Answer two separate questions
First establish whether your licence permits you to drive the relevant vehicle in Cyprus for your circumstances. Then establish whether the rental supplier will accept your licence, age, experience and documents. A supplier's acceptance does not replace the legal requirement, and legal entitlement does not guarantee a rental booking.
Identify the issuing country, vehicle categories, expiry date and any restriction such as automatic-only entitlement. Carry the original documents required for the journey and booking. Do not assume a photograph of the licence or a translation alone replaces the original.
Visitors: check the actual licence
For UK visitors, GOV.UK's Cyprus travel advice says a UK photocard licence can be used and that a paper licence may require an international driving permit. This is UK-specific guidance. It should not be expanded into a promise covering every country's licence or every length of stay.
An international driving permit is a supporting document, not a replacement for a valid national licence. Ask the licensing authority and supplier what format, translation or permit is required for your issuing country and visit. We have not verified a complete current country-by-country visitor table or all IDP exceptions.
Residents: conversion is a different process
Becoming resident can change your obligations. Do not keep applying tourist guidance after your circumstances change. The RTD's conversion procedure is the appropriate starting point, but its current recognised-country notice and full document requirements could not be confirmed during this check.
For UK licence holders, UK government resident guidance says exchange is required within six months of becoming resident in Cyprus and can take place without a test. It separately qualifies licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Confirm your own category and documents with RTD before relying on that process.
Do not assume that an EU licence originally obtained by exchanging a non-EU licence receives identical treatment in every circumstance. Ask specifically about your licence history where an exchange code or restriction appears.
What to ask before applying
Prepare your original licence, identity documents and information establishing residence. Ask RTD for the current application form, accepted residence evidence, translations, photographs, medical requirements where relevant, fee and appointment route. Do not use a generic list as proof that your application pack is complete.
Ask what happens to the original licence, whether you may drive while the application is processed and what document proves any temporary entitlement. An application receipt is not automatically a driving permit.
Rental requirements remain separate
Suppliers can apply minimum licence-tenure and age conditions by vehicle group. Hertz Cyprus's terms, for example, set supplier eligibility requirements. Read the terms attached to your selected offer rather than relying on another company's rule.
Check the main driver's identity against the booking and the deposit card. Use the rental checklist before paying and the driving-on-the-left guide before departure. New residents can combine these checks with the mobility decision guide.