Getting an international driving license in Kuwait has to be one of the easiest things to do. It’s a very simple 15 minute process. There is more than one place in Kuwait to get this done but I went to an office that was located in Kuwait City, in the same building as Centro Electronics on the first floor. It’s on the corner right behind Souk Al Kabeer and the office is called Gulf Automobile Association.
All you need is a photocopy of your current Kuwaiti driving license (back and front), your civil ID copy (back and front), your passport copy (photo+name page). You also need two photos (3×6 size) and KD10. The international driving license costs KD8 and they charge you KD2 as a service fee.
Once you pass by the GAA office you give them the papers, they fill out a form and then ask you to wait a few minutes for them to type it up. Ten minutes later you leave with an international driving license. Pretty sweet. They’re open from 8:30AM to 1PM and then from 4:30PM to 8PM. For directions on how to get there, here is the [Map]
68 replies on “How to get an international driving license”
Used to be a great way of making a fake ID when in college. Just bribe the guy to change your date of birth to a year or two earlier!
it’s good …. but why just one year ?
Thanks a lot for this information. I wanted to get an international licence since a long long time.. Was just too lazy to find out the procedure.
I asked about the 1 year as well, told me is not up to them thats the rule that has been set internationally.
do you have to be 21 or can you take at age 18?
*take it
Not sure it doesn’t say but most car rental companies will only rent to 21 and up.
You can also get an international DL from KT which is opposite Safat Alghanim on the 4th ring road. I have been getting mine done there for the past 5 years. No trouble at all and the people are quite polite and friendly.
I have been using my Kuwaiti Driver’s license when I travel with no problems at all. Its somehow considered international by itself. I used to do mine in KT but now I dont, nor my father or anyone I know. We used it in some countries in Europe and the States. Why did you get one anyways! Use your current one! Specially if it has your picture and info in English 😉
That is REALLY cheap. In Lebanon it costs $100!
Is this license is issued for expats ..?
Mark, your website has been blocked by kems ( zajil ). I am using a proxy to open ur site and to contact you now.. Kindly check and resolve this matter
Mark: How do we get a international motorcycle license?
ross: exact same procedure
I stopped getting International driving licenses since Kuwait started to issue one with english info , also it used to cost about 2 KD , now if you look at the one you just got it will tell you that your Kuwaiti DL is good according to some 1954 or what ever agreement , the IDL is just a translation to your original DL .
Yeah its just a translation but i got it just in case the rental companies asks for it. Better to have it then to have my trip ruined because i didnt have it.
Mark do you have the phone number of the place?
22424745 or 22412158
thanks!
The Kuwaiti driver’s license works fine in Europe, rentals and all.
Strange I got mine done for 3 years and they can do it for 5 years if i recall correctly at the place you do the triptic infront of Safat al Ghanim
mine doesnt expire till the end of 2011 and i did it in July 2009, which i found great since most countries do it for only 1 year. while its more expensive, its much more practical!!
Thanks,
Not needed anymore, the Kuwait Drivers license work fine in USA, rentals and all
sweet man !! i was just look for a place to get an int’l drivers licence for my trip to Tanzania & Kenya. Dude u r a life saver.
Do they accept Kuwait Driving license in the GCC- for an expat with kuwait residence and on visit visa to these countries? I have driven in UAE etc. with the Kuwait license but am not sure whether it is actually legal. Should I get an International Driving License?
and they still don’t acknowledge that in sweet egypt!
am moving to Qatar and have UK and Kuwaiti licences, but have been told that I can only drive for a couple of weeks once I arrive
Does anyone know if the International Licence bypasses this problem?
There is one travel agenecy in Al-Dowaliya complex behind Kuwait airways building that issues the same international license as well on the ground floor
How do i get one of these in Saudi Arabia?
