A Step-by-Step Guide for the 29 Eligible Countries
For foreign residents living in Japan, having a valid Japanese driver’s license makes daily life much easier. Whether you need to drive for work, family activities, or weekend trips outside Tokyo, transferring your foreign license to a Japanese one is more straightforward than you might think, if you’re from one of the eligible countries.
This process is officially known as Gaimen Kirikae (外免切替), which translates to “foreign license switch.” It’s the formal system that allows people with valid foreign driver’s licenses to convert them to Japanese licenses without starting from scratch.
Important Update: October 2025 Changes
In October 2025, Japan significantly reformed the foreign license conversion system. The changes made the process much stricter, particularly around eligibility requirements. However, if you hold a license from one of 29 preferential countries or select US states, you can still transfer your license through a simplified process without taking written or practical driving tests. This guide focuses specifically on the streamlined process available to these 29 countries.
This transfer is for ordinary car licenses only and transferring other parts of the foreign license or different licenses such as large vehicles and some bikes will require other processes.
This guide walks you through the process based on a real experience at the Koto Driving Center in Tokyo in October 2025, one of several licensing centers in the metropolitan area. This should help answer how to convert foreign driver’s license Japan.
Who is elegiable for the foreign license switch (Gaimen Kirikae 外免切替)
Not all countries have agreements with Japan that allow for a simple license transfer. Currently, 29 countries and select US states have this arrangement with Japan. If you hold a license from any of these places, you can transfer without taking written or practical driving tests.
Countries eligible for simplified license transfer: United Kingdom, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Australia, Austria, Netherlands, Canada, South Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Taiwan. (this is as of November 2025)
US States eligible for simplified license transfer: Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Washington.
Visa and Residence Requirements (Updated October 2025)
As of October 2025, the eligibility requirements became more strict. You must meet all of these conditions:
Valid residence status: You must hold a valid Japanese visa. Short-term stay visas and tourist visas (短期滞在・観光滞在) are not eligible. Acceptable visa types include work visas, student visas, spouse visas, permanent residence, and other medium to long-term residence statuses.
Registered resident address: You must have completed your resident registration and be able to provide a 住民票 (juminhyo – certificate of residence). This is mandatory as of October 2025. Without a registered address in Japan, you cannot apply for license conversion.
Time in home country: You must have lived in your home country for at least three months after obtaining your original driver’s license. This proves you actually used the license in that country rather than obtaining it just for conversion purposes.
Why the 29-Country List Matters More Than Ever
The October 2025 reforms made license conversion much harder for people from countries not on this preferential list. If you’re from one of the 29 countries listed above, you benefit from a significantly simpler process:
For the 29 preferential countries:
- No written test required
- No practical driving test required
- Only an eye test and document verification needed
- Process can be completed in one day
For all other countries:
- Must take a 50-question written test with 90% pass rate required (previously 10 questions with 70% pass rate)
- Must take a full practical driving test equivalent to new Japanese license standards
- Test content now includes detailed traffic law understanding and complex driving scenarios
- Multiple visits may be required if tests are not passed
This means if you’re from one of the 29 countries, the October 2025 changes affect you much less than people from other countries. Your main concern is meeting the new residence requirements and having proper documentation.
Getting Your License Translated by JAF
Before you can apply for the Gaimen Kirikae process, you need to have your foreign driver’s license officially translated into Japanese. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) provides this service and is the most recognized translation provider for license conversions. This can only be done when you are in Japan.
As of March 31, 2025, JAF no longer accepts in-person or postal applications for translations. All applications must now be submitted through their online system, which can only be accessed from within Japan.
The translation process works as follows: You apply online through the JAF translation website, upload photos of both the front and back of your current driver’s license and pay the fee of ¥4,000. JAF staff review your application and create the official translation. Once complete, you receive a notification with a print reference number. You then go to select convenience store in Japan and use their multifunction printer to print out your official translation for an additional ¥20 per page.
The entire process typically takes one to two weeks, though it can vary depending on your country of origin and the complexity of your license. Some applications may be completed in just a few days, while others might take up to a month. It’s worth noting that some countries require additional documentation beyond just the license photos, so check the JAF website for your specific country’s requirements before applying.
Once you have your JAF translation printed and ready, along with your original foreign license, you can move forward with booking your appointment at the driving center.
Getting an Appointment
The first step is booking an appointment at your local driving center. In Tokyo, this is done through the Metropolitan Police Department’s online reservation system. Appointments become available two months in advance and are released at midnight on weekdays. These slots fill up quickly, often within minutes of being posted, so you need to act fast when new dates open.
