International driving permits in Germany: applying, cost and limits
A hire car overseas, a road trip beyond Europe: many countries want a booklet translation alongside your German licence. The licence office issues it, often on the same day.
The international driving permit (Internationaler Führerschein) is issued by the licensing authority for your home address. Under section 25a of the driving licence ordinance (FeV) you receive it on request if you are 18 or over and present an EU licence in a model used from 1 January 1999 onwards, meaning a card licence, or a foreign licence valid in Germany. The application includes a biometric passport photo and the licence. If you still have a paper licence, you must exchange it first. Under the road traffic fee schedule (GebOSt), last amended by Art. 6 of the Ordinance of 12 August 2026, the fee lies between €11.20 and €15.30; Berlin quotes €15.00. There are two models, under the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention; which one a country requires depends on the convention it has joined. The permit is valid only together with your national licence and for a limited time; the expiry date is in the booklet. You do not need one within the EU.
What does an international driving permit cost?
Fees together
€11.20 – €15.30
| Per permit (GebOSt no. 207) | €11.20 – €15.30 |
| With photos | €11.20 – €15.30 |
You need a card licence first: exchange an old paper licence beforehand.
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Who can get one
The conditions are short: being of age, a suitable licence and a passport photo. Whether you can apply straight away depends mainly on the licence you hold. The table shows the most common cases.
| Your licence | International permit straight away? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Paper licence (grey or pink) | no | exchange it for a card first |
| Card issued 2002 – 2004 | yes | plan for the exchange by 19 January 2027 |
| Card issued from 19 January 2013 | yes | check the expiry date in field 4b |
| Foreign licence valid in Germany | yes | proof under section 29 FeV |
| Under 18 | no | section 25a requires the holder to be 18 |
The paper licence is not a model from 1 January 1999 onwards and so does not qualify. If you still have one, you need the exchange anyway, and its deadline has passed for almost every age group. The exchange deadlines page shows the date for your card. Plan both together: many offices issue the international permit when you collect the new card.
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| International driving permit, GebOSt | €11.20 – €15.30 |
| Berlin (retrieved 21 October 2026) | €15.00 |
| Biometric passport photo | photographer’s price |
| Needed first: exchanging a paper licence | €26.50 |
The fee schedule sets a range within which each office fixes its amount. If you apply for the whole family, each driver pays separately; the calculator below the summary adds it up.
What does an international driving permit cost?
Fees together
€11.20 – €15.30
| Per permit (GebOSt no. 207) | €11.20 – €15.30 |
| With photos | €11.20 – €15.30 |
You need a card licence first: exchange an old paper licence beforehand.
The two models
Germany issues international permits under two conventions. The older one, the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, is still required by countries that have not joined the newer 1968 Vienna Convention. Under section 25a the office issues the Vienna model only if your ordinary residence is in Germany or in a country that is not a party to that convention. Say where you are travelling when you apply; the office then picks the right booklet, or issues both if the trip covers several countries.
Applying step by step
First, find the licence office for your main residence; the page on the road traffic office explains what it is called. Second, book an appointment or check whether the office serves walk-ins. Third, bring your ID card or passport, card licence and a biometric photo. Fourth, pay the fee and take the booklet; in many places it takes a few minutes. Before peak travel seasons appointments get scarce, so sort it out a few weeks ahead.
On the road: what it does and does not do
The international permit translates your licence into several languages and an internationally familiar format. It does not replace the national licence, which must be with you on every trip. It changes nothing about the traffic rules of the country you visit, hire companies’ minimum ages or deposits. And it is valid only as long as the date in the booklet and your national licence allow. If your card expires soon or its exchange is due, deal with that first.
Common mistakes
First, going to the office with a paper licence and being turned away. Second, the wrong model for the destination. Third, leaving the national licence at home in the belief that the booklet is enough. Fourth, reusing an old booklet whose date has passed. Fifth, buying an “international driving document” from a private provider; that is not an official international driving permit and authorities abroad do not recognise it. The official one is only available from the licensing authority.