Expansion to 37 Countries Allowing Use of English Driver's Licenses... Including Greece and Belgium

English Licenses on the Back of Existing Driver's Licenses
Issuance Surpasses 1 Million Cases in One Year

Sample of English Driver's License / Provided by Korea Road Traffic Authority

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced on the 11th that the number of countries where the 'English Driver's License,' which allows driving overseas with only a Korean driver's license without issuing a separate international driver's license, has been expanded to 37 countries.

The English Driver's License, which began issuance in September last year, enables driving abroad without a separate translation notarization or international driver's license issuance, and the cumulative number of issued licenses exceeded 1 million by August this year.

Previously, driving was possible in only 33 countries with the English Driver's License, but this year, four countries including Greece, the United States (Massachusetts), Belgium, and Croatia were added.

The permitted driving period using the English Driver's License varies by country, so prior confirmation is necessary. Also, since the required usage conditions and documents (passport, visa, etc.) differ by country, it is essential to accurately check the detailed requirements through the embassy of the respective country in Korea before departure.

When applying for the English Driver's License, an identification card and a photo taken within the last six months are required, and the fee is 10,000 KRW.

An official from the Authority stated, "The existing driver's license is only printed in Korean, so when driving overseas, there was inconvenience in obtaining a translation notarization from the embassy and carrying it while driving," adding, "We hope that the implementation of the English Driver's License issuance and the expansion of its usage countries will help enhance the convenience of citizens who need to drive abroad in the future."

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