Hey Mark,
I’ve had a wee pickle earlier this evening, but since thy blog is read all the way back in Europe, I was able to divert to this post with a suggestion-‘If you need to know about GAA opening hours, check Mark’s blog’-as I was told 🙂 Cheers for the post. Bring on the empire…Since we park in the same ‘parking garage’, I have had the chance the check out the lifted FJ, wicked job mate!!!
Hey Guys..
I just got my International Driving Permit from KT 2 days back .I had asked them if this was valid in US and they said yes. The problem is that in the list of countries mentioned under the ‘States Party to the convention of Road traffic’ US is not mentioned.
Can anyone advice me on how to get a driving license for US. I have a valid kuwait driving license.
yes In G.A.A which is situated in kuwait city just near kuwait liberation tower opposite municipality builfing Al-luhaib building no.2 ground floor samsung (centro) electronic and G.A.A. at First floor.In this International Driving Permit US is mentioned. here in G.A.A requires from customers 2 photos and Kuwait Driving License and passport copy just for English name only. thanks
Hello Mark
thanks for posting this , it was extremely helpful … but the address is kinda not accurate on google map and it took me 30min to get there but as you said , they were fast , polite and helpful … thanks again for the post truly appreciate it .
Have a nice day
Hi Mark,
Many thanks for the useful info. One of my Indian friend who is working in Kuwait is currently in South Africa on a business trip & he wanted me to apply for an International DL for him in KT Kuwait. Is it possible for me to apply IDL for him in Kuwait ?
Play it safe (below are EU law) read part two
At the time of rental, the driver must present a valid national driver’s licence which has been held for at least 1 year. An International Driver’s Permit (IDP) is required if your national driver’s licence is not in Roman script.
An International Driver’s Permit (IDP) is also mandatory by law for non-European Union renters except for customers from the following countries who can rent with their national driver’s licence and passport: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and United States.
Please note that, if stopped by the Police while driving without an IDP, you might incur into a fine and the vehicle may be confiscated for 3 months. In this case, Hertz reserves the right to charge you the amount of the non-waivable excess applicable for the vehicle group.
hi mark,
Is IDL needed to drive in GCC (dubai) for a non kuwaiti with a valid kuwait driving license.
I use my kuwaiti license to drive in dubai.
u r sure right that i can drive with kuwait license in dubai as im a non kuwaiti and the police is very strict in dubai, my license is new as it is below one year.
will i get car for rent also with the kuwait license. so people say need international license for the rental companies
FYI – The law in Dubai is that for non GCC nationals an International Drivers License is a requirement for car rental. Expats resident in GCC countries must have this for insurance to be valid and the rental legal.
With the Kuwaiti license you can drive anywhere within the GCC. You don’t need an international license. And yes I’ve rented cars before 🙂
Not true anymore …
What You Need To Hire a Car in Dubai
Residents of the United Arab Emirates must present a valid national driver’s licence which has been held for at least one year.
Customers with the following national driver’s licence can drive in the United Arab Emirates without an International Driving Permit (IDP):
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece*, Ireland, Italy, Japan*, Korea*, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey* and United Stated of America.
* Please note that customers from Greece, Japan, Korea and Turkey must present a valid translation of their licences approved by the Council or Embassy.
All other customers must present a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) together with their national driver’s licence.
In the event that no IDP is available, or if an IDP is available but no national driver’s licence, you will not be able to rent a vehicle.
Where does it say that the Kuwaiti GCC valid license is no longer allowed?
I drove in UAE in Dubai with a rented car in 2018 … only with my Kuwaiti driving license…
It is written clearly on the license (GCC, with a GCC logo as well)…
Hi Mark
I have an American driver’s license. I’ll be visiting Kuwait in 6 months. I am 19. I do not have an IDP or International Driver’s license.
Can I drive in Kuwait legally with only my American DL? Or do I need to apply for an IDP?
No idea, u might be able to drive with your American license if you’re here on a visit visa.
