International Driving Permit in Malta 2026: Who Needs One, How to Get It, Foreign Licences

No official Maltese source requires most visitors to carry an international driving permit in Malta for the first 12 months. EU and EEA licences are accepted with no extra permit, and UK and other non-EU licences can be used for up to twelve months from your last entry into Malta before you must exchange them. Maltese licence holders who want an IDP for driving outside the EU get it from Transport Malta, not a motoring club, for €33.25, valid for one year. This guide covers both directions.

Key takeaways

EU and EEA licences are valid in Malta with no additional permit; exchange is optional.
UK and other non-EU licences: valid for 12 months from your last entry; UK holders must then exchange, and an IDP cannot substitute.
No official Maltese source requires non-EU visitors to carry an IDP; carry one if your licence is not in Latin script or a hire-car company asks.
Malta is party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Exchange fee: €7 per year of validity, pro-rata (servizz.gov.mt quotes €80 for a full 10-year card). Residence means 185 days in the preceding 12 months.
Maltese IDP: Transport Malta, form DRV006, €33.25, one year, online at licenzji-xufiera.gov.mt.

Can you drive in Malta on a foreign licence?

Yes, and the time limit depends on where the licence was issued. EU and EEA licence holders can drive in Malta without any additional permit. A non-EU licence holder is, in Transport Malta's words, "entitled to drive in Malta for a period not exceeding twelve months from the date of his last entry into Malta", a rule that also appears in S.L. 65.18, the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations. UK licences fall under the same 12-month rule; see the exchange route below.

Licence issued in	Drive in Malta?	For how long?	Then what
EU or EEA state (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)	Yes, no extra permit	No time limit stated	Exchange optional after taking up residence
UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man	Yes	Up to 12 months from last entry	Exchange under the Malta-UK memorandum without tests; an IDP cannot replace exchange
Australia, Switzerland, UAE (UAE: Maltese or UAE nationals only)	Yes	Up to 12 months from last entry	Exchange once resident
Any other non-EU country	Yes	Up to 12 months from last entry	No exchange route listed on the Transport Malta exchange page; check with Transport Malta

Read driving in Malta: essential rules before collecting a hire car, and browse the Malta road signs gallery first.

Do visitors need an international driving permit in Malta?

For most visitors, no. Official Maltese sources state the 12-month entitlement for non-EU licences but do not say an IDP must be carried with it. An IDP is not required by Maltese law for the first 12 months; carry one if your licence is not in Latin script or if your hire-car company asks for it.

For UK visitors, gov.uk is clear: no IDP is needed to drive in the EU, including Malta, on a UK photocard licence. Paper licences and licences issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man may need one, and a UK sticker must be displayed in Malta regardless of the number plate. An "international drivers license" is the everyday name for the IDP; gov.uk and servizz.gov.mt both treat it as a companion to your national licence, not a replacement.

Which IDP convention applies in Malta?

The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. According to the UK Department for Transport's explanatory memorandum to SI 2019/1 and the UN Treaty Collection, Malta became a party to the 1949 Convention by succession on 3 January 1966 and is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention. If your home authority issues both formats, the 1949 version is the one that matches Malta's convention membership.

The same logic runs in reverse: a Maltese IDP is the 1949 format, so it is not formally recognised in countries party only to the 1968 Convention. Transport Malta does not spell this out, so check your destination's rules first.

How to exchange a foreign driving licence in Malta

You can exchange a foreign driving licence in Malta once you have normal residence, which Transport Malta defines as having "lived in Malta for at least 185 days over the twelve (12) months preceding the submission date". Proof can be utility bills, a purchase, lease or rental contract (rental agreements countersigned by a notary or lawyer), or income tax returns.

Exchangeable licences come from EU member states, the EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), the United Kingdom, Australia and Switzerland, plus the UAE for Maltese or UAE nationals only. For EU licence holders exchange is a right, not an obligation; per Your Europe you do not usually have to exchange; it becomes mandatory if the licence is lost, stolen or damaged, or after certain offences.

