If you’d like to use your driver’s license issued in foreign country, you must convert it to a Japanese driver’s license before you drive a vehicle. The procedures for converting a driver’s license is called “Gaimen-Kirikae, (がいめんきりかえ)” in Japanese. However, the procedures must be carried out in accordance with strict criteria. With this article, we will explain the procedures, necessary documents, and cost for converting a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license.
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How to convert a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one?
As we mentioned before, converting a driver’s license must be carried out in accordance with Japanese law. In the procedures, you need to prepare proper documents and apply them to your local driver’s license center.
Required criteria for the conversion
Following table shows the criteria and the details.
| Criteria | Detail |
| Obtain a driver’s license issued in foreign country | The applicant has a driver’s license issued in foreign country and it must be valid. |
| Certificate of residence in foreign country issued the driver’s license | The applicant must have stayed in the country where the license was issued, for three months or more from and inclusive of the date of issue of the driver’s license. (Ex: Entry stamp or Exit stamp on a passport) This is to certify that the applicant drove a vehicle in the country. |
| Certificate of residence in Japan | Documents that prove that you reside in Japan (residence card, etc.) are required. |
Meeting those requirements is the first step to convert a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license. Once you check the requirements, the next step is to prepare proper documents.
Required documents for the conversion
The documents listed below are required for the conversion of a driver’s license. It is better to prepare for them before you apply for the conversion.
| Required Documents | Remarks |
| A valid foreign driver’s license | The license must be original. |
| A translation of the driver’s license | The translation must be issued by JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) or a foreign embassy. |
| Passport | A photocopy of a page/pages of entry stamp and exit stamp which indicates the duration of your stay in the foreign country. |
| Certificate of Residence | The certificate must list the address and be issued in 3 months. |
| A photo | A photo should be in proper size (Width: 24mm, Height: 30mm) and taken within 6 months. The face must be front facing, from shoulders up, without a hat or cap, with a plain background. |
| Examination Fee | Fee for the examinations and handling fee. |
These documents are required for converting a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license. If the documents are incomplete, the process might take time or cause delay.
Examination Fee
The examination fee is shown in the list below. The fee depends on the type of the vehicle.
| Type of Vehicle | Fee |
| Small-sized motorcycle | ¥1,500 |
| Standard motor vehicle (Automatic/Manual) | ¥2,550 |
| Large-sized, Semi-Mid-sized, Mid-sized motor vehicle | ¥4,100 |
| Others | ¥2,600 |
| Issuance Fee | ¥2,050 |
| Fee for adding type of the vehicle/motorcycle | ¥200 |
Costs of preparation for the required documents follow.
| Subjects | Cost |
| Japanese translation of the driver’s license | ¥6,600 |
| Certificate of Residence | ¥300 |
| Obtaining an immigration record | ¥300 |
| A photograph | ¥800 |
| Rental fee for a vehicle | ¥1,450 |
It costs a certain amount in total so preparation in advance is better.
Procedures for obtaining a Japanese driver’s license.
Converting a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license is proceeds with those steps below.
Make a reservation
For a first step, call your nearest driver’s license center to make a reservation or make a reservation online. Make sure your required documents.
Reception
Go to the driver’s license center on the day you reserved and submit your required documents at the reception desk.
Document examination
The documents you submitted will be examined and checked for information such as the validity of the driver’s license and your immigration records.
Aptitude test
After the document examination, you will take an aptitude test including vision test and color vision test. These tests are to confirm that you meet the physical requirements to drive in Japan.
Written test
Written test is to check your knowledge about Japanese traffic rules and laws. The number of questions is 10. You will pass the test with 7 or more correct answers out of the 10 questions. The test corresponds with English, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog and some other languages. The language correspondence is different with driver’s license centers, we recommend you check them on the website in advance.
Exemptions of examination
If you have a driver’s license issued in a country which signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement with Japan, the written test and practical test will be exempt from the procedure. Currently 29 countries have signed the Mutual Recognition Agreement with Japan.[1]
| Countries exempt both written and practical skills tests | ||
| Iceland | Ireland | the United States of America (only for the following states: OR, CO, VA, OH, HI, MD, WA) |
| the United Kingdom | Italy | Australia |
| Netherland | Canada | Korea |
| Greece | Switzerland | Sweden |
| Spain | Slovenia | Czech Republic |
| Denmark | Germany | New Zealand |
| Norway | Hungary | Finland |
| France | Belgium | Poland |
| Portugal | Monaco | Luxembourg |
| Taiwan | Austria | |
| Country exempt only practical test | ||
| The United States (Only for the following state: Indiana) | ||
Even in these countries and areas above, some states and regions may not be applicable, and you may need additional documents to prove your immigration records and certified translation of your driver’s license. *Note: Countries that signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement with Japan may change, so we recommend checking the latest information via the driver’s license center or official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Practical test
After you pass the written test, you need to take a practical test. The test is conducted with a point reduction method. 70 or more points out of 100 points is the passing score. As written above, 29 countries exempt both written and practical tests.
PIN setting and Photo shoot
If you pass the tests, set a PIN, and take a photo for a Japanese driver’s license.
Issuance of a Japanese driver’s license
Once you finish all the procedures, your Japanese driver’s license will be issued. The license is effective immediately and it is quite extreme though, we can say it is possible to rent a vehicle and travel around on the way home. In Japan, newly licensed drivers are required to put a beginner’s mark on a car for the first year of the issuance. If you have a foreign driver’s license issued more than a year, there is no need for the beginner’s mark.
Preparation is the key
In this article, we talked about converting a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one. It is necessary to search and understand the procedures of the application, required documents, preparation for the tests and costs in advance. We hope this article will help you.
[1] Source: Metropolitan Police Department, “how to convert a foreign license into a Japanese one”, 27 February 2024, Metropolitan Police Department, accessed 23 March 2024, <https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/traffic_safety/drivers_licenses/index.files/En_2403.pdf>
