Your local driving license is only valid in Pakistan; it won’t work if you are travelling abroad and intend to drive a vehicle there. But there is nothing to worry about because if you are a permanent resident of the capital city or even a temporary resident, you can apply for an international driving permit in Islamabad.
The provision of international driving licenses is a function of the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) which is the primary civil administration body and law and order agency of the city. This step-by-step guide will make it easier for you to understand the process of ICTA and the documents you will need to provide to acquire an international driving license.
International Driving Permit In Islamabad
The administrative duties of the capital are performed by Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA). There are 25 different departments that work under this primary body in different capacities to maintain satisfactory civil administration and law and order in the federal capital. One of the departments that executes diverse administrative and executive functions is the Deputy Commissioner Office that also provides international driving permits in Islamabad.
If you are a resident of Pakistan and thinking about travelling abroad with the intention to drive a motor vehicle there, you will need an international driving permit (IDP). The document serves as an identity document for you to legally drive there but that also depends on the country if it recognizes IDPs.
In accordance with the Vienna Convention 1968, the holder of a valid license and an IDP can drive a motor vehicle in the countries that accept it. There is a huge list of countries that accept IDP and include the United States and United Kingdom as well. Other countries where an IDP is valid are:
| Afghanistan | Algeria | Angola | Argentina | Armenia | Seychelles |
| Australia | Bahamas | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Belarus | Sierra Leone |
| Belize | Benin | Bhutan | Bodivvia | Bosnia | Singapore |
| Botswana | Brunei | Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Cameroon | South Africa |
| Canada | Cape Verde | Central African Republic | Chad | Chile | Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) |
| Colombia | Djibouti | Ethiopia | Guatemala | Hungary | Sudan |
| Comoros | Dominica | Gabon | Guinea Bissau | Iceland | Surinam |
| Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo) | Dominican Republic | Gambia | Guinea Republic | India | Swaziland |
| Congo | Egypt | Georgia | Guyana | Indonesia | Sweden |
| Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | El Salvador | Ghana | Haiti | Iran | Syria |
| Czech Republic | Equatorial Guinea | Guadeloupe | Honduras | Italy | Togo |
| Korea (South) | Eritrea | Guam | Hong Kong | Japan | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Kuwait | Macedonia | Montenegro | Nigeria | Jordan | Tunisia |
| Laos | Madagascar | Mozambique | Oman | Kazakhstan | Turkey |
| Lebanon | Malawi | Myanmar (Burma) | Pakistan | Kenya | Uganda |
| Lesotho | Malaysia | Namibia | Panama | Kiribati | Sao Tome and Principe |
| Divberia | Maldives | Nepal | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Saudi Arabia |
| Divbya | Mauritania | New Caledonia | Paraguay | Portugal | USA |
| Macao (Macau) | Mauritius | Nicaragua | Russian Federation | Qatar | UK |
| Senegal | Mexico | Niger | Rwanda | Reunion | Yemen |
| Serbia | St. Vincent | Thailand | Sabah (Malaysia) | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe |
| St. Lucia | Taiwan | Tanzania | Ukraine | United Arab Emirates | Zambia |
Documents Required For IDP
Before you apply for an IDP, make sure you have the following documents otherwise your application may be rejected. If you are an applicant yourself, it is important that you appear yourself with all these documents or else your application will not be entertained.
- A copy of valid Pakistani driving license that has been issued by Islamabad Traffic Police
- A copy of valid passport and visa
- A copy of the national identity card of the applicant
- Proof of residence in Islamabad if you have moved from any other city
In case you have moved from any other province, you will need to attach the following documents too with your application:
- Original computerized driving license
- NOC from the relevant district administration
- Proof of residence
How To Apply For IDP
The process for applying for an IDP is very simple and applicants must submit their application themselves. Follow the below mentioned steps to complete your application.
Step 1: Visit the Citizen Facilitation Center in G-11/4 in Islamabad.
Step 2: You will need to get a token for IDP and wait for your turn.
Step 3: Enter all the information required in the data entry form.
Step 4: Submit all your documents at the counter.
Step 5: After you have submitted the documents and paid the dues, an e-receipt will be given to you and your documents will go into processing. The e-receipt will also have the date on which you can collect your IDP.
Note: Currently, there is no procedure that entertains IDP applications for people who are abroad and need to renew or get a new IDP. The applicant has to be present on-site to submit their application.
Application Fee For IDP
The department entertains two types of applications; normal and urgent. If you check the ‘normal’ box on the application, the fee will be PKR 500 and if you check ‘urgent’, the fee will be PKR 1,050.
Timings
The facility to apply for an IDP is open from Monday to Friday. The timings of the department are:
- Monday to Thursday: 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM
- Friday: 09:00 to 12:00 PM
So, this is your guide to applying for an international driving permit in Islamabad. If you haven’t gotten your license made, you can check our guides on how to get a driving license in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
There is more that you can read about Islamabad at Zameen Blog such as places to visit in Islamabad and where to invest in Islamabad. You can also leave us your feedback at blog@zameen.com and subscribe to Zameen Newsletter for new developments in the property sector of Pakistan.
