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Switching Driver’s Licenses

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Update date: November 1, 2024

To drive a car in Japan, you need to obtain an international driver’s license before arriving in Japan or convert your overseas driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license. An international driver’s license is valid for one year after entry into Japan or until your overseas driver’s license expires, whichever comes first.
You cannot renew your international driver’s license in Japan. To continue driving in Japan after that, you need to convert your regular overseas driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license before its expiration. To transfer to a Japanese license, you need to go to the nearest Driver’s License Center and bring the following documents:

  1. Valid driver’s license issued overseas. (You need to prove residency in the country where it was issued for a minimum of three months after license issuance. If the date of issue is not shown on the license, you also need to obtain a document certifying the date of issue.)
  2. Japanese translation of your driver’s license. (The translation must be prepared at the embassy of the country where the license was issued, or at a Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) office.)
  3. A Certificate of Residence that lists your nationality
  4. Residence Card
  5. Passport
  6. One photo taken within the last six months (3.0 × 2.4 cm). (Photos can be taken for a fee at the office accepting applications.)
  7. License fees (as of March 2024)
    – Ordinary passenger vehicle: ¥4,600
    – Moped: ¥3,550

There are also two tests when converting to a Japanese license:

  1. A knowledge test on Japanese traffic rules (10 yes/no questions) Generally, tests are available in 19 languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese, Portuguese, Thai, Korean, and Spanish. Since some of these languages are not available at some regional centers, it is advisable to check in advance.
  2. Driving test
    *These tests are not required if you have a valid driver’s license issued in any of the following 29 countries and regions (as of March 2024): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the US States; Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Washington states; Taiwan.

Since procedural documents are written in Japanese, it’s best to bring an interpreter with you to the test center. For more details on procedures, please visit the following website: English webpage of the National Police Agency. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) issues a booklet entitled Kotsu-no Kyosoku, which describes Japanese traffic rules. The booklet’s foreign-language versions—in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese—are also available for sale.

If you have a driver’s license issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan and have a Japanese translation of its contents, you can drive in Japan for one year from your date of entry. The translation must be created by the consular agency in your home country or by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).

Switching a Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese Driver’s License

To switch to a Japanese driver’s license, it is essential to make a reservation at the Sapporo Driver’s License Testing Center.
Reservations can be made by phone on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM. (Reservations cannot be made on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, substitute holidays, or during the year-end and New Year period from December 29th to January 3rd.)
Please note that phone inquiries are only available in Japanese, and there is no support in foreign languages.
Reservations cannot be made until all the required documents are in order. A “confirmation number” will be provided once the necessary documents are complete. When everything is ready, please contact the Sapporo Driver’s License Testing Center with your “confirmation number,” name, and all of the required documents to schedule your reservation.