Frequently asked questions and answers about the:InternationalInsuranceCertificate

It is the acronym for the International Insurance Certificate for third-party liability of motor land vehicles.
This is required to drive in certain foreign countries.

Yes, it is exactly the same. Previously, it was colloquially called the Green Card because it had to be printed in green.

However, since 2021 in Spain it has been printed on white paper and now, colloquially, we use its acronym CIS instead of International Insurance Certificate.

By law, you are not required to hold the CIS, or the formerly named Green Card, to cross borders within the European Union. This is because every European Union country complies with the provisions of the First Directive: each motor insurance policy issued in the EU guarantees the minimum insurance cover required by law in another member state.

Nor is the CIS required for these countries, even though they are not part of the EU: Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland (including Liechtenstein), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina and, recently, the UK (despite Brexit) and Montenegro (since 2 August 2021).

However, you do need the International Insurance Certificate to drive your vehicle in the following countries:

• ALBANIA
• AZERBAIJAN
• BELARUS
• ISRAEL
• IRAN
• MOROCCO
• MOLDOVA
• MACEDONIA
• TUNISIA
• TURKEY
• UKRAINE

You will find up-to-date information on the countries in which you do or do not need the Green Card or CIS in this PDF.

In these countries, where the CIS is required, always remember to keep it among your vehicle’s documents. This document is your insurance credential and certifies the existence of third-party liability insurance guaranteeing, at the very least, the compulsory cover of the country visited.

However, since 2021, in Spain, it has been printed on white paper and now, colloquially, we use its acronym CIS, instead of International Insurance Certificate.

Find out here.