The booking website is in Japanese, which can make the process tricky if you’re not fluent in the language. Using a web browser with built-in translation can help, but working with someone who speaks Japanese or using a detailed translation tool makes the process smoother as web translators can cause the website to have issues. Missing a step or entering information incorrectly could mean losing your appointment slot.
If you plan to bring a translator or someone who is fluent in Japanese, you will need to add them to your reservation too.
Documents You Need to Prepare to Transfer Your Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese Driver’s License
Once you have your appointment confirmed, you need to gather all required documents. Missing even one can mean rescheduling your appointment and starting over. Here’s what you need:
The full official list of required documents (word-for-word from Tokyo MPD)
- Foreign driver’s license card
- Japanese translation of your foreign driver’s license card
- (if applicable) Japanese driver’s license card or My Number Card with Driver’s License Details
- Document showing you have stayed in the issuing country or region of your foreign driver’s license for a total of three (3) months or more in aggregate since acquisition
- Application photo (s)
The following applies to those who are subject to the Residential Basic Book Act.
- Certified copy of your record from Juminhyo resident registry Identification card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
The following applies to those who are NOT subject to the Residential Basic Book Act
- Document verifying your identity issued by the competent authority as designated by the National Public Safety Commission
- Document showing your address issued by public institution
- Passport
Official PDF (English)
Your original foreign driver’s license
You must bring the physical license from your home country. It must be valid both when you entered Japan and on the day of application.
Your translated driver’s license
This must include both papers if your license comes in multiple parts, like those from the UK and some european countries, even if one seems less important. The official translation must come from JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) or your country’s embassy or consulate in Japan. This translation is separate from your physical license, and both must be presented together. This will cost ¥4,000 from JAF and ¥20 printing. Some countries require an additional driving record or abstract if the issue date is unclear.
Proof of residence in your home country
This is one of the trickier requirements. You need to show proof you lived in your home country for at least three months while holding your driver’s license. Passport stamps showing entry and exit from your home country work well for this. Bank statements are considered too personal and are not recommended. Utility bills, Employment documents, Driving history records, or official government correspondence with your name and address could also work.
A recent photo
The photo must be 2.4cm x 3cm, which is a standard size available at photo booths in Japan. Many driving centers have photo booths on site if you forget or need a last-minute option. It must be from the last 6 months. This generally costs around ¥1,000.
Juminhyo (住民票)
This is a certificate of residence that you can get from any convenience store in Japan using the machines available at stores like 7-Eleven, Family Mart, or Lawson as well as the ward office where you live. You’ll need your My Number card and or residence card to access this service. The juminhyo must show your current address, visa type, and nationality. Make sure to get one dated within the last six months. This generally costs between ¥150 to ¥250 per copy depending on store and municipality.
Your residence card
The card that shows your current visa status in Japan.
Passport
This needs to be valid and in date with the visa stamps when you entered Japan.
It is also good practice to take your ‘My Number Card’ and enough money in cash and card format.
The Day of Your Gaimen Kirikae Appointment
Plan to spend most of the day at the driving center. Even with an appointment, the process involves multiple steps, document checks, and waiting periods. Arrive at or a bit before your scheduled time.
Step 1: Submit Your Documents
When you arrive, go to the main information desk if you’re unsure where to start. They can direct you to the correct counter for license transfers. If you don’t speak Japanese, you must bring someone who does. The staff at most centers do not conduct business in English, and having some who speaks Japanese is often required to complete the process.
At the designated counter, hand in all your documents. You’ll be asked some questions and receive a colored and numbered ticket, and your documents will be checked. This initial review looks at whether everything is in order and properly translated.
Step 2: Document Verification
Over the next hour or more, you may be called up, by the number and colored ticket, to the counter several times. Each time, you may sign documents, confirm information, or answer questions about your driving history. These documents include 申請書 (Application form) and 質問票 (Medical questionnaire – yes/no health conditions). The staff check that your foreign license was valid when you entered Japan and that you meet all residency requirements. They also verify that your license from your home country hasn’t expired and that you hold the right type of visa.
some questions you may be asked include:
- “When did you obtain your license?”
- “Did you attend driving school?”
- “How long did you live in the issuing country after getting it?”
- “Have you driven regularly before arriving in Japan?”
Step 3: Payment
Once the first set of checks are completed you will then be given a different colored and numbered ticket and asked to pay. You will join a different queue, bring both cash and card to be safe. Koto driving license center accepts both, but this can depend on location. As of October 2025, this is now around ¥4,000 to ¥5,000 but this can also depend on center and location.
