application is completed correctly. Otherwise, you risk wasting your time.
Do I need to take exams when obtaining an IDP?
International rights can only be obtained by a citizen who already has state rights.
In fact, this driver has already confirmed his knowledge of the rules of the road and the presence of driving skills. In addition, such a certificate contains all important information about the driver and the car, meeting international requirements. Thus, upon obtaining such a license, drivers are exempt from having to pass any exams. The same can be said about a medical certificate. In this case, there is also no need to receive it. ( Video : “International Driving License. How, Where, for how much to get?”)
Deadlines for registration and issuance of an IDP
Here, a lot depends on which method was chosen to obtain an international document. For example, if you contact the nearest traffic police department, there is a possibility that you will be able to get your license the very next day. Although it is possible that if this department is overloaded with such applications, the period for producing the document may be extended.
As for the State Services portal and the MFC, you will have to wait a little. But practice shows that drivers are willing to wait, since when ordering a document on the State Services portal, there is a discount on the state duty. In total, the procedure takes about three days. This is explained by the fact that the multifunctional center plays the role of a kind of intermediary. Receiving documents from the driver, the center employee transfers them to the traffic police. After the document is produced, it is returned to the MFC, where the applicant receives it.
Validity period of an international driver's license
The standard period during which an international instrument remains in force is three years.
However, there are some nuances here. Thus, the law does not allow an international document to be in force longer than domestic rights. Essentially, national rights are considered the basis for the issuance of an international document. It is logical to assume that if internal rights cease to apply, the international document will also lose its force. As a rule, a Russian ID is valid for ten years. This means that during this period you will have to apply for an IDP three times. In any case, the state ID must be valid for more than three years. If at the time of issue of the document the remaining validity of state rights is two years, then international ones will also be valid for two years.
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How long does the IDP last?
The validity period of international rights is three years from the date of their receipt. However, it should be noted that according to the rules, they cannot be valid longer than the national license.
It turns out that if you issued an IDP for three years, and the domestic certificate ceases to be valid next year, along with it the international certificate will become invalid.
You can renew your IDP only after your domestic driver’s license is reissued. At the same time, you again will not need to collect documents according to any specific list; all the same ones that we announced earlier will be enough.
The validity period of international rights is three years from the date of their receipt
Which countries can you visit with international rights?
In 2021, the international certificate is valid in 69 countries that have signed the Vienna Convention.
This list includes:
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It is not possible to list all the countries that have signed the agreement. The list is too long.
If you decide to cross the borders of any foreign state with international rights, you should study the information on the official website of the consulate in advance. This will avoid misunderstandings on the road.
