How to Get a Driving License in Japan: The Complete Guide for Foreigners (2026)

Japan has some of the safest roads in the world, and it keeps them that way through one of the strictest driving license systems on the planet. For foreigners living here, that creates a real challenge — but also a very achievable one, provided you understand exactly what the process involves before you walk through the doors of your local license center.

This guide covers everything: whether you can convert your existing foreign license, which countries are exempt from testing, what changed under the October 2025 rule revisions, how the written and practical driving tests work, what documents you need, how much it costs, and what to do if conversion is not an option and you need to start from scratch. By the end, you will know exactly which path applies to you and what to do next.

The First Question: Do You Need a Japanese License?

Not immediately — but if you plan to live in Japan long-term and want to drive, yes, you will need one eventually.

When you first arrive, you have a short-term option available: driving on an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP is a document issued in your home country that translates your license details into multiple languages and is recognized for driving abroad under the 1949 Geneva Convention. If you obtained one before arriving in Japan, it is valid for one year from your entry date — not one year from the IDP issue date, whichever expires sooner.

Critical points about IDPs in Japan:

• Japan only recognizes the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP. The 1968 Vienna Convention IDP — used by many countries — is not valid here. If your country only issues Vienna Convention IDPs (as some do), you cannot drive in Japan on that permit.

• Your IDP is only valid alongside your original foreign driver's license. Both documents must be carried together while driving.

• If you leave Japan and re-enter, the one-year period resets from your new entry date — but only if the re-entry is genuine, not a short "visa run" trip designed purely to reset the clock. Authorities have become aware of this practice.

• IDPs cannot be renewed in Japan. You must obtain any new IDP from your home country before or during a trip abroad.

Once your IDP expires, or if you did not bring one, you will need either a Japanese license or a valid foreign license with an official JAF translation (an option available to nationals of certain countries — explained below) to drive legally in Japan.

The October 2025 Changes: What Is Different Now

Before diving into the process, it is essential to understand that Japan's foreign license conversion system changed significantly on October 1, 2025. Many guides and forum posts you will find online predate these changes and contain outdated information. Here is what is new:

Residency is now mandatory. Short-term visitors — tourists, exchange students on programs shorter than three months, and business visitors — can no longer apply for a Japanese driving license conversion. You must hold a valid residence registration (住民票, jūminhyō) in Japan to apply. If you do not have an address registered in Japan's Basic Resident Register, you are not eligible.

The written test is harder. The exam now consists of 50 text-based questions only. The illustration-based questions that previously made up part of the test have been removed. The passing score has been raised from 85% to 90%, meaning you can miss no more than five questions out of fifty. The test is still available in multiple languages at most license centers.

The practical driving test is stricter. The scoring criteria have been tightened. Examiners now evaluate not just your mechanical driving ability but your understanding and application of Japanese traffic rules in context. Small deviations that were previously overlooked — such as not checking mirrors at precisely the right moments or not following the exact prescribed route through intersections — are now penalized more consistently.

Three-month residency in the issuing country is enforced more rigorously. This requirement has always existed, but documentation checks have become significantly more thorough. You must be able to prove, using passport stamps or other official records, that you lived in the country that issued your license for a minimum of three months after the license was obtained — not before it, and not just anywhere abroad. Gaps, inconsistencies, or missing stamps will be scrutinized.

These changes were introduced by Japan's National Police Agency in response to rising road incidents involving foreign-licensed drivers and documented cases of system misuse.

Two Paths to a Japanese Driving License

Every foreigner in Japan who wants to drive legally long-term will end up on one of two paths:

Path 1 — License Conversion (外免切替, gaimen kirikae): Converting your valid foreign driving license into a Japanese one. This is the preferred route for anyone who already holds a license from their home country. Depending on which country issued your license, this process may require no tests at all, just a written test, or both written and practical tests.

Path 2 — From Scratch at a Driving School (自動車教習所): If you do not have a foreign license to convert — or if your application is rejected — you enroll in a Japanese driving school, complete the full curriculum of driving instruction, and take the same license acquisition tests that Japanese citizens take. This is significantly more expensive and time-consuming than conversion.

Most foreigners will pursue Path 1. Path 2 is covered later in this guide.

Path 1: License Conversion (Gaimen Kirikae)

Who Is Eligible?

To apply for license conversion, you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You hold a valid (non-expired) foreign driver's license

• You are a legal resident of Japan with a registered address (jūminhyō)

• You can prove that you lived in the country that issued your license for at least three months after the date the license was issued — not before, and not just any time abroad

• You are aged 18 or older (16 or older for a standard motorcycle license; 20 or older for a medium-sized vehicle license; 21 or older for a large vehicle license)

• Your visa status is valid at the time of application

The three-month residency requirement is the single most common stumbling block. The purpose is to confirm that you actually have driving experience in the country where your license was issued — not simply that you obtained it and left. Bring all of your passports — including expired ones — to demonstrate your entry and exit history. If your passport does not show clear stamps or records for the relevant period, the license center may request supplementary documents such as old utility bills, work contracts, or official Certificate of Entry/Exit Records obtained from immigration authorities.

