Driver's License; Applying for an International Driver's License
For many countries outside the European Union, you'll need an international driver's license.
Status: 09.07.2026. Link zum BayernPortal
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Within the European Union, you may generally drive with your German driver’s license. However, for many other countries, you’ll need an international driver’s license in addition to your national driver’s license.
There are two types of international driver’s licenses:
- International driver’s license under the Convention on Road Traffic of November 8, 1968 (known as the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic; see § 25b(3) in conjunction with Annex 8d of the Driver’s License Regulation [FeV]). Validity period: 3 years, unless a national driver’s license class has a shorter validity period.
- International driver’s license under the International Convention on Motor Vehicle Traffic of April 24, 1926 (known as the Paris Convention on Motor Vehicle Traffic; see § 25b(2) in conjunction with Annex 8c of the Driver’s License Regulation [FeV]). Validity period: 1 year, unless a national driver’s license class has a shorter validity period.
These are generally valid (only) in the contracting states of the respective agreement. It is therefore advisable to check with your tour operator or the diplomatic mission of the respective country regarding the necessity of an international driver’s license, or to clarify which type is required.
Please note that an international driver’s license can only be issued if, as the holder of a German driver’s license, you possess an EU card-style driver’s license (issued on or after January 1, 1999). Holders of a German driver’s license issued before January 1, 1999, must exchange their German driver’s license for an EU card-style driver’s license when applying for an international driver’s license.
- Minimum age: 18 years
- An EU or EEA driver’s license issued in accordance with a model in use as of January 1, 1999 (card-style license), or proof of a foreign driver’s license in accordance with § 29 FeV
- For an international driver’s license under the Vienna Convention: permanent residence in Germany (for at least 185 days per year) or residence in a country that is not a party to this Convention.
You can apply for an international driver's license at your local driver's license office (= district administrative office).
- Please check with the appropriate driver's license authority; generally, the following documents are required:
- valid ID card or passport
- a recent biometric photograph (front view)
- valid (EU-format) driver's license
- Transcript from the issuing authority's index cards
If you do not yet have an EU driver’s license but instead have an old driver’s license (gray/pink) that was not issued in Erlangen, we also need a copy of your driver’s license record from the issuing authority. Please request this from the Citizens’ Office before submitting your application.
Issuance of an international driver's license: approx. 15 euros
Additional costs may apply for the issuance of an EU card driver’s license
Driver's License System
You can handle driver’s license matters at the Citizen Services office—either online or in person on the ground floor of City Hall. For example, you can apply for all standard driver’s licenses or exchange your old driver’s license, etc.
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Öffnungszeiten
Phone Hours:
Monday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.