China licence Malta

Driving in Malta with a China license

Short answer: to drive in Malta with a China license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your China license.

Bring an IDP

Yes — to drive in Malta on an China licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your China licence. Malta accepts foreign licences, but an IDP is needed because China licences are not in the local alphabet.

Convention basisMalta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskAn IDP helps non-EU and non-Latin-script drivers at Maltese desks.

CarryCarry BOTH your China national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified June 2026Source: Geneva 1949 / Vienna 1968

Get my IDP for Malta Full Malta guide

Mainland China is not party to the IDP conventions, so Chinese drivers typically obtain a temporary local licence in the destination country. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.

Driving rules in Malta

Drive on the left.
Seatbelts mandatory; phone use banned.
0.05% alcohol limit.
Narrow roads and aggressive local driving.

Common questions

Can I drive in Malta with a China license?

to drive in Malta with a China license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your China license. Malta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my China driver's license valid in Malta?

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Malta?

Can I rent a car in Malta with a China license?

An IDP helps non-EU and non-Latin-script drivers at Maltese desks.

What IDP format does Malta accept?

Malta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Malta?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing China license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1949 Geneva / 1968 Vienna format Malta uses — carried alongside your China license.

Do I still carry my China license?

Carry BOTH your China national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.