If your license has already expired, you cannot convert it. If it expired while you were in Japan and you did not renew it before expiry, you will need to obtain a new license from your home country before applying for conversion.

Country Groups: Who Takes Which Tests?

The most critical factor determining how straightforward your conversion will be is which country issued your license. Japan has bilateral agreements with a number of countries and territories whose licensing standards are considered equivalent to Japan's. These countries are divided into two groups.

Group 1 — Exempt from Both Written and Practical Tests

Holders of licenses from the following countries and regions need only pass an eye examination and undergo a document review. No written test, no driving test.

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (added June 2025), United Kingdom

From the United States, only holders of licenses issued in the following states are included in this group: Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. All other U.S. states fall into Group 2.

Group 2 — Written Test Required, Practical Test Exempt

Some licenses require only the written test without a driving test. This currently applies to a small number of countries and U.S. states not in Group 1 — notably Indiana. Check with your specific prefectural license center for the current list, as additions are occasionally made.

Group 3 — Both Written and Practical Tests Required

If your license was issued by any country not listed above — including most Asian countries (excluding South Korea and Taiwan), most U.S. states, Latin American countries, African countries, and others — you must pass both the written examination and the practical driving test to complete conversion.

This is the more challenging route, and it is where the October 2025 changes hit hardest. The driving test in particular has a notoriously high failure rate on the first attempt for foreigners. Being well-prepared is not optional — it is essential.

Step-by-Step: The License Conversion Process

Regardless of which country your license is from, you must obtain an official Japanese translation of your foreign driving license before your appointment. This translation cannot be done by a friend, a general translation service, or yourself.

The two most widely accepted translation providers are:

• JAF (Japan Automobile Federation / 日本自動車連盟): The gold standard. JAF translations are accepted at all license centers across Japan. You can apply online, by mail, or in person at a JAF branch. Standard processing takes approximately two weeks; express options are available at some locations. The fee is around ¥3,000.

• Ziplus: Another commonly used official translation service. Faster processing in some cases. Also widely accepted.

If your license is from a country not covered by JAF or Ziplus, your country's embassy or consulate in Japan may be able to provide an official translation. Check in advance, as not all embassies offer this service.

Keep both the original translation and your original foreign license — you will need both at every step.

License conversion is processed at your prefectural Driver's License Examination Center (運転免許試験場). You cannot do this at a police station or ward office. Each prefecture has at least one center, and some major prefectures like Tokyo and Osaka have multiple locations.

As of 2025–2026, most centers require advance reservations, and many only accept applications by telephone — not online. Call ahead to check available dates, required documents specific to your country, and appointment availability. Demand is high, and slots can be limited, particularly at Tokyo area centers.

Days available for foreign license conversion vary by location. Most centers handle conversions only on specific weekdays. Confirm the schedule before arriving, as showing up on the wrong day means being turned away regardless of your documents.

Standard required documents for license conversion include:

• Original foreign driver's license (valid, not expired)

• Any expired foreign licenses — bring them all. Expired licenses help establish your driving history and prove your three-month residency in the issuing country

• Official Japanese translation of your license (JAF or equivalent)

• All current and expired passports — used to verify your entry/exit history and prove your three-month residency in the issuing country

• Residence card (在留カード, zairyū kādo)

• Residence certificate (住民票, jūminhyō) — issued by your ward or city office, typically within the last three months

• Passport-style photograph (3cm × 2.4cm, white background, taken within the last six months)

• Application fee — approximately ¥2,350–¥4,000 depending on the license type and prefecture

Additional documents that may be required depending on your situation:

• Certificate of Entry/Exit Record — if your passport lacks clear stamps confirming your period of residence in the issuing country. Obtain this from the regional immigration bureau (¥300 per certificate).

• Official certificate from your home country's licensing authority — required for some countries where passport stamps alone are not considered sufficient proof of residence

• Name change documentation — if your name on your foreign license differs from your current legal name (e.g., following marriage)

Document requirements vary slightly by prefecture and by country of license issuance. Call your license center in advance to confirm exactly what you need. Arriving with incomplete documents on the day will result in your appointment being postponed.

At your appointment, a license center officer will review your documents carefully. This is where the October 2025 changes are most visible — the review is thorough, and discrepancies will be flagged.

After the document check, you will take a basic eye examination (視力検査). The standard requirement is visual acuity of at least 0.7 in both eyes combined, with at least 0.3 in each individual eye (corrected with glasses or contact lenses is acceptable). Peripheral vision and color distinction are also tested at some centers. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them.

