International Driving Permit Issuance
Everything you need to know about International Driving Permits and car rentals abroad
According to Ministry of Transport guidelines, Israelis planning to rent a car abroad are required to present both their valid Israeli plastic driver's license and a valid International Driving Permit (IDP), in addition to the rental voucher, at the time of pick-up.
According to the Ministry of Transport's website, every Israeli license holder is required to obtain an international permit to drive abroad, as driving in foreign countries with only an Israeli license is not permitted. The International Driving Permit grants the right to drive in foreign countries according to the license categories held, and its validity is contingent upon being presented alongside a permanent, valid Israeli plastic license.
Quick Check: Are you ready to drive abroad?
Israeli Plastic License: You must present your permanent Israeli license alongside the international permit.
International Driving Permit: A paper permit must be issued at one of the authorized optical stations across the country.
Validity: Ensure both your Israeli and international licenses are valid for the entire duration of your stay abroad.
International Driving Permit: Is it mandatory, and what are the insurance implications?
Car rental companies abroad, as well as local law enforcement, may refuse to honor an Israeli driver's license if it is not presented with an international permit. Furthermore, in certain cases—such as an accident—insurance coverage may not be activated without a valid International Driving Permit being presented to the authorities and the rental company.
License Validity and Fast-Track Renewal: Can you drive abroad with a temporary license?
Since the International Driving Permit is only valid when accompanied by a permanent (plastic) driver's license, if you discover your Israeli license is about to expire, you must pay the renewal fee immediately.
A temporary (paper) license is not valid abroad, and the process for receiving a permanent license takes approximately two months from the time of renewal. If your flight is approaching and you need to receive your Israeli license quickly, we recommend using the "Fast License" service by Be'eri Print, which allows for the delivery of a permanent license to Ben Gurion Airport within 24 hours of the request (service involves a fee). More details can be found on the Fast License Information page.
Still unsure if your destination requires an international permit? Ofran’s team of experts is available for any questions before you book.
To issue an International Driving Permit, you must visit an authorized optical branch with a valid, permanent (plastic) Israeli driver's license. An International Driving Permit cannot be issued based on a temporary license. The issuance takes only a few minutes at any of the photo stations for international driving permits listed on the Ministry of Transport's website.
According to the Ministry of Transport guidelines, it is not possible to drive in foreign countries with an Israeli license alone. An international permit is mandatory for every Israeli driver planning to drive abroad. Without it, car rental companies and local authorities may not honor the license, and the car insurance may not be activated in the event of an accident.
The international driving permit is a sort of booklet, similar to a paper passport, and includes a passport photo and information about the driver. As can be seen in the picture:
All countries require an international driving permit for Israeli citizens to drive.
No. When picking up a rental car abroad, you must present both a valid, permanent Israeli driving license and an international driving permit. Without both, rental companies may refuse to hand over the vehicle to you.
The international permit cannot be issued online; you must visit a photo station in person.
To issue the permit, you must present a valid, permanent Israeli (plastic) driving license (please note that a temporary paper license does not allow for the issuance of an international permit). If a passport photo needs to be updated, it must be done at a suitable branch, and an additional fee must be paid.
No. The issuance must be performed by the license holder themselves.
As of January 2026, the issuance cost is 8 NIS, including VAT. If you wish to update your photo on the permit, an additional fee of 11 NIS must be paid.
The international driving permit is valid for 3 years.
Where can the fee be paid? The fee can be paid at authorized optical branches that issue international permits. For the full list of branches, visit the Ministry of Transport website.
The issuance process takes only a few minutes at optical stores that also serve as photo stations for international driving permits.