Step 4: Continued Document Verification
After payment your documents will continue to be checked until you the ticket number and color is called where you will be told to go to the next section, the eye test. You may need to sign documents again before the eye test.
Step 5: Eye Test
After document approval, you’ll take a vision test. This is similar to eye tests in other countries but follows the Japanese standard format. The first part uses a chart with a circle that has a gap, similar to the letter “C”. You need to identify which direction the gap faces as the circles get smaller. This tests your visual acuity.
If you wear glasses you will be asked to first complete the test without, if you do not pass you will then need to complete it with glasses.
The second test uses two lights that can turn green, orange, or red. You must say which color appears and whether it’s the top or bottom light. This checks your color recognition, which is important for reading traffic signals.
Step 6: Photo and Final Documents
After passing the eye test, you’ll receive another document to sign. Take this document to the photo booth area where your official license photo will be taken. This photo appears on your Japanese driver’s license, so make sure you’re presentable.
After your photo, collect another numbered ticket and go upstairs to the collection counter.
Step 7: Waiting and Collection
If you can collect the license on the day You wait for your number to be called to collect your new license.
When your number is called, you’ll receive your new Japanese driver’s license. Before leaving, use the verification machine near the collection counter to check that all details on your license are correct. Look at your name, address, birth date, and the types of vehicles you’re licensed to drive.
some centers do not offer collection on the day, and you need to wait for delivery or go back the next day.
Once everything checks out, you’re done. You now have a valid Japanese driver’s license and can legally drive in Japan; your first license will be valid for 3 years.
What Happens to Your Foreign License?
Some centers may mark, punch a hole through temporarily retain your foreign license until you leave Japan. This varies by prefecture and does not always happen.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Process when Transfer Your Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese Driver’s License
Book early – Appointments fill up fast. Set a reminder for midnight on weekdays when new slots open. Have the website ready and your information prepared to enter quickly.
Early appointment – If possible, book an earlier appointment so there is less likelihood of delays to have occurred through the day
Bring help if needed – If you don’t speak Japanese fluently, bring someone who does. Many aspects of the process require understanding specific questions and instructions.
Arrive early – Even with an appointment, getting there when the center opens can speed up your process. Lines and wait times increase as the day goes on.
Bring entertainment – You’ll spend several hours waiting. A book, charged phone, or portable charger helps pass the time. The centers usually have vending machines for drinks and snacks.
Double-check documents – Before your appointment day, verify that every document is correct and complete. One missing signature or expired juminhyo means rescheduling.
Dress appropriately – Remember you’re taking your license photo. Wear something you’re comfortable having on your ID for the next few years.
Complete Cost Breakdown of Transfer Your Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese Drivers License
Here’s what you can expect to spend when transferring your foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one:
Translation Costs
- JAF translation service: ¥4,000
- Convenience store printing fee: ¥20 per page (usually 1-2 pages)
- Total translation cost: Approximately ¥4,020-¥4,040
Documentation Costs
- Juminhyo (Certificate of Residence): ¥150-¥250 (varies by municipality)
- Photo for application (2.4cm x 3cm): Around ¥1,000 (if using photo booth)
License Center Fees
- License conversion/processing fee: ¥4,000-¥5,000 (varies by center and location)
Travel Costs
- Transportation to/from driving center: Varies depending on your location
- Parking fees: If driving to the center (not recommended due to limited parking)
Optional Costs
- Translator or helper: Free if you have a friend, or professional services may charge fees
- Snacks and drinks: Budget ¥500-¥1,000 for the day as you’ll be there several hours
Total Estimated Cost
Approximately ¥9,170-¥11,290 for the complete process, not including transportation costs.
This is significantly less expensive than obtaining a Japanese license from scratch, which can cost ¥100,000-¥300,000 when including driving school fees.
Common Questions
How long does it take to transfer Your Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese Drivers Licence? Plan for most of the day, typically 3-5 hours from arrival to receiving your license. Some people finish faster; others take longer depending on how busy the center is.
Do I need to take a driving test to transfer Your Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese Drivers Licence? If you’re from one of the eligible countries or US states, no. You transfer your existing license without taking a practical driving test. However, some people report being asked to demonstrate basic driving knowledge or take a short practical test at the examiner’s discretion.
What if I’m from a country not on the list of eligible countries for Gaimen Kirikae? You’ll need to go through the full Japanese driver’s license process, which includes written tests, practical