Here’s another way to get an international driving permit in South Africa

The Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa has partnered with VFS Global to allow citizens to obtain international driving permits (IDP) by applying at one of four VFS application centres either in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, or Pretoria.

VFS Global facilitates the admin and payment of the permit on behalf of the AA, the latter of which is the only authorised issuer of IDPs in the country.

After an application is processed, VFS will inform the applicant via SMS and then courier the IDP to the address of their choice.

IDPs can only be issued to holders of a valid South African or Namibian-issued driving licence, but not to citizens of Botswana, Lesotho, or Swaziland who are in the possession of a driving licence issued in that country, said VFS Global.

Additionally, the turnaround time for the application is dependent on the “discretion of the authorities,” said the company.

What is an IDP

An IDP is a translation of a national driving licence that allows a holder to drive vehicles in foreign countries where they are not a citizen.

The permit contains their name, photo, and driver information in several languages catering to the local officials and authorities of the countries they visit, and it can therefore also act as another form of identification.

IDPs are regulated by the United Nations and are valid in over 150 regions around the globe.

Where to apply

The VFS Global Application centres that process IDPs are located at the following addresses:

• Cape Town – 5th Floor, 47 Strand Street, Cape Town
• Durban – Unit 409, 4th Floor , 91-123 Cowey Road(Problem Mkhize), Essenwood, Durban
• Johannesburg – 1st floor Rivonia Village Office Block, cnr. Rivonia Boulevard and Mutual Road, Rivonia, Johannesburg
• Pretoria – Cherry Lane Office Park, 1st Floor, 114 Fehrsen Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria

For more questions, prospective applicants can contact the VFS Global help centre at 012 425 3058, or alternatively, email for support at [email protected]