Forgot Your Driving Permit? Sydney Airport Can Now Issue One Before You Fly

Australians who realize at the last minute that their overseas road trip needs an International Driving Permit now have a fix at the airport itself. Currency exchange chain Travelex has partnered with the NRMA, the motoring club that serves New South Wales and the ACT, to issue and hand out permits through its stores. At the Travelex store in Sydney Airport’s international terminal, departing passengers can apply for a same-day permit, something Travelex describes as a first for an Australian airport.

Processing can take as little as an hour, depending on the time and day, so the service is a safety net rather than something to leave until boarding is called. Travelers can also apply online in advance and collect the permit from participating Travelex stores across NSW and the ACT. Some approved locations can issue permits on the spot, while other participating stores act as pickup points for permits processed elsewhere.

The permits are issued under the authority of the Australian Automobile Association, are recognized in more than 150 countries and stay valid for 12 months. An IDP is not a standalone license: it is a translation document that must be carried together with a valid Australian driver’s license. Some countries and many rental car companies require one, and drivers who cannot produce it after an accident or police stop can find their insurance or rental agreement in question.

Travelex linked the launch to where Australians are heading. It reported that sales of Indonesian rupiah rose 80 per cent, Japanese yen 30 per cent and Thai baht 10 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier, all destinations where a permit can be required or recommended for self-drive trips and scooter rentals. As part of the deal, the NRMA’s roughly 3.5 million members will also get preferential in-store exchange rates and other Travelex offers.

Sources: Travel Monitor