Apostille Korea handles replacement of international driving permits lost or stolen abroad The permit can be issued the same day inside Korea, but losing it overseas changes the procedure entirely.

Apostille Korea said it provides a replacement service for travellers who lose an international driving permit or have it stolen while abroad. Inside Korea the permit can be issued the same day with a passport, a driving licence and a passport photo, but from overseas there are only two routes: returning home or appointing a proxy. Apostille Korea said the procedure was redesigned to reduce the need to post identity documents back and forth.

Same-day issuance at home, a different story abroad

Now that the international driving permit is widely used, renting a car overseas is no longer difficult. Yet travellers who focus only on using the permit and never learn what to do if it is lost or stolen can end up in serious trouble. The permit is issued under the international convention on road traffic so that travellers can drive while temporarily abroad. Applying inside Korea requires a passport copy, a passport photo and the original driving licence, and the permit is issued at driver licence examination offices and police stations nationwide, on the same day when the holder applies in person. A proxy only needs to add their own identification and a letter of authorisation, so as long as there is time to spare the document is comparatively easy to obtain. During its one-year validity, carrying the permit together with the Korean driving licence and a passport allows the holder to drive in countries around the world.

Two routes to replacement from abroad

Replacing an international driving permit lost, stolen or expired while overseas effectively comes down to two routes. The first is to return to Korea in person, spending both time and money. Given that the permit exists mainly for use during travel or business trips abroad, however, that is rarely a realistic choice. The second is to appoint a proxy. The first step is to post the driving licence to that proxy by international mail; the proxy then visits a community service centre to complete the applicant's letter of authorisation and obtain an entry-exit record certificate. Next comes a visit to a nearby police station or licence examination office to complete the permit application form along with the letter of authorisation. The permit issued this way must then be posted back to the applicant by international mail. Taking into account unfamiliar administrative paperwork and the physical time involved, this route is far from simple either. Apostille Korea said it designed its replacement service to reduce that complexity and the need to send identity documents by post.

Frequently asked questions

Source: KNS 뉴스통신 · 2017-04-06