If your country falls into Group 2 or Group 3, you will take a written knowledge test covering Japanese traffic laws, road signs, and driving regulations.

Under the October 2025 rules:

• The test consists of 50 text-based questions

• Passing score is 90% (45 out of 50 correct)

• The test is available in multiple languages at most major centers — including English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and others. Confirm language availability with your specific center, as not every language is offered every day

• Questions cover road signs, right-of-way rules, speed limits, emergency procedures, alcohol regulations, and Japan-specific traffic rules

The test is not trivial. Japan's road rules have nuances that differ significantly from many other countries — left-hand traffic (the opposite of the United States and most of Asia), specific yielding rules at unmarked intersections, strict rules around railway crossings, and detailed regulations around narrow residential streets (生活道路). Study seriously using the official handbook or dedicated apps and study materials.

A common mistake is assuming that because you have driven for years in your home country, the test will be easy. Many experienced drivers fail on their first attempt because they have not studied Japan-specific rules. Give yourself at least one to two weeks of focused study before attempting the exam.

The practical driving test is conducted in a Japanese car at the license center's test course — not on public roads. The test car will be a standard automatic or manual transmission vehicle on the left side of the road (right-hand drive).

The test is typically 15 to 20 minutes long and follows a prescribed course through the test center's circuit. You will not be told the exact route in advance, but you will be given a course map. Study it carefully before your test begins.

What examiners look for — and what most foreigners lose points on:

Observation checks. Japan's driving test requires exaggerated, visible head-checking at every mirror, every shoulder check, and every junction. Simply glancing is not enough — you must visibly turn your head so the examiner can see that you are checking. Failure to do visible mirror and shoulder checks is one of the single most common reasons for failing.

Starting and stopping. You must check your surroundings, check mirrors, signal, and execute movements in a precise, deliberate sequence. Forgetting any part of the sequence at any stage — even if you drive safely — will cost points.

Speed. Driving too slowly is penalized. Drive at the posted test course speed unless conditions require otherwise. Examiners want to see confident, appropriately-paced driving.

Lane position. In Japan, you drive on the left. Keep your vehicle positioned in the left portion of your lane, close to but not touching the left line. Drifting toward the center or the right side of a lane is penalized.

Railway crossings. There is almost certainly a simulated railway crossing on the test course. You must stop completely before the line, look both ways visibly, then proceed. Stopping on the line or forgetting to look will result in an immediate fail.

Narrow road sections (S-curves and crank sections). Most test courses include a narrow winding section (S字) and a right-angle turn section (クランク) that simulate the tight lanes common in Japanese residential neighborhoods. These require slow, precise steering with no contact with the borders or pylons.

The fail rate on the first attempt at the practical test is very high — estimates from foreign nationals' experience range from 60% to 80% failure on the first try for Group 3 applicants. This is not a reflection of your driving ability in general; it is a reflection of how different Japanese test-driving style and expectations are from what most people are accustomed to.

How to prepare: The single most effective preparation is to attend a pre-test lesson (試験場コース練習) offered by some driving schools. These lessons take place on the same test center course and are specifically designed to teach you the test-style driving format Japan requires. Even two or three lessons will dramatically improve your pass rate.

Costs for License Conversion

For Group 1 applicants from exempted countries, total costs are typically ¥6,000–¥8,000 all in. For Group 3 applicants who require multiple attempts at the practical test, total costs can reach ¥30,000–¥50,000 before passing — making pre-test preparation genuinely cost-effective.

Using a Foreign License with a JAF Translation (No Conversion)

Nationals of Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, and Taiwan have an additional option not available to other foreigners: they can drive in Japan using their home country driver's license together with an official JAF Japanese translation, without converting to a Japanese license, for up to one year after entry into Japan.

This works differently from an IDP and is not available to nationals of other countries. If you are a French or German national, for example, you can present your French or German license plus the JAF translation at a traffic stop and drive legally. This is a useful interim solution for those not yet ready to convert.

After one year from entry, you must complete the conversion process to continue driving legally.

Path 2: Getting a License From Scratch in Japan

If you have never held a driving license before, or if your foreign license cannot be converted, you will need to go through the full Japanese licensing process from the beginning. This is how Japanese citizens typically obtain their licenses.

There are two ways to do this:

Attending a licensed driving school (指定自動車教習所): The standard route. You enroll at a private driving school, complete a prescribed number of hours of classroom instruction (学科教習) and behind-the-wheel training (技能教習), and then take a final practical skills test administered by the school itself. Upon passing, you only need to take the written knowledge test at the license center — not the practical driving test, as the school's own assessment substitutes for it.

