Is an International Driving Permit Valid in Bali?

It depends on which country issued it. In practice, Bali police generally accept an International Driving Permit (IDP) carried together with your original home licence, but the Consulate-General of Japan in Denpasar and Korea's embassy office in Bali both state that their own IDPs are not valid in Indonesia. Indonesia has also not ratified any UN road traffic convention, so your position is weaker than many scooter renters assume. Everything below was checked on 23 October 2026.

What is the legal basis in Indonesia?

National Police Regulation No. 5 of 2021 on issuing driving licences (SIM), Article 3(13), says an international licence issued by another country is valid in Indonesia "based on the UN Convention on Road Traffic or other international agreements". The catch: according to the UN Treaty Collection (chapter XI-B-19), Indonesia only signed the 1968 Vienna Convention on 8 November 1968 and is not recorded as having ratified it. Indonesia is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention either, which is the basis for Japan's IDP.

So recognition of IDPs in Bali depends more on police practice and the issuing country's own position than on treaty obligations. The basic rule stays the same: every driver must hold a licence for the type of vehicle (Law 22/2009 on Road Traffic and Transport, Article 77).

Where does each country stand?

• Japan. JAF states that Japanese IDPs are valid only in countries party to the 1949 Geneva Convention. In a notice dated 8 March 2023, the Consulate-General of Japan in Denpasar said Japanese IDPs are not valid in Indonesia because there is no reciprocity. If you drive on a Japanese IDP, a police check or accident can treat you as unlicensed and insurance may not pay. Similar notices were issued in late 2019 and late 2022.
• South Korea. A notice from the Korean embassy's Bali office dated 19 June 2024 says neither Korean licences nor Korean IDPs are accepted in Indonesia, and renting a motorbike without an Indonesian licence is an offence. It also warns that most Korean travel insurance policies do not cover accidents caused while breaking the law.
• Australia. Smartraveller, the Australian government's travel advice site, says that to drive in Indonesia you need an Indonesian licence or an IDP in addition to your Australian licence, and both must cover the vehicle type, including motorbikes and mopeds. It also warns that travel insurers will deny claims if you are unlicensed or hold the wrong class.
• Russia. Russia ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention (7 June 1974, per UN records) and issues 1968-format IDPs. Because Indonesia has not ratified that convention, the status is just as grey. At checkpoints this IDP is usually checked together with the Russian licence. We found no official statement from the Russian consulate in Bali on this as of 23 October 2026, so get written confirmation from your insurer.

Licence classes: don't mix up A and C

In Indonesia, SIM A covers private cars up to 3,500 kg, SIM C covers motorbikes up to 250 cc, SIM CI 250-500 cc and SIM CII above 500 cc (Police Regulation 5/2021, Article 3). The IDP booklet uses different codes: category A means motorcycles and B means cars. A rental automatic scooter such as a Scoopy, Vario or NMAX needs category A stamped in your IDP, and normally a motorcycle licence at home. A tourist with only a car licence is not legal on a scooter even with a genuine IDP.

What happens if you are stopped without a valid licence?

Law 22/2009, Article 281: driving without holding a licence carries up to 4 months' detention or a fine of up to Rp1,000,000. Holding a licence but not carrying it (Article 288(2)) carries a fine of up to Rp250,000. Regular operations such as Operasi Patuh Agung on 14-27 July 2025 openly target tourists on rented motorbikes (Kompas.com, 17 July 2025). How to pay and typical amounts are in our article on getting a traffic ticket in Bali; helmet offences are separate, see helmet rules for tourists.

What about insurance after an accident?

This is the biggest risk, far costlier than a fine. Travel policies usually require a licence that is valid where the accident happens, the right class, and a helmet. If any of these is missing, claims for hospital bills, medical evacuation and third-party liability can be refused, while the rental shop still bills you for the damage. Read your policy's exclusions before you fly; what to check is in do you need travel insurance for Bali.

So what should you do?

• Japanese or Korean licence holders: don't drive yourself. Use a driver, Grab, Gojek or a taxi. The only official route is an Indonesian licence; requirements and hurdles are covered in can foreign tourists get a driving licence in Bali.
• Australian or Russian licence holders: carry the paper IDP from your country's official issuer, your original licence and your passport every time you ride. Make sure category A is stamped if you plan to ride a scooter.
• Ask your insurer to confirm in writing that your IDP is accepted for claims in Indonesia.
• A rental shop that doesn't ask for a licence doesn't make you legal. Other road rules for visitors are on our Bali rules page.

FAQ

Are digital or "online IDPs" valid? Documents sold by commercial websites are not official IDPs. A valid IDP is issued only by your country's designated authority or motoring club, as a paper booklet.

How long is an IDP valid? A 1949 Geneva-format IDP is valid for one year; a 1968 Vienna-format IDP for up to three years or until your home licence expires, whichever comes first.

Can I get an international licence in Indonesia? An Indonesian-issued international licence is valid only outside Indonesia (Police Regulation 5/2021, Article 3(12)), so it doesn't help you drive in Bali.