The International Driving Permit is an UN-regulated travel document that has been allowing foreigners to drive in another country since 1926. Today, there are four international UN Conventions on Road Traffic subscribed by most countries of the world. The 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention are the two major UN Conventions of Road Traffic that over 98% of countries of the world, including Nigeria are contracting parties to. In this article, we’d discuss what this UN-regulated travel document is, how it works, how to get it, and how to verify it.
How to verify a Nigerian international driving permit would be discussed below:
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What is an International Driving Permit and How Does it Work?
Before we proceed to discuss how to verify a Nigerian international driving permit, you would want to know the key facts about this document. The international driving permit is a document that allows you to legally drive in a foreign country other than the one in which you reside. The international driving permit is regulated by two major United Nations Conventions on Road Traffic: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention.
The international driving permit is recognised in countries that subscribe to either of the two UN Conventions mentioned in the paragraph above. Nigeria is a contracting party to both the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention, therefore, foreigners can legally drive motor vehicles in Nigeria if they possess an International Driving Permit, alongside their valid domestic driver’s license. In like vein, Nigerians can apply for and get an International Driving Permit for use in a foreign country that is a contracting party to one or more UN Conventions on Road Traffic.
Wherever an International Driving Permit is to be used in a foreign country, the driver must ensure to be with his/her national driver’s license. That is to say, if a Nigerian resident wants to use an International Driving Permit in the United States, he ought to also carry his/her valid driver’s license issued by the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC). Likewise, a foreign national planning to drive in Nigeria with an International Driving Permit must have a valid domestic driver’s license. International Driving Permits are therefore not a substitute for a valid driving license.
The validity of 1949 Convention International Driving Permit has a validity period of a year from the date of issue, while the validity period of the 1968 model International Driving Permit is 3 years. However, the validity of IDPs cannot exceed the validity of the holder’s domestic driver’s license.
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How to Get an International Driving Permit in Nigeria
Getting an International Driving Permit in Nigeria is easy if the steps we’d be providing below are followed. But before you’d be able to proceed with applying for an Independent Driving Permit In Nigeria, you should already have a valid driver’s license issued by the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC). Also, you’d have to be 18 years and older to register for an IDP.
- Visit https://internationaldriversassociation.com/international-drivers-license-nigeria/
- You’d see “Do you have a valid driver’s license?”
- Click “Yes”, then hit the ” Next”
- Click “Start Application”
- The next page that opens is the “About You” page where you would be required to enter the exact details that appear in your FRSC-issued license. These include: “First Name”, ” Last Name”, “Email”, and ” Phone Number”.
- Choose “Nigeria” as the country you are currently living in, and click “Next”
- The next page that will appear is “Your License Details”. Input the exact details that appear on your driver’s license, such as: “Gender”, “Eye Color”, ” Height”, “Country of Birth”, “Date of Birth”, ” Address Printed on Driver’s License”, “Street Address”, ” Zip Code”, “City”, and ” State/Region/Province”, then click “Next”
- The next page that loads would be the “Your License Class” page would require you to choose your class of vehicle from among the options, including “A-Motorcycle”, ” B-Passenger Car”, “C-Vehicle over 7,700 pounds (3,500kg)”, ” Vehicle over 8 seats”, and “Vehicle of B, C, or D with other than a light trailer”, then click ” Next”
- The next page of the application would be “Your Selfie or Passport Photo” where you’d be required to upload your photo. Then, click “Next”
- On the next page, you’d be expected to upload the front and back of your driver’s license, then click “Next”
- Next, you’d need to provide your signature, and then click “Next”
- Next, choose the validity of the IDP model you want based on the duration of validity. The options include “3 years”, ” 2 years” and “1 year”
- The next page to fill would be “Delivery Details”. Just tick the box ” Use same address as printed on my license” for your details as submitted in the earliest stage of the registration to appear
- Then, choose the shipping method you prefer between “FedEx 2-7 Working Days” for $29, or “Standard Portal Mail 20-40 Working Days” for $10. Pick the digital copy option of the IDP if you wish at the cost of $30, then click “Next” to review your order
- Review all details on the “Review your order” page, and click “Next” to go to the payment stage
- Next, choose your preferred payment option between “Credit Card” and “PayPal”, and click ” Pay $xx”
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How to Verify a Nigerian International Driving Permit
After you might have had the UN International Driving Permit delivered to your address or the digital copy sent to your email address, verifying its authenticity is as easy as following the steps below:
- Visit https://dvis.lg.gov.ng/check-international-drivers-license/
- Input the license number in the field provided
- Then hit the “Search” button
- If your IDP is genuine your details would appear on the next page
The IDP document can also be physically verified by examining its attributes. An authentic IDP document is slightly larger than a standard passport and it contains one’s photograph and other statistical data. The personal details that would be contained on an authentic IDP should be what was provided during the online application process.