---
title: "Singapore international driving permit: documents to prepare before a trip"
description: "Prepare your Singapore international driving permit application, organise the upload files and distinguish reference copies from the documents to carry overseas."
canonical: "https://dokus.app/en-sg/singapore-international-driving-permit-documents/"
lang: "en-SG"
category: "Travel documents"
reviewed: "2026-10-22"
app_store: "https://apps.apple.com/sg/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709"
translations:
  en-SG: "https://dokus.app/en-sg/singapore-international-driving-permit-documents/"
---

# Singapore international driving permit: documents to prepare before a trip

Singapore driving licence holders can apply for an international driving permit through AA Singapore. Prepare the application documents, then pack the physical licence and permit for overseas driving.

Before organising uploads, ask the destination's driving authority and your rental company what your planned journey requires. Include every country on the route, each driver and the intended vehicle category in your enquiry. Save their replies with the booking so the collection desk can find the same information you used to prepare.

## Choose the right application path

[AA Singapore's IDP page](https://aas.com.sg/idp-carnet/) gives these routes and requirements:

| Your situation | Prepare or check |
|---|---|
| Citizen or permanent resident | Physical Singapore licence and NRIC, both sides |
| Foreign resident with Singapore licence | Licence and employment pass/FIN card, both sides; check pass-validity conditions |
| Foreign licence only | Apply in its issuing country |
| Online | JPG portrait and copies; Singapore delivery only |
| Attending yourself | Original licence and NRIC/FIN card; photo taken on site |

Use a clear colour portrait, under two years old, against a plain, light background. No watermarks or portraits extracted from identity documents. Check AA's live fees, processing, opening hours and eligibility before choosing.

Keep driving document reference copies and rental confirmations together in Dokus on your iPhone while the originals travel with you. 4.8 out of 5 stars [Free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/sg/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709)

## Make the upload set easy to check

Start with scans of the physical cards. Give the front and back recognisable filenames, then open every file before selecting it in the application. Check all four edges, legibility and the cardholder's identity. A neatly named file can still contain the wrong side or another family member's document.

Keep the portrait separately from the card scans. Do not reuse a square profile picture simply because it looks clear in your photo library. Compare the actual upload with the issuer's examples rather than relying on the thumbnail.

If you prepare files for two drivers, finish and review one person's set before starting the other. Keep an untouched original of each scan so an accidental edit does not force you to photograph everything again. Delete temporary exports from shared computers after submission.

## Keep the digital licence distinction clear

The [Singapore Police Force's driving licence guidance](https://www.police.gov.sg/Knowledge-Hub/Traffic/Traffic-Matters/Singapore-Driving-Licence) directs Singapore licence holders to AA for an IDP. It says overseas recognition of the Singpass Digital Driving Licence depends on the destination and encourages carrying the photocard and IDP.

For local verification, businesses should inspect the licence inside Singpass and must not accept a screenshot or recording as the credential. AA separately describes digital-card submission options for its application. That upload process does not turn a stored image into a live credential or replace the physical travel documents.

If another service requests identity data, read the [Singapore Myinfo sharing guide](https://dokus.app/en-sg/singapore-myinfo-sharing-document-copies/) before deciding what to provide. Keep each request tied to its stated purpose instead of sending your whole travel folder.

## Check the trip folder before departure

The IDP lasts one year from issue; overseas driving also requires the valid physical Singapore licence. Compare document dates with the entire rental period before packing.


- Match each named driver to the booking and their own document set.
- Keep the rental company's written document instructions accessible.
- Put physical travel documents on the packing list individually.
- Label stored scans as reference copies, separate from application acknowledgements.
- Open the reference files on your phone before leaving home.
- Keep essential booking contacts somewhere accessible if the phone is unavailable.

Check your passport preparations alongside the driving documents using the [Singapore passport renewal guide](https://dokus.app/en-sg/singapore-passport-renewal-photo-collection/). Dokus can organise copies and booking records; it does not issue permits or establish permission to drive.

## Singapore IDP questions

### Is a licence scan on my phone enough at the rental desk?

Do not plan around a reference scan. Confirm the desk's required documents before departure and pack the physical documents specified for your journey.

### Should every driver use one shared application folder?

Use a separate, clearly labelled set per person. Review each set against that driver's booking details before submitting or sharing anything.

### What should I keep after applying?

Keep the acknowledgement, any follow-up messages and your trip checklist together. Label the acknowledgement clearly so it cannot be mistaken for the issued permit.

## Sources

Reviewed on 22 October 2026

- [International Driving Permit applications (Automobile Association of Singapore)](https://aas.com.sg/idp-carnet/)
- [Singapore Driving Licence and Digital Driving Licence FAQs (Singapore Police Force)](https://www.police.gov.sg/Knowledge-Hub/Traffic/Traffic-Matters/Singapore-Driving-Licence)