Does the UN issue international driver's licenses and international passports ?

No, neither the United Nations nor any of its subsidiary bodies issues or authorizes the issuance of International Driver's License for the public using the United Nations emblem or name. Neither does the United Nations issue any passports or travel documents for the public.

The issuance of passports, other travel documents and visas to private individuals is exclusively a function of the national authorities. The only travel documents issued by the United Nations are those meant exclusively for the use of the United Nations staff members and experts while on official mission for the Organization. Such documents, called Laissez-Passers and United Nations certificates, are usually used in conjunction with national passports of staff members and experts traveling for official purposes.

Likewise, driver's licenses and international driver’s licenses are issued by Governments or Government-authorized bodies. Please also note that neither the 1949 United Nations Convention on Road Traffic nor the 1968 United Nations Convention on Road Traffic requires or authorizes international driving licenses to depict the UN emblem or name.

The use of the United Nations emblem and name and any abbreviation thereof, is reserved for official purposes of the Organization. General Assembly resolution 92(I) adopted on 7 December 1946 prohibits the use of the emblem and name of the United Nations or any abbreviation thereof in any other way without the authorization of the Secretary General, and recommends that Member States take necessary measures to prevent such use.

General Assembly resolution 92(I) recommends that Member States take the necessary measures to prevent the use of the UN emblem and name without the authorization of the Secretary-General. In the United States, the use of the UN emblem and name is protected under the Federal Lanham Trademark Act. In New York, under section 141 of its General Business Law the use of the UN emblem and name without authorization is a misdemeanor.

The United Nations has been cooperating with national and local authorities in a number of countries in order to stop the unauthorized use of the UN emblem or name and the issuance of fraudulent international driver’s licenses and passports.
 
 
 

This fact-sheet has been issued by the Public Inquiries Unit, Department of Public Information, United Nations. Tel. 212-963-4475; fax. 212-963-0071; e-mail: inquiries@un.org; Internet: www.un.org/geninfo/faq