If you hold a licence from abroad, you may get behind the wheel in Kenya during a short stay. A UK photocard is accepted for 3 months, while a Canadian licence covers 90 days. Everyone else should carry a 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside the original licence.
This guide is independent and has no government affiliation. You submit your own eTA at https://etakenya.go.ke/how-to-apply; we neither charge fees nor file anything on your behalf.
Driving in Kenya With a Foreign License
How long your licence stays valid depends on which authority issued it. Kenya has belonged to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic since 9 September 2009.
According to the UK FCDO, holders of a UK photocard may drive for up to 3 months. A Canadian licence remains valid for 90 days counted from your arrival, provided it is written in English or comes with a certified translation.
Planning to drive on a Polish or Australian licence? Since no official regulation has been published, the safest arrangement is a 1968 IDP kept next to your original. Keep the original in the car at all times.
Kenya International Driving Permit Requirements
If you are a UK driver whose stay goes past three months, you will need the 1968 IDP as well as your UK licence. An IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so arrange it before you travel.
Canadian drivers may show an IDP together with the original licence, though the permit never replaces it. Relocating to Kenya for the long term? Apply for a Kenyan driving licence. E.A.K. serves as the vehicle’s distinguishing sign.
Kenya Road Rules and Safety Tips
Road standards are frequently low and deadly crashes are commonplace, particularly along the Mombasa Highway. The essentials:
- Try not to drive after nightfall once you leave urban centres.
- Police checkpoints are part of the landscape, most of all in cities and near border areas. On-the-spot fines are often demanded but remain illegal; request the correct paperwork.
- For journeys between the airport and Nairobi, take Mombasa Road or the Nairobi Expressway; steer clear of Airport South Road and Jogoo Road (carjacking risk).
- Give buses and matatus a miss; they are overcrowded and regularly implicated in fatal crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I drive in Kenya with a UK driving license?
You can, provided you hold a photocard and stay no longer than 3 months. Staying longer? Obtain the 1968 IDP before you set off.
Is an International Driving Permit required by Canadian citizens for Kenya?
It is not obligatory, yet it is accepted and advisable. A Canadian licence remains valid for up to 90 days from arrival and must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation; an IDP counts only when presented together with the original licence.
For how long am I permitted to use my foreign driving license in Kenya?
Holders of a UK photocard may drive for up to 3 months, and Canadian licences cover 90 days from entry. Beyond that point, UK drivers need both the 1968 IDP and their UK licence; anyone staying longer or living in Kenya requires a Kenyan driving licence.
When driving in Kenya, which format of IDP is accepted?
Because Kenya belongs to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, the 1968 version of the IDP is the format that counts; keep it with you alongside your original domestic licence.
Do police checkpoints exist while driving in Kenya?
Yes, most of all in major cities and near border areas; should you be stopped, bear in mind that on-the-spot fines are illegal.
Is driving at night in Kenya safe?
It is best not to drive after nightfall once you are outside urban centres.
Which roads in Nairobi ought to be avoided?
Take Mombasa Road or the Nairobi Expressway; stay away from Airport South Road and Jogoo Road, where carjackings occur.
For a short tourist visit, is a Kenyan driving licence required?
No, a foreign licence is enough for a short visit. An approved eTA is required, however; apply at https://etakenya.go.ke/how-to-apply.
Sources
- Kenya eTA portal: How to Apply (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA portal: Eligibility (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Canada: Kenya travel advice (verified 2026-10-15)
- UN Treaty Collection: Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (verified 2026-10-13)
- UK FCDO: Kenya safety and security (verified 2026-10-13)
