Obtaining an International Driving Permit or License in Hyderabad, India – A Complete Guide

Introduction

An International Driving Permit is a permit given to existing driver’s license holders if he/she wishes to travel abroad and drive there. It is only issued by Govt of that country of which the applicant is a citizen. Hence this blog is ONLY going to help INDIANS applying for IDP from INDIA.

It is a translation of your existing data into 9 different languages. So there is NO need of taking a test for procuring this permit.

The IDP is issued by and is valid in these countries
http://www.international-license.com/countries.php
So before you plan to drive in some island that no one has ever heard of, please refer this list and verify if the country you are visiting recognizes this permit!

Though the IDP is recognized by most countries, it is advisable that after you arrive at your destination, you apply for their local driving license, since I have heard of many cases where when the holder of an IDP meets with an accident, the police do not appreciate or fail to recognize the IDP. Don’t ask me why!

Also, this permit is only valid for one year so it is advisable to apply a week before you leave to get maximum time on it. I do not have an idea about how to renew it.

The IDP comes with a card and a booklet. For example the above photo.

DOCS REQUIRED

To obtain this one must have the following documentation –

* 3 recent passport sized photos

(These forms need to photocopied and brought to the RTA, but it is COMPULSORY to bring the ORIGINALS for verification)

* A valid permanent driver’s license with validity beyond 1 year. If your license is going to expire in less than a year, you will have to get in renewed and then apply for the IDP.
* A valid passport which expires only a year later.
* A valid visa to the country you are going to visit.
* Air Tickets (Optional) but if you have it is advisable to present it.

(These forms below are available at the RTA, don’t download them online and fill it, they will ask you to fill this again, so the online version is a waste of time but if you are interested look at http://www.aptransport.org/html/forms_licence.htm

* Form IDP
* Fitness Declaration Form
* Health certificate by a medical practitioner.

Implementation

* The RTA or Regional Transport Authority (I think!) is the government authority that deals with issues like driver’s license, vehicle registration etc. If you are applying in Hyderabad, you will probably apply for the IDP at the RTA in Khairatabad (My guess since this is where I always visit, please check if this is the RTA you need to visit). The Location of RTA Khairatabad is
http://maps.google.co.in/maps?hl=en&q=RTA%20Khairatabad&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Please visit the RTA between 10 am and 12 30 pm because if you visit before or after this time the counter that issues coupons will be closed and you will have to return the next day.

* As soon as you enter you will see the RTA office on the right and further ahead is the transport commissioner office. When you enter the RTA, there will be a small box with a board “Forms issued here”. Go to this person and ask for forms required for IDP. He will give you three forms-

1. IDP application Form
2. Fitness Declaration Form
3. Health Certificate by medical practitioner.

He will ask you to pay 4 rupees and you will not get a receipt for this.

* Take your time to fill in the IDP application and Fitness Declaration. Also, while entering your details please enter them as exactly mentioned in your license and passport.
* Now, attach a photo on the health certificate and walk straight towards the parking area to a small one storied building with a sign “CLINIC”. There will be a doctor there and he will most probably won’t even look at your face and fill the form. He will sign across your photo and also make a stamp impression. His fee is 30 Rs. Again, you won’t receive a receipt here.

Note: I am not sure if you can get this form filled by doctors in private hospitals since it is mentioned in the form that a state Govt. appointed doc should fill it. Again, it’s just a guess.

* Now, come back to the RTA office and put these papers together-

Form IDP, Fitness Declaration, Health certificate, passport (photocopy), license (photocopy), visa (photocopy), air ticket (photocopy) and join the various lines that lead you to the counter. The counter should be easy to locate since it will be swarming with applicants as you enter the RTA office.

* When your turn comes the officer will also ask for the originals, he will cross check your passport and license and when satisfied, will stamp “Verified : Original”
* After that you need to walk to the police officer standing right beside the counter, who will sign on your form and issue you a token number.
* With that number you need to observe an electronic board that reads which token number is being called and which counter that applicant needs to go to. So, wait for your turn.
* When your turn comes, you enter the ground floor building, an officer will check whether or not are the right token number.

NOTE: If your license is a new one and had a smart card, look on the left side of your license for a SIM card like structure, then most probably, you will be asked to go to the 2nd floor since the ground floor cannot process smart cards.

* (Now this is where the process gets complicated)

The officer at the counter will ask you to get an ORDER by the Regional Transport Officer. Before you meet the RTO, you need to meet the Administrative Officer located at the ground floor. Meet the AO and get a sign and then meet the RTO. The RTO is located at the ground floor beside the AO. The RTO might want to see the originals. He will sign on your form and then ask you to go back to your counter.

(This is only in the case of IDP, for LLR and permanent license, you don’t need to see these people and the process is straightforward)

* At the counter you need to pay a sum of 650 Rs for which you will get a receipt. The counter person will ask details of the country you are visiting and stuff. He will give back your forms.
* You might have to get the sign of the AO again.
* After this, you need to get your photo taken, give your digital signature and bio metric print of your left index finger. There are camera rooms both on the 2nd floor and ground floor. Ground floor is preferable since it has Digicam instead of a webcam.
* Now submit your forms in the camera room at the ground floor. The officer will take everything along with your receipt. The officer will ask for one passport photo. He will either immediately issue your IDP or ask you to return at 4 pm.
* Collect your Booklet and Card.

Note: They told me that the Indian Govt. stopped issuing that ID card. So, you might get only the booklet which is pretty sad since everything is written by hand in that booklet and it will appear as if we are coming from some god forsaken country when a police officer examines it abroad. After all the computer filling, they didn’t give me a card!!

* Exit the building and pay 5 Rs for parking if you have parked your car there or 4 if it is a bike.

Guidelines

* Always keep the exact change. No officer will ever have change.
* Be patient; don’t lose your temper with the officers. It never helps. Understand that the officers too are stressed out having to deal with thousands of applications is a single day.
* Be expected to go up and down the various floors as officers keep transferring your case elsewhere. So, keep a bottle of Gatorade handy. :D
* DO NOT go through brokers or middle agents, they will just complicate the process.
* While asking questions at the help desk, if you do not get a reply at the first attempt, be calm and repeat your question, if you get angry, they will ignore you.
* Don’t be dejected, if you are doing all of the above on your own, then you must realize that though the process sucks, you are fighting your way through the righteous path and eliminating corruption altogether.

Remarks

I am not an employee of the RTA so this information is not official. I cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that might not get you your permit. You and only you are solely responsible for verifying the facts and following the letter of Law. This case study was done on Monday, August 10, 2009 at Hyderabad, India. Much can change after this date. Patriotism is not giving up your life for the country; it is making the best out of yourself and your country in a legitimate way. If we all follow the simple guidelines maybe one day the RTA will be free of brokers who can get licenses illegally.

Official website http://www.aptransport.org