Title
Apostille Korea handles reissue of international driving permits lost or expired abroad The permit is valid for one year, and losing it or letting it expire abroad previously meant flying home or appointing a proxy in Korea.
- Связанные страны
- 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said it provides a service that arranges the reissue of an international driving permit lost, stolen or expired while the holder is abroad. Until now the only options were to return to Korea in person or to send the driving licence to a proxy at home by international post.
- The international driving permit is issued under the international convention on road traffic so that travellers can drive abroad, and it is valid for one year.
- In Korea it can be issued the same day at any driver's licence examination office or police station with a passport, a driving licence and a passport photo.
- Reissuing it from abroad left only two options: returning to Korea in person or appointing a proxy at home.
- The proxy route is burdensome, requiring the licence to be sent by international post along with a power of attorney and an entry and exit record.
When the permit is lost overseas
As rental-car travel abroad has become an established way to travel, tips on driving overseas are easy to find. What is almost never covered is how to have an international driving permit reissued after loss, theft or expiry, which leaves travellers poorly prepared when it happens. The international driving permit is issued under the international convention on road traffic so that a person travelling abroad temporarily can drive at the destination. Applying in Korea requires a copy of the passport, a passport photo and the original driving licence, and the permit is available at driver's licence examination offices and police stations nationwide. During its one-year validity, carrying the permit together with the Korean licence and the passport allows the holder to drive anywhere in the world. Applying in person requires only a passport, a driving licence and a passport photo for same-day issuance, and a proxy needs only to add their own identification and a power of attorney, so within Korea it is a relatively easy document to obtain.
How the agency service changes the procedure
For a permit lost, stolen or expired abroad, there were in practice only two routes to a reissue. The first was to return to Korea in person at the cost of time and money, which is hardly realistic given that the permit is mostly used during travel or business trips abroad. The second was to appoint a proxy in Korea. In that case the holder first sends the driving licence to the proxy by international post; the proxy visits a community service centre to prepare the applicant's power of attorney and obtain an entry and exit record. The proxy then goes to a nearby police station or licence examination office to complete the permit application and power of attorney, and finally sends the issued permit back to the applicant by international post. On top of unfamiliar administrative forms, this adds physical time and inconvenience. Apostille Korea explained that it built an agency service with an improved procedure so that holders no longer have to send identification documents back and forth by post.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an international driving permit valid?
It is valid for one year. During that period, carrying the permit together with your Korean licence and passport lets you drive anywhere in the world.
If I lose it abroad, can it be reissued locally?
Until now there were only two options: returning to Korea in person or appointing a proxy at home. Both carry considerable cost in time and money.
What does reissue through a proxy involve?
The licence is sent to the proxy by international post; the proxy prepares a power of attorney and obtains an entry and exit record at a community service centre, then applies at a police station or licence examination office.
Source: 금강일보 · 2017-04-18