Using a Foreign Driver’s License | Easy to Find, Practical Law

You may drive in Korea with an international driving permit or a mutually recognized foreign driver’s license.

Validity of international driving permits and mutually recognized foreign driver’s licenses

- If you enter the Republic of Korea with a valid international driving permit or a mutually recognized foreign driver’s license, you may drive motor vehicles [passenger cars, vans, trucks, special vehicles, two-wheeled motorcycles over 125 cc, and mopeds (motor-driven cycles of 125 cc or less, or motorized bicycles under 50 cc)] for one year from the date of entry (former part of Article 96(1) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

· Driving a vehicle without holding a valid Korean driver’s license (including suspended licenses), or without a valid international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license (including restricted or expired licenses), is punishable by up to 1 year of imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 3,000,000 (Subparagraph 1 of Article 152 of 「Road Traffic Act」).

Q. What is an “international driving permit”?

A. An “international driving permit” refers to a license issued by a competent foreign authority under any of the following conventions, treaties, or agreements (former part and Subparagraphs 1 to 3 of Article 96(1) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

1. The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic;

2. The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic;

3. A bilateral or multilateral agreement recognizing international driving permits between Korea and a foreign country.

※ International driving permits are available for issuance by driving license authorities in your home country.

Q. What is a “mutually recognized foreign driver’s license”?

A. A “mutually recognized foreign driver’s license” is a license issued by a competent authority in a foreign country under a treaty, agreement, or arrangement in which both Korea and the foreign country recognize each other’s driver’s licenses (former part and Subparagraph 4 of Article 96(1) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

※ International driving permits are recognized in Korea (countries party to the Geneva Convention).

Category	103 countries
Asia–Pacific (19)	Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Laos, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Australia, India, Japan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Philippines, [Hong Kong, Macao]
Americas (15)	Guatemala, Dominican Republic, United States, Barbados, Venezuela, Argentina, Haiti, Ecuador, Jamaica, Chile, Canada, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay, Peru
Europe (38)	Vatican, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Malta, Montenegro, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, Albania, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Georgia, Czechia, Croatia, Türkiye, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary, Estonia
Middle East & Africa (31)	Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Niger, Lebanon, Lesotho, Rwanda, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Syria, Sierra Leone, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Jordan, Uganda, Israel, Egypt, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Republic of the Congo, Togo, Tunisia
- Countries/regions with international driving permit recognition agreements: Taiwan, Vietnam Source: MOFA website (www.0404.go.kr)

※ Countries/Regions with Mutual License Recognition

Region	Countries/Regions
Asia (25)	New Zealand, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Macao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Bhutan, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Uzbekistan, India (Uttarakhand, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra), Japan, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, Thailand, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Fiji, Philippines, Hong Kong
Americas (22)	Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Commonwealth of Dominica, Mexico (Nuevo León), Brazil, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Haiti, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Uruguay, Chile, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan), Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, United States (Maryland, Virginia, Washington, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, Oregon, Michigan, Idaho, Alabama, West Virginia, Iowa, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Arizona, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, Utah, Kansas, Nevada)
Europe (36)	Greece, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Serbia, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Azerbaijan, Albania, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Georgia, Czechia, Croatia, Türkiye, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary
Middle East & Africa (50)	Ghana, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Niger, Liberia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Rwanda, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Bahrain, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Saudi Arabia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Angola, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Uganda, Iraq (Erbil), Iran, Israel, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Chad, Cameroon, Qatar, Côte d’Ivoire, Kuwait, Tunisia
- Regular: Mutual Recognition Countries/Regions - * : Bilateral Treaty or Agreement (26 countries/regions) - Oregon, Idaho, Utah: Written test required Source: MOFA website (www.0404.go.kr)

Types of vehicles permitted with an international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license

- Holders of international driving permits or mutually recognized foreign driver’s licenses may only drive the vehicle types specified on their license (latter part of Article 96(1) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

- However, commercial vehicles regulated by 「Passenger Transport Service Act」 or 「Freight Transport Service Act」 may not be driven (main sentence of Article 96(2) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

· However, rental vehicles under 「Passenger Transport Service Act」 may be driven (proviso to Article 96(2) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

Make sure to check for the circumstances where driving is restricted even with a valid international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license.

Restrictions on driving with an international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license

- The chief of the relevant metropolitan or provincial police agency may restrict a person from driving with an international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license for up to one year if any of the following apply (Article 97(1) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

· Where a person has not undergone a periodic aptitude test or has failed the aptitude test;

· Where a person causes a traffic accident by intention or negligence while driving;

· Where a person who holds Korean citizenship has their driver’s license canceled or suspended and the disqualification period has not yet expired;

· Where a person has violated 「Road Traffic Act」 or any related administrative orders or decisions.

