Driver's license conversion

Table of Contents

Basic Steps for Driver's License Conversion

1. Contact the Resource Center

Submit this request form to request to book an appointment at the Driver's License Center
(if you cannot open the above link, use this link instead)

2. Collect the required documents

Refer to this section of the page for the required documents

3. Go to the document screening appointment at the Driver's License Center
  • If your driver's license was issued in one of the following countries, regions, or state, you will get a Japanese license on the same day.
    **Indiana license holders are only exempt from the driving exam(i.e. need to take the written exam)
  • If your license was NOT issued in any of the below, book a next appointment for the following step.
Iceland Ireland United Kingdom Austria Australia The Netherlands Canada Greece Switzerland
Sweden Spain Czech Republic Denmark Germany New Zealand Norway Finland France
Belgium Portugal Luxembourg Slovenia Monaco South Korea Taiwan Maryland State (US)) Washington State (US)
Hawaii State (US) Virginia State (US) Ohio State (US) Indiana State** (US) Oregon State (US) Colorado State (US) Poland Hungary Italy
4. Take the written test

The exam consists of 50 questions. You need to mark 90% (45 correct answers) in order to pass the exam.
You can borrow materials to get yourself prepared for the exam from the Resource Center.

  • If you pass the exam, book a next appointment for the following step.
  • If you fail the exam, book a next appointment to re-take the exam.
5. Take the practical test
  • If you pass the exam, a Japanese license will be issued on the same day.
  • If you fail the exam, book a next appointment to re-take the exam.

Exam course maps (created by Resource Center)

Required Documents:

1. Valid Overseas Driver's license
  • It may not be converted if the validity period is less than 30 days.
  • If it does not contain the first acquisition date, you may need to provide an official document, such as a driving record, that indicates the first acquisition date.
2. Official Japanese Translation of the Overseas License
3. Passport
  • Passports are used to confirm your physical presence in the license-issuing country for more than 90 days along with the documents you will present. Thus, the passports must cover the period mentioned on the documents you will present.
4. Resident Certificate (with Nationality)
  • Residence certificate issued within 6 months prior to submission
  • Your nationality MUST be mentioned
  • Your resident status MUST be mentioned
  • Your personal number MUST NOT be printed
  • Click here to see how to get the certificate from a municipal office
5. Resident Card
6. Documents to Prove 90 days+ Stay in the License-Issuing Country
  • You need to provide them with at least 2 documents to prove that you stayed in the license-issuing country for more than 90 days after acquisition - This can be challenging as the Driver's License Center is particular about these documents.
  • Examples of the documents:
  • Please visit Resource Center to inquire the License Center about the sufficient documents.
7. Two Head-Shot Photos
  • Must be the ones taken within the last 6 months
  • Size: H3cm×W2.4cm
  • These photos can be done at the Driver's license Center for 600JPY
8. International Driving Permit (if any)

 

9. Other Documents Depending in the Country/Region
Australia:

(if the license doesn’t show the original issue date)Driving License Acquisition Certificate to show the original issue date of the license
(if the license doesn't show the issuance dates for the respective license classes)Driving record certificate

New Zealand:

(if the license was issued before January 2006 and doesn’t state the original issue date)Certificate of Particulars to show the original issue date of the license - this can be obtained through the New Zealand Transport Agency

Philippines:

Apostille (former Red Ribbon Authenticated Driver's License)
obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila
NOTICE: This should be issued before coming to Japan

Official Receipt(s) of the license(s)
Bring receipts for old licenses if available

Thailand:

Driving Record Certificate - showing all the renewal records since the first acquisition date
*If renewal records are not available on the driving record certificate, they can be issued on a separate sheet
**Make sure the renewal records state the RENEWAL DATES

China:

Driving Record (机动车驾驶证(电子版))obtained from 交菅12123 app
(Only if you have renewed your license and you want to prove your 90-day stay in the country during the previous license's validity period)

Chinese ID card(居民身分証)
Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to/from Hong Kong and Macau (if any)
Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to/from Taiwan (if any)

Former U.S. military personnel, civilian personnel, and their family:

DD Form 214 and SOFA Driver's License
SOFA License Completion Certificate
SOFA Withdrawal Certificate

Nepal:

Official Certificate(regarding the driver's license) verified by the Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

UK:

A code to share your license information obtained from GOV.UK
*It is advised that you get this issued a few days before your appointment for document screening as this code is only valid for 21 days. Print out the page.

Argentina:

If your license is a "National driving license", make sure you do either of the following BEFORE COMING TO JAPAN

  • Install "Mi Argentina" app on your mobile phone, and validate your driving license information on the app
  • Get an acquisition certificate from the license issuing authority to prove your license's validity
    (The validity of the national licenses is not confirmed by the Japanese National Police Agency yet. Hence they need a certificate from the license-issuing authority stating that the license was issued officially by the authority

 

Malaysia:

(If you have renewed your license at some point, and want to prove your 90 days stay within the country before the renewal)
A driving record from the license-issuing authority stating the license has been valid since its first issuance date
[IMPORTANT] If there are several vehicle classes on your license, make sure to ask them to indicate the issuance date for each class

 

Indonesia:

(If the format of your license is a new format) An acquisition certificate which states the first issuance date
 

Mexico:

Acquisition certificate of the driver's license issued by the license-issuing authority
*get this BEFORE coming to Japan

 

Qatar:

Acquisition certificate of the driver's license issued by the license-issuing authority
*get this BEFORE coming to Japan

India:

Acquisition certificate of the driver's license issued by the license-issuing authority
*get this BEFORE coming to Japan

Taiwan:

(Those who don't possess Taiwanese citizenship)居留証 or a document which 居留証 number is printed

South Korea:

Certificate of Driver's license in English (with a head-shot photo)

Pakistan:

Certificate regarding driver's license issued by the Embassy

Brazil:

Driving record

 

Download a printable check list from the below link (Document updated on 9 Apr 2026)

 

Examples of 90 days' documents

Please keep in mind that these are just examples. Required documents may vary from person to person depending on the situation. Please visit Resource Center to inquire the Driver's License Center about required documents for your case.

