Foreign license conversion in Japan

Apply through the license center for your address in Japan

Applications are handled by the prefectural police driver's license center or similar office that covers your address in Japan. Reception hours, reservation rules, and document screening can differ by prefecture.

You need proof that you lived there after the license was issued

The National Police Agency says you must show that you stayed in the issuing country or region for a total of at least three months after receiving that license. Passports and similar travel records are commonly used to verify this.

Prepare the core documents before you go

At a minimum, expect to prepare your foreign license, an approved Japanese translation, identity documents, a residence certificate, a photo, and fees. Your local center may also ask for extra supporting materials.

A foreign license does not mean automatic conversion

This procedure is a partial-exemption route, not a guaranteed one-step swap. The center still checks whether your knowledge and driving ability are sufficient and whether you meet the requirements for exemption.

Do not treat an IDP as the same thing

An International Driving Permit can be relevant for short-term driving in Japan, but it is not the same as converting your foreign license into a Japanese one. The conversion procedure is based on the foreign license itself.

Using an international driving permit in Japan

Japan accepts only International Driving Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and you must carry the original paper permit when driving. In general, the driving period is up to one year from your landing in Japan or the permit's own validity period, whichever is shorter. The rule many people call the '90-day rule' is really a re-entry rule: if a person recorded on Japan's Basic Resident Register leaves Japan and returns in less than three months, that return date does not reset the one-year driving period.

Before visiting the license center

• •Check the prefectural police website or call the license center first.
• •Confirm whether an appointment is required.
• •Ask which translation providers are accepted for your license.
• •Prepare evidence showing at least three months of stay after the license was issued.
• •Assume the process may take more than one visit.

IDP checks before you drive

• •Make sure your IDP was issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
• •Carry the original paper permit, not only a digital copy or photo.
• •Check whether your one-year driving window is still valid.
• •If you are a resident who re-entered Japan after less than three months abroad, do not assume your clock restarted.
• •If in doubt, confirm with the prefectural police before driving.

Official sources

Use the national guidance below as your baseline, then confirm the local details with the prefectural police center where you will apply.