- A person prohibited from driving must promptly surrender their international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license to the police chief of the relevant Metropolitan or Provincial Police Agency (Article 97(2) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

- The surrendered license will be returned if: (1) the prohibition period expires; or (2) the individual departs Korea during the prohibition period and requests its return (Article 97(3) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

※ Driving in Korea without a valid international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license (including expired or prohibited ones) constitutes unlicensed driving and is punishable by up to 1 year of imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 3,000,000 (Subparagraph 1 of Article 152 of 「Road Traffic Act」).

- Individuals disqualified under Korean licensing regulations may not drive in Korea using a foreign-issued license during the disqualification period (main sentence of Article 82(2) and Article 96(3) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

· However, those convicted of offenses below a fine or who received a suspended sentence, prosecutorial suspension, or juvenile protective disposition pursuant to Article 32 of 「Juvenile Act」 may still obtain a driver’s license (proviso to Article 82(2) of 「Road Traffic Act」).

Important notes for holders of international driving permits or mutually recognized foreign driver’s licenses

- While driving, license holders must carry their international driving permit or mutually recognized foreign driver’s license and present it upon request by a police officer (Article 92 of 「Road Traffic Act」).

· Failure to carry a valid license is punishable by a fine, detention, or minor penalty of up to KRW 200,000 (Subparagraph 1 of Article 156 of 「Road Traffic Act」). Also failure to comply with a police officer’s request to present the license or provide identifying information may result in a fine or detention of up to KRW 200,000 (Article 155 of「Road Traffic Act」).

You may exchange your foreign driver’s license for a Korean driver’s license.

Exchanging your foreign driver’s license for a Korean driver’s license

- Holders of a driver’s license issued by a foreign competent authority may apply for an exchange to a Korean driver’s license. Since required documents vary by applicant, prior confirmation is necessary [Road Traffic Authority website (www.safedriving.or.kr) Issuance of Driver’s License → Guide to the Issuance of Driver’s Licenses → Exchange of Foreign Driver’s Licenses].

Procedure

1. Review of submitted documents, including embassy verification

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2. Aptitude test (i.e., physical examination) and written test

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3. Issuance of Korean license

※ If any document is insufficient, the staff may request additional documents.

※ The written test is waived for license holders from countries with license recognition agreements.

Required Documents by Applicant
Country Whose Driver’s License Is Recognized + Foreigners / Foreign Nationals	- Original foreign driver’s license
	- Original passport: must show continuous travel records from departure to arrival
	- Original residence card (or overseas Korean resident card)
	- Three color photos taken within six months (3.5×4.5 cm)
	- Certificate from the embassy or Apostille authentication for the foreign license
	- Certificate of entry and exit records: from year of birth to present
	- Issuance fee: KRW 15,000 for mobile IC (English, Korean); KRW 10,000 for general (English, Korean)
Country Whose Driver’s License Is Recognized + Korean Nationals / Permanent Residents	- Original foreign driver’s license
	- Original passport: must show over 90 days of stay in the license-issuing country via immigration stamps
	- Original resident registration card (including ID card for overseas Koreans)
	- Three color photos taken within six months (3.5×4.5 cm)
	- Certificate from the embassy or Apostille authentication for the foreign license
	- Certificate of entry and exit records: from year of birth to present
	- Issuance fee: KRW 15,000 for mobile IC (English, Korean); KRW 10,000 for general (English, Korean)
Country Whose Driver’s License Is Not Recognized + Foreigners / Foreign Nationals	- Original foreign driver’s license - Original passport: must show continuous travel records from departure to arrival
	- Original residence card (or overseas Korean resident card)
	- Three color photos taken within six months (3.5×4.5 cm)
	- Certificate from the embassy or Apostille authentication for the foreign license
	- Certificate of entry and exit records: from year of birth to present
	- Written test fee: KRW 10,000
	- Issuance fee: KRW 15,000 for mobile IC (English, Korean); KRW 10,000 for general (English, Korean)
Country Whose Driver’s License Is Not Recognized + Korean Nationals / Permanent Residents	- Original foreign driver’s license
	- Original passport: must show continuous travel records from departure to arrival
	- Original resident registration card (including ID card for overseas Koreans)
	- Three color photos taken within six months (3.5×4.5 cm)
	- Certificate from the embassy or Apostille authentication for the foreign license
	- Certificate of entry and exit records: from year of birth to present
	- Written test fee: KRW 10,000
	- Issuance fee: KRW 15,000 for mobile IC (English, Korean); KRW 10,000 for general (English, Korean)

Application Guide

Where

All driver’s license examination offices nationwide

Applicant

In-person only

※ Proxy application is not allowed (except for those with an ID card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

- Those holding an ID card issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs

※ Holders of diplomatic (D), consular (C, H), or special (I, A, B) identification cards

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