International Driving Permit from Poland: which version to choose
The Geneva permit lasts one year, the Vienna permit up to 3 years, and each costs PLN 35. Check your destination, prepare the photos and apply at any Polish county office.
An International Driving Permit is not automatically required for every trip outside the European Union. Check the rules of your destination first, then choose the Geneva version, the Vienna version or both. The permit is valid only together with a valid Polish driving licence.
The short answer
Poland issues two versions of the International Driving Permit. The Geneva Convention version is issued for one year, while the Vienna Convention version is issued for 3 years. Neither can remain valid beyond the expiry date of your Polish driving licence. One permit costs PLN 35; both cost PLN 70. You may apply in person or by post at any starostwo powiatowe, the Polish county authority.
Do not choose a version simply because the destination is outside the EU. Some countries accept a Polish licence, some require a particular international permit, and others apply additional local conditions. A rental company may also set document requirements that go beyond the minimum imposed by local traffic law.
1. Check the destination, the route and the rental company
Start with official information from the embassy, consulate or road-traffic authority of the destination. Ask whether a Polish driving licence is sufficient and, if not, which convention version is recognised. If the journey crosses several countries, check each one separately. A list of convention parties is a useful starting point, but it is not a substitute for current rules where you will drive.
When renting a car, read the conditions of the specific company as well. It may ask for an international permit even where local law allows you to drive with the Polish licence alone. Conversely, an International Driving Permit does not override conditions concerning the driver's age, minimum driving experience, deposit or payment card.
2. Select the version that matches the confirmed rule
The application lets you request:
- the Geneva version, issued for one year and never beyond the validity of the Polish licence;
- the Vienna version, issued for 3 years and also capped by the Polish licence's expiry date;
- both versions when the route includes countries applying different conventions.
The permit's validity does not extend your driving entitlement. If the national licence expires first, the international document does not allow you to continue driving. It also cannot add a vehicle category. The authority includes only the entitlements recorded on the Polish licence.
3. Prepare the complete application
You need:
- a completed application indicating one version or both;
- one current photograph meeting the Polish driving-licence photo requirements;
- two photographs when applying for two permits;
- a copy of a valid driving licence issued by a Polish authority;
- proof of payment for every permit requested.
Check the personal details and signature before submission. A missing photograph, payment confirmation or legible copy of the licence will stop the verification and the office will ask you to complete the file. For a postal application, use the selected county office's website to confirm its address, bank account and the required payment reference.
4. Apply at any county office and count the deadline from a complete file
You can deliver or post the application to any starostwo powiatowe. It does not have to be the office for your home address. The fee is PLN 35 for one version or PLN 70 for both. Each office explains its accepted payment methods, usually a payment desk or bank transfer.
After a successful check, the authority prepares the permit within 3 working days of receiving all required documents. Proof of payment is part of that set, so sending the form alone does not start a complete procedure. Gov.pl notes that the permit is often available immediately, but organise the trip around the official deadline rather than the best-case outcome.
Bring the valid Polish driving licence when collecting the permit. If the authority refuses the application, you have 14 days from receiving the decision to appeal to the local-government appeals board, known in Poland as the SKO. Submit the appeal through the county office that issued the refusal.
5. Carry the international permit with the national licence
The International Driving Permit does not replace your Polish driving licence. Polish law expressly makes the international document valid together with the national licence, so take both abroad. You may also need the vehicle documents, insurance and any additional paperwork required locally.
A common mistake is ordering one version from an unofficial online list and checking recognition only after arrival. Reverse that order: confirm the country's rule and the rental company's conditions, select the version, then prepare the correct number of photographs.
Your next step is practical: write down every country on the route and check the required permit in its official sources today. Complete the Polish application only after you have that answer.