Driving in Greece with a Vanuatu Driving Licence: IDP Requirements and Rules
Yes, conditionally. A visitor with a valid Vanuatu licence can use it in Greece for the light-vehicle categories listed in Greek Road Traffic Code article 98(3)(z), provided the driver does not have ordinary residence in Greece and carries an official translation into Greek or English. The FIA IDP repository lists no Vanuatu IDP issuing body, so a Vanuatu-issued IDP is not the applicable document. No fixed visitor-day limit was verified.
Quick answer
| Issue | Answer |
|---|
| Can you drive | Yes, subject to article 98(3)(z), a valid matching licence category, non-resident status and the required official translation. |
| IDP | No Vanuatu-issued IDP is required under this route because the FIA repository lists no Vanuatu issuing body. |
| Translation | Official translation into Greek or English is required. |
| Time limit | No fixed day count was verified. The rule depends on not having ordinary residence in Greece. |
How Greek law treats a Vanuatu licence
Article 98(3)(z) of the Greek Road Traffic Code covers valid licences issued by a state in which no International Driving Permit is issued. The FIA country repository lists Vanuatu with no issuing body and no IDP issued. That combination places a Vanuatu national licence within this Greek legal route, subject to the conditions in article 98.
The categories expressly listed are mopeds, motorcycles, motorised tricycles, quadricycles and passenger cars. The Vanuatu licence must show the corresponding valid category. This provision does not establish recognition for heavier categories such as trucks or buses.
IDP requirement, recommendation and model
A Vanuatu-issued International Driving Permit is not legally required for the article 98(3)(z) route. The FIA repository lists no Vanuatu IDP issuing body and no IDP issued, so there is no verified Vanuatu IDP convention model for a traveller to obtain. Greece generally accepts 1949 and 1968 IDPs, but that general acceptance does not create a Vanuatu-issued permit.
No official recommendation to obtain a Vanuatu IDP was verified. The legally relevant additional document for this pair is an official translation of the national licence into Greek or English.
Visitor and resident rules
The verified Greek rule does not state a fixed maximum number of visitor days for this category. Instead, article 98(3)(z) applies while the driver does not have ordinary residence in Greece, so max_visitor_days cannot be reduced to a verified fixed number.
Once the driver has ordinary residence in Greece, this visitor provision no longer applies. A Vanuatu-specific resident exchange or conversion route is unverified – confirm with official authority.
Rental-car requirements
Rental policy is separate from the legal right to drive. Published company rules differ, which matters for Vanuatu because the FIA repository lists no national IDP issuer.
| Company | Published requirement | Source checked |
|---|
| Enterprise Greece | For a licence from a state where no international driving licence is issued, a certified translation in English or Greek is required. | Enterprise Greece Athens International Airport terms |
| Avis Greece | Publishes that the licence must be EU-issued or the renter must hold an International Driving Licence accompanied by the national licence, with the licence held for at least one year. | Avis Greece FAQ |
| Hertz Greece | Publishes that a non-EU driving licence must be International and that the licence must have been held for at least 12 months. | Hertz Greece key facts |
For Avis or Hertz, confirm in advance whether the company will accept the official-translation route that Greek law provides for no-IDP states rather than assuming the booking will be accepted at the counter.
Documents to carry and insurance
Article 103 of the Greek Road Traffic Code requires a driver to carry the lawful driving licence and the vehicle registration certificate, plus other documents applicable to the vehicle or category. For a Vanuatu licence used under article 98(3)(z), carry the valid national licence together with its official translation into Greek or English.
Article 103 generally also requires proof of insurance to be carried. For rented or leased vehicles, the Code says the driver need only carry a copy of the registration certificate and does not have to carry proof of insurance or proof of vehicle tax payment. No Vanuatu-specific insurance condition tied to the foreign licence was verified.
Relevant exceptions and limits
The no-IDP-country provision applies only while the driver does not have ordinary residence in Greece and only to the vehicle categories expressly listed. It should not be extended to heavier categories or to resident driving without separate authority. The licence must remain valid and match the vehicle being driven.
Official sources used
- Hellenic National Printing Office, Law 5209/2025, Road Traffic Code articles 98 and 103, checked 2026-09-28: official Government Gazette PDF.
- FIA and AIT International Driving Permit Repository, country table showing Vanuatu has no listed issuing body or IDP issued and Greece accepts 1949 and 1968 IDPs, checked 2026-09-28: IDP Repository.
- Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue, driver licence information, checked 2026-09-28: Driver licence information.
- Enterprise Greece, Athens International Airport rental terms, checked 2026-09-28: Enterprise Greece.
- Avis Greece FAQ, checked 2026-09-28: Avis Greece.
- Hertz Greece key rental facts, checked 2026-09-28: Hertz Greece.
Practical recommendation
Before travel, arrange an official translation of the valid Vanuatu licence into Greek or English and carry it with the original licence. Check that the licence category matches the vehicle. If renting, get written confirmation that the company will accept the translation route, because published rental policies are not uniform for non-EU licences.
Last verified
This information was checked against the listed legal, IDP and rental sources on 2026-09-28. Driving-licence and rental rules can change, so recheck the official sources before travel.