One of the following licenses is required for a foreigner to drive a car in Japan. <PDF  > |
 Drive with an IDP together with Foreign country’s driver’s license
・Only International Driving Permit issued by a member nation of Geneva Treaty concerning the
traffic rules is valid in Japan
・IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue or from your arrival date in Japan, whichever
shorter period.
※ We recommend you get an International driving permit before your departure of your
home country.
 Drive with your country’s driver's license with an official translation to Japanese.
・Foreign driver's license issued in Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or
Taiwan is valid in Japan. However, you must hold your country’s driver’s license with an
official translation to Japanese from your foreign driver's license, as you drive. A translation of
your foreign driver's license will be prepared by the embassy of your country or JAF(Japan
Automobile Federation).
・It is valid for one year from your arrival date in Japan..
 Drive with a Japanese Driver’s License
3-1. If you hold a foreign country’s driver's license
→ Exchange a Home country’s driver's license to Japanese one,”Gaimen Kirikae",
Pleases read “Gaimen-kirikae”
3-2. If you do not hold a foreign country’s driver's license.
→ After learning a Japanese traffic regulation and driving skills, you need to a pass written test
and driving skills test at Mito Driver’s License Center to get it.
It is a important note, if you are going to drive a car in Japan (PDF)
| How to Apply to JAF for Japanese translation of your license. |
 Documents required
1. Application form for Japanese Translation of foreign driver license. The form can downloaded from
the JAF website at http://www.jaf.or.jp/inter/translation/pdf/pdf_apli_english.pdf
2. A driver’s license (original. In principle). Your license will be returned as soon as JAF copy it.
Photocopies are acceptable if you are not able to send the original license. In that case, please
prepare clear photocopies of the front and back of the license, preferably in color, enough to allow
the inscriptions on the license to be read clearly.
3. A photocopy of a Residence card. This is required only for the license written in Arabic or Russian,
or for the license issued in certain countries, including the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of
Thailand, and the Union of Myanmar.
4. Issuance fee is 3000 yen / per license and Return postage money 380 yen.
Send the required documents to JAF Ibaraki Office or Tokyo Office.
1) to 4） is put into registered postal cash, and it sends to JAF. You can get a registered postal cash
envelope"Kani-kakidome" at KEK Grocery.
Address : JAF Ibaraki Office : TEL 029-244-2660 / 〒310-0851 2475-7 Senba-cho Mito
JAF Tokyo Office : TEL 03-6833-9000 / 〒105-0014 2-2-17 Shiba Minato-ku Tokyo
In principle, the Japanese Translation will be issued in one working day. It takes approximately two
to three weeks to obtain translations for the driver’s license listed in 3) of “Documents required”.
 Information on the Japanese Translation for changing a Foreign Driver's License to Japanese License.
http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/switch.htm
Website about English written tests of Papanese Driver's License:
http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/kenkei/a03_license/info/english.html
| Change to Japanese driver's licenses |
Preparation before going to Mito Driver's licenses Center.
Confirm that driver's license of your country can be changed to Japanese Driver’s License at Mito
Driver's License Centre by phone.(☎029-293-8811) (Japanese only) < Access >
Ask official translation to Japanese of your driver license either to JAF (Japan Automobile Federation)
or to an Embassy. We recommend JAF.
We recommend receiving training at the Tsukuba Driving School for preparation of skill test at Mito
Driver’s License Centre.
The Tsukuba Driving School needs reservation by phone. (☎029-857-5030) (Japanese only)
Tsukuba driving school  can prepare documents to be submitted to Mito Driver’s License Centre.
Change to Japanese driver's license.”Gaimen Kirikae"
Before applying for ”Gaimen Kirikae" at the Mito Driver's License Center, following requirements must
be fulfilled.
1. The driver's license of applicant must be valid.
2. The applicant must be able to prove that he/she stayed in the country where he/she obtained the
driver's license for three months or more after obtaining the license.
3. You have registered 「Moving-in」 in Tsukuba (Ibaraki Prefecture).
4. You have a legal status of residence (Your Visa is valid).
Documents required for switching to a Japanese driver's license.
1. Driver's license obtained outside Japan
2. Passport
3. Residence Card
4. Two Photos ( 3cm in length × 2.4cm in width )
5. Japanese translation of the foreign driver's license (How to get the Japanese translation will be
described later)
6. Driver's License Application Form (Application Form is available at No12 window (Counter) at the
Mito Driver’s License
Centre.)
<How to write application is here >
General “Gaimen Kirikae “procedure at the Driver's License Center
1. Submission of application documents
2. Aptitude test
3. Examination on the traffic rule in Japan.
4. Driving skill check (The applicant is asked to actually drive a vehicle at a course in the Driver's
License Center.)
5. Issue of the Japanese driver's license.
Please visit the Japan Automobile Federation website to see more information:
http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/switch.htm
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Driver's License in Japan