The independent examination route (一発試験 / ippatu shiken): You skip driving school entirely and go directly to the license center to attempt the written and practical tests on your own. There is no curriculum requirement. In theory this saves money; in practice, the practical test pass rate for self-prepared candidates is extremely low, and most people end up attempting it many times before passing. It is rarely cost-effective in the end.

Driving school: time and cost

After completing the driving school curriculum and passing the school's internal practical assessment, you visit the license center to take the written knowledge test (90% passing score, 50 questions under the October 2025 rules) and a simple vision check. Pass those, and your Japanese license is issued the same day.

Japan's Unique Road Rules: What You Must Know

Whether you are converting or starting from scratch, Japan's roads have rules and conventions that differ meaningfully from most other countries. Understanding these before you get behind the wheel will save you from violations, accidents, and test failures.

Left-hand traffic. Japan drives on the left, with the steering wheel on the right side of the car. For drivers from North America, continental Europe, or most of Asia, this is the biggest initial adjustment.

Pedestrians and cyclists have strong priority. At unmarked crossings, pedestrians always have right of way. Cyclists legally use the road in Japan, and many narrow residential streets are shared spaces where vehicles must give way carefully.

Railway crossings require a full stop every time. Even if the signals are green, you must stop completely before the white line at every railway crossing, look both ways, confirm the tracks are clear, then proceed. This is not optional and is strictly enforced — both on public roads and in the driving test.

Speed limits are genuinely low. Urban speed limits are often 30–40 km/h on regular roads and 50–60 km/h on major arterials. Many foreigners coming from countries with higher urban limits find Japan's pace slow by comparison. Stick to the posted limits — enforcement is consistent.

Narrow roads (生活道路). Residential side streets in Japan are extremely narrow by international standards — often barely wide enough for two small cars to pass. Driving slowly, staying left, and yielding to oncoming vehicles at pinch points is expected behavior.

No right turns on red. Unlike the United States, turning on a red light is not permitted in Japan in any direction unless there is an explicit sign allowing it.

Mobile phones. Using a handheld phone while driving was already illegal. Penalties were sharply increased in recent years and now include license suspension for first offenses.

Renewing a Japanese Driving License

Once you hold a Japanese driving license, renewal is straightforward but must be done on time. Your license is valid for either three or five years depending on your violation record, and it expires on the holder's birthday in the final year of validity.

Renewal takes place at a license center or, for some license holders, at a police station. You attend a short road safety lecture (1–2 hours for those with no recent violations), take an eye check, pay the renewal fee (approximately ¥2,500–¥3,500), and receive your renewed card on the same day.

If your residence status in Japan expires or you leave Japan permanently, you should be aware that your Japanese license remains valid as a document but you cannot legally drive in Japan without a valid residence status. Upon returning to Japan on a new visa, your Japanese license is immediately usable again without any conversion or reapplication process.

Driving License vs. International Driving Permit: Key Differences

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my foreign license to rent a car in Japan? Yes, if you have a valid IDP (Geneva Convention 1949) and your original foreign license. Most major rental companies in Japan accept this combination. Some also accept a foreign license with a JAF translation from bilateral-agreement countries. Always carry both documents together.

What happens if I drive in Japan without a valid license? Driving without a valid license is a criminal offense in Japan. Penalties include fines of up to ¥300,000, license suspension, and potential deportation implications for foreign residents. Driving on an expired IDP or a license you have not properly converted after one year in Japan falls into this category.

Do I need to retake the test if I already have a Japanese license and move to a new prefecture? No. A Japanese driving license is nationally valid and does not need to be changed when you move. Update your registered address on the card at your new prefecture's license center, but your license itself remains fully valid.

Can I convert my Japanese license back to my home country license when I leave Japan? This depends entirely on your home country. Some countries — including Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea — allow direct back-conversion. Others require you to go through parts of the testing process again. Check with your home country's licensing authority before leaving Japan.

I failed the practical test. How soon can I retake it? There is no mandatory waiting period between attempts. You can re-book as soon as an appointment is available at your license center. However, given the cost of each attempt, spending time on pre-test practice lessons before re-sitting is strongly recommended.

Is an automatic-only license possible in Japan? Yes. You can obtain an AT限定 (automatic transmission only) license, which restricts you to driving automatic vehicles. The practical test at driving school uses an automatic vehicle, which many find easier to operate. The cost and time requirements are slightly lower than for a full manual license. If you later want to drive manuals, you can take an additional practical test to remove the restriction.

Quick Reference: Which Path Is Yours?

Getting a Japanese driving license takes more time and effort than in most other countries — but it is entirely doable with the right preparation. The October 2025 changes raised the bar, but they have not made the system impossible for well-prepared applicants. Know your country group, gather every document you need before your appointment, study Japan's traffic rules seriously, and if you are going up against the practical driving test, get at least one practice session in before you sit it for real. The roads here are worth it.