Title
Apostille Korea handles international driving permit renewal and reissue for people abroad An international driving permit is valid for one year, and when it expires or is lost while the holder is overseas there is no way to obtain a new one on the spot.
- Related countries
- 중국, 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said it provides an agency service that lets holders apply for reissue or renewal of an international driving permit without returning to Korea after a loss or expiry abroad. Application, issuance and overseas delivery are handled in one flow, and overseas reissue of Korean Class 1 and Class 2 driving licences is covered as well. Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Korean one through an apostille is also supported.
- The international driving permit is issued under the Geneva Convention on road traffic and is valid for one year from the date of issue.
- To drive abroad the holder must carry the permit together with a passport and the driving licence of their own country.
- While abroad there are three ways to obtain a replacement: returning to Korea, proxy issuance through an acquaintance, or an agency service.
- Proxy issuance requires the identification of both applicant and proxy, a passport photograph and a power of attorney, and takes at least a week.
Simple to obtain in Korea, different once you are abroad
The international driving permit is issued under the Geneva Convention on road traffic so that a driver can drive temporarily in another country. For the one year of validity from the date of issue, it must be carried together with a passport and the driving licence of the holder own country. In Korea it is issued at police stations and driving licence test centres, and as demand grew the Korea Road Traffic Authority also opened issuing centres at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport and at Jeju International Airport. The difficulty arises when the permit is lost, stolen or expires during travel or a stay abroad. Because there is no way to obtain a new one locally, some drivers give up on the replacement, end up without a valid permit and stop using a vehicle altogether.
Three routes to a replacement, plus exchange for a Korean licence
There are broadly three routes to a replacement while abroad. The first is to spend the time and money to return to Korea in person. The second is proxy issuance through an acquaintance in Korea, which requires the identification of both applicant and proxy, a passport photograph and a power of attorney, filed at a police station or a driving licence test centre. Counting the documents travelling both ways, that route takes at least a week. The third is to use an agency that handles application, issuance and overseas delivery in one flow. Apostille Korea covers the international driving permit alongside overseas reissue of Korean Class 1 and Class 2 licences, with Class 1 renewal requiring a medical examination record from within the past two years. It also handles the exchange of a foreign driving licence for a Korean one through an apostille, issuance of more than 400 kinds of civil documents, parental travel consent, and apostilles and embassy legalisation for 120 countries.
Frequently asked questions
Can I obtain an international driving permit while I am abroad?
No. It is not issued locally, so the process has to run through Korea. You either return in person or apply through a proxy or an agency.
What does an acquaintance need in order to apply on my behalf?
The identification of both you and the proxy, a passport photograph and a power of attorney, filed at a police station or driving licence test centre. Counting documents travelling both ways, it takes at least a week.
Can a foreign driving licence be exchanged for a Korean one?
Yes. There is a procedure for exchanging it through an apostille, and the related paperwork can be handled for you.
Source: 아이티데일리 · 2019-06-25