Countries whose passports are considered sufficient

If you want to prove your 90 days in one of the following countries, you can prove the 90 days only with a passport(s) issued after the acquisition of the license.

Indonesia Viet Nam The Philippines

If your license-issuing country/region/state is not listed above, please refer to examples of possible documents below.

Examples of documents considered valid

The documents under each example need to be submitted as a set (i.e. submitting one of the documents won't suffice)

Example 1) Employment-related documents along with passport(s) to cover the period on the documents

  • Employment verification letter from your former employer within the country (Example)
  • Payslips (for at least 6 months)
  • Passport(s) that covers the period stated on the documents above

Example 2) School-related documents

  • Academic transcript and Diploma supplement (preferably bachelor's or master's degree)
  • Diploma and transcript from university (preferably bachelor's or master's degree)

Example 3) Utility bills along with passport(s) to cover the period on the bills

  • 2 different types of utility bills(e.g. water, electricity, gas, etc.) for 3 months or more
  • Passport(s) that covers the period on the bills

NOTE: All the documents need to be presented in original format. If you don’t have original documents, make sure to prepare screenshots of the webpage that hosts the documents/e-mail communication the documents were attached to, to show how you got the documents. Also, make sure to print everything, as the driver’s license center requires paper-based documents.

 

Other Examples

NOTE: all the documents need to be presented in original format

  • US
    W2 form (for the past 4 years)
    - Bring the original copy. If you are getting the document online/via email, screenshot the webpage/email you get the file from (with the URL/email address of the sender visible)
    - the email must be sent from the official email domain of the company/institute
    Passport(s) that covers the period mentioned on the W2 form
  •  Taiwan
    Entry and exit record(出入境証明)
    - If you have a "自然人憑證" card which is used mainly to file income tax:
    Visit https://ncp.immigration.gov.tw/niaweb/entryExitQuery and read the card with a card reader to log in. You will be able to obtain a 出入境証明 after logging in. We advise you obtain a record for multiple years.
    - Applying for the certificate through 台北駐日経済文化代表処 in Naha
    Visit their office without an appointment, apply for 出入境証明 through them. It takes about 2 weeks to get the certificate delivered to Okinawa.
     
  • South Korea
    Entry and exit certificate
    - can be obtained from the immigration office's website
    - We advise you obtain the record for multiple years

     
  • Canada
    Statement of Remuneration Paid (T4 slip)
    Passport(s) that covers the period mentioned on the T4 slip
     
  • Australia
    Entry and exit record

    - can be obtained either from the Australian embassy in Japan or immigration office
    - We advise you obtain a record for multiple years

     
  • New Zealand
    Entry and exit record
    - detailed information on how to request the document can be found on the New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade website *read the last paragraph
    - We advise you obtain a record for multiple years

     
  • Brazil
    Employment record book (CTPS)
    Payslips
    - total amount of working days and hours, the location must be stated
     
  • Hong Kong
    Entry-exit records
    - We advise you obtain a record for multiple years
     
  • Thailand
    Entry-exit records

    - We advise you obtain a record for multiple years
     
  • Israel
    Entry-exit records
    - We advise you obtain a record for multiple years

     
  • Macau
    Entry-exit records
    - We advise you obtain a record for multiple years
     
  • UK
    - Income tax slip for 3 years(original)
    - Passport(s) to cover the period on the tax slip

 

Driver's License Conversion Fees

  Standard car Motorcycle Scooter
Application fee* 2,500JPY 2,800JPY 1,600JPY
License issuance fee 2,500JPY 2,800JPY 1,600JPY
Practical exam fee 1,750JPY    

*Those who must take the practical exam need to pay the application fee every time they fail the exam.

 

How to Get to the Driver's License Center

By public buses:
  • Approx. 4,000JPY/round trip
  • Travel time approx. 5hours/round trip (excluding the time at the License Center)
  • Route information (from OIST)
By taxi:
  • Approx. 25,000JPY - 30,000JPY/round trip
  • Travel time approx. 2 hours/round trip (excluding the time at the License Center)
Resource Center's Shuttle Service to/from the Driver's License Center
  • Resource Center operates a shuttle between OIST and the Driver's license Center twice a week with a professional driver and an interpreter. The interpreter will assist you with translation at the Driver's License Center.
  • Shuttle Schedule:
    > Wednesdays: Depart from OIST AEON at 9:00am and coming back around 4:00pm
    > Fridays: Depart from OIST AEON at 7:20am and coming back around 1:00pm
  • Meeting point:
    In front of OIST AEON
    * Please note the shuttle will not stop by any bus stops along the way for safety and time-efficiency reasons.
    ** If you need to arrange a taxi to come to OIST to get the shuttle, contact the Resource Center.

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