You can simply CONVERT your driving license to Japanese Driving License if your foreign driver’s license is from one of the following countries and can prove that you have been there for more than 3 months since the date of your license issuance.

All you need is just an EYE TEST at your prefectural driver’s license center.

1	Australia	14	Luxembourg
2	Austria	15	New Zealand
3	Belgium	16	Norway
4	Canada	17	Finland
5	Czech Republic	18	Slovenia
6	Denmark	19	South Korea
7	Finland	20	Spain
8	France	21	Sweden
9	Germany	22	Switzerland
10	Greece	23	Taiwan
11	Iceland	24	The Netherlands
12	Ireland	25	UK
13	Italy

Please bring with you the below documents:

1. Official translation of your foreign driver’s license.
   1. Application Form www.jaf.or.jp/inter/translation/index_e.htm#trans (available in English, Chinese, Taiwanese Chinese, French and Vietnamese)
   2. Go to your nearest JAF translation office www.jaf.or.jp/e/list.htm (Cost about JPY3,000)
      or
   3. from your embassy List of Embassies and Consulates (in cases whereby JAF cannot issues the official translation)
2. Foreign driver’s license (must be valid, check your expiry date) - original
3. Resident’s Card / Alien registration card - 1 copy
4. Passport - original
   (to show you had stayed in the country where you obtained the license for more than 3 months or more)
5. 3 cm x 2.4 cm Photo (taken within last 6 months)
   (must be taken from the photos machine box or photo shops. Taken personally by smart phone or digital camera cannot be accepted)

For those of you who do not hold a foreign driving license from either of the countries listed above, you could still be able to obtain a Japanese driving license. You will need to sit for all 3 tests which are the eye test, paper written test and practical driving test respectively.

Once you pass the eye test and paper written test, a date will be provided to you for the practical driving test. After successful completion of the three tests you will be issued your new Japanese driver’s license.

Documents required will be as stated above 1-5.

Those who do not have a driving licenses totally, will have to go through the normal procedure. You will have to find a driving school to register for a driving course. It could be reletively costly which would be about 300,000 yen.

Example of Japan Driving License