Korea Road Traffic Authority Expands Countries Allowing Use of 'English Driver's License' to 54 Nations

Cumulative Issuance Surpasses 2.28 Million Cases

Sample of English driver's license applied on the back of the Korean driver's license.
[Photo by Korea Road Traffic Authority]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced on the 25th that the number of countries where the 'English Driver's License,' which displays driver's license information in English on the back of the license and allows driving overseas with only a Korean license, has expanded to a total of 54 countries.

Since its issuance began in September 2019, the English Driver's License has the advantage of allowing driving abroad without the need for a separate notarized translation or an international driving permit, and the cumulative number of issued licenses exceeded 2.28 million by October this year.

Until last year, driving was possible in 37 countries with the English Driver's License, but this year the number of eligible countries has expanded to 54. By region, the countries are ▲Asia 5 countries (East Timor, Maldives, Bhutan, Philippines, Hong Kong) ▲Oceania 12 countries (Nauru, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Fiji, Australia, Tuvalu, Cook Islands) ▲Americas 11 countries (Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Massachusetts in the USA, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories in Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands) ▲Europe 14 countries (Georgia, Greece, Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Cyprus, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Croatia, Finland, Sweden, Montenegro) ▲Middle East 4 countries (Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, Israel) ▲Africa 8 countries (Rwanda, Mali, Mauritius, Burundi, Senegal, Seychelles, Algeria, Tunisia).

The period during which driving is allowed with the English Driver's License varies by country, ranging from a minimum of 30 days to the maximum validity period of the license, so prior confirmation is necessary. The English Driver's License can be applied for at 27 Korea Road Traffic Authority driver's license examination offices nationwide when obtaining a new license, reissuing, undergoing aptitude tests, or renewing. When applying, an identification card and a photo taken within the last six months are required, and the issuance fee is 10,000 KRW, which includes an additional 2,000 KRW on top of the Korean driver's license fee.

A Korea Road Traffic Authority official stated, "We plan to continuously promote the expansion of countries where the English Driver's License can be used to enhance the convenience of the public."