At fahaheel its you can get international license from Kuwait International Automotive Club, its in the Red Tag building near to nasser sports.
show your kuwait driving license and a photo of any color. they will issue in 5 minutes. for one year its 10 kd.
Thanks for the info. As mentioned, it is located at RED TAG building, 3rd Floor, Office No.9. I went there today at 4pm, but they start to open from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm for afternoon shift. For morning shift, they open till 12:30 pm.
For the price: 1 year 10KD, 2 years 18KD, 3 years 24KD. So I go for 3 years and it is finished in 5 minutes. Great..!!!
Hi Mark,
I am filipino and i have Kuwait Driving license but dont have Philippine Driving license. Can i use Kuwait license in 1 month of my vacation in Philippines or do i have to apply for international driving permit? Thanks in advance.
Hi mark,
Will I get one international license for motorcycle and car because m carryin two different kuwait license one for car and other for bike. By jus paying 10 kd will I cover both for car and bike or has to be two different international license. Pls advise..
Hi everyone. Does anyone has an official notice or website or information concerning driving with international license? All these info are diverted from renting companies I would like to relate formal information from Kuwait government for my colleague’s concern.
Second I am aware that Kuwait is actually not in the list of Geneva convention. Does this mean actually Kuwait does not accept driving with international license?
Hello as far as I know kuwait license is no more valid in UK.instead of that I used my Indian driving license.
Quite interesting n should b helpful some day.
Thnx all for your queries n replies. Special Thnx to mark for having shared all that he knew.:-)
Can I drive a car / motocycle in Japan with an International Driving Licence issed in Kuwait ?
I have recently shifted to Saudi, My iqama processing is complete, I came to know that to apply for Saudi driving license based on Kuwaiti DL, I need to surrender Kuwaiti DL.
Before Saudi I was working in Kuwait, I still have my Kuwaiti Residence valid, I have a car in Kuwait which I want to bring (on drive) to Saudi since I will be staying most of my times in Saudi. If I will surrender Kuwaiti DL then I may not be able to drive in Kuwait. Pl. advise how I can bring my car from kwt to Saudi since I don’t have Saudi license yet with me. Should I apply of an international license in Kuwait based on Kuwaiti license and will it work in Saudi since I have Saudi Iqama (I am not on visit visa here in Saudi)
Pl. guide
Mark, all of this is good news, IF you have a civil id. I have a kuwait drivers license, but no civil id (withdrawn 3 years ago as the min. says I’m too old to teach – even though there are scores of people older than I am doing the same job… my employers send me out of the country every 3 months to re-new my visit visa). Do I have any options re. getting an international license here, or do I have to go back to my home country? BTW, I’ve used my Kuwait license for years abroad with no trouble whatsoever.
Hi Mark
Do you know if I can use my kuwaiti licence in Lebanon?
yup
Hi
I am planning to visit Dubai in December and have a valid Kuwaiti driving license. Can i drive in Dubai while on visit using the Kuwaiti driving license and rent a vehicle as well?
Yes
Hi Mark,
Do you know the Ramadan timings of KT and GAA?
Hi! Does anyone if they are open on thursday evening? I’m calling that number , but no one is answering. Thanks!
Is the process still this easy? I am leaving on the 19th and just realized I need one
Hi,
Does anyone have any idea what are the Ramadan timings for the kt motor club
Ramadan timings: 0930 – 1315 hrs and 2030 – 2330 hrs
Hi guys,
Nice to be a part of the forum. I just wanted to ask if it’s possible to drive here in Kuwait on an Indian driving license when someone arrives on a visit visa? I hear that it is just a translation of a license. Can we get it translated here itself?
Being an Indian national can I get international Driving licence in Kuwait while holding visit visa
and Indian driving licence. Kuwait Driv licence has expired.
Why it says affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention and Kuwait
is not affiliated ?!
They are misleading people.
My kuwait license 5 months validity can i get idp license or i need one year validity