Fee: €7 per year of validity, pro-rata (servizz.gov.mt quotes €80 for a full 10-year card).
Documents (servizz.gov.mt): passport photo, ID card or residence card, copy of the foreign licence.
Forms: DRV029 (declaration of residence) for all foreign licence holders; DRV014 for Australian licences. The EU and UK application form number was not confirmed.
Medical certificate: only if the original licence has expired and you drive commercial vehicles and/or are over 70.
Validity: the Maltese licence mirrors the original's expiry date.
Surrender: for EU, EEA, UK, Swiss and UAE licences the original is surrendered, and Transport Malta verifies it with the issuing state.
Where: Transport Malta offices in Paola, Hal Lija or Gozo.

One caution from Your Europe: an EU licence issued in exchange for a non-EU licence may not be recognised in another EU country, a gap the new directive is set to close for licences from approved third countries. If your licence is not exchangeable, the route to a Maltese licence starts with the Malta driving theory test; our Malta driving licence guide covers every stage.

UK licence holders: the Malta-UK exchange memorandum

UK nationals can exchange a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence without a theory or practical test. The memorandum of understanding took effect on 1 January 2022 and is "not time bound". You may keep using the UK licence for up to 12 months from your last entry; gov.uk (updated 12 December 2025) is clear that you must then exchange rather than rely on an IDP.

The exchange needs a DVLA (Great Britain) or DVA (Northern Ireland) check code, and the Maltese licence may be used until age 70, after which you apply for exchange or renewal.

Maltese licence holders: how to get an international driving permit

Transport Malta is the only issuer of the Malta international driving licence, or IDP; no motoring club issues them. Its Driving Abroad page says: "Maltese driving licences are valid in any other EU member state, and in countries that are party to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. An International Driving Permit is needed for driving in any other country."

Form: DRV006, currently Version 4, October 2025.
Documents at the counter: copy of your ID card, copy of your driving licence, two passport-sized photos.
Fee: €33.25.
Validity: one year from the date of issue.
Online: apply at licenzji-xufiera.gov.mt with an e-ID account.

Carry it with your licence: servizz.gov.mt notes that "both logbook and driving licence need to be presented upon request".

What the new EU driving licence directive changes

Directive (EU) 2025/2205 entered into force on 25 November 2025. Member states have until November 2028 to transpose it and the rules apply from November 2029 at the latest. Two changes matter here: EU licences issued in exchange for approved third-country licences will be recognised EU-wide, and digital licences will become the default after a transition, with a physical licence on request and a uniform mobile licence in the EU Digital Identity Wallet by the end of 2030.

Transport Malta says it is "already actively preparing for the changes". We could not find a Malta-specific digital licence launch date; check Transport Malta's directive page for updates.

Where to apply and who to contact

The Transport Malta Driver and Vehicle Licensing Unit is at A3 Towers, Triq L-Arkata, Paola PLA 1212 (tel 2556 0000, [email protected]), open weekdays 7:30 to noon, though hours may vary by office. Head office: Malta Transport Centre, Triq Pantar, Hal Lija LJA 2021, tel +356 2122 2203, Monday to Friday 07:30 to 13:00. Exchanges are also handled in Gozo.

ExamReady is an independent study site and is not affiliated with Transport Malta; confirm fees and forms with Transport Malta before relying on them.

Official sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an international drivers license to drive in Malta as a tourist?

Usually not. EU and EEA licences need no extra permit, UK photocard holders do not need an IDP in the EU according to gov.uk, and other non-EU licences are valid for 12 months from your last entry.

How long can I drive in Malta on a foreign licence?

EU and EEA licences have no stated time limit. UK and other non-EU licences are valid for a period not exceeding twelve months from the date of your last entry into Malta.

How much does it cost to exchange a foreign driving licence in Malta?

Transport Malta lists €7 per year of remaining validity, pro-rata; servizz.gov.mt quotes €80 for a full 10-year card. You need 185 days of residence in the preceding 12 months, form DRV029, a passport photo, ID or residence card, and a copy of the licence.

How do I get an international driving permit as a Maltese licence holder?

At a Transport Malta counter with form DRV006, a copy of your ID card, a copy of your licence, two passport-sized photos and €33.25, or online at licenzji-xufiera.gov.mt with an e-ID account. It is valid for one year from issue.

Can a UK driver use an IDP instead of exchanging their licence in Malta?

No. gov.uk states that UK nationals living in Malta cannot use an IDP instead of exchanging their licence. You may use the UK licence for up to 12 months from your last entry and must exchange it by then under the memorandum, without tests, using a DVLA or DVA check code.

International Driving Permit in Malta 2026: Who Needs One, How to Get It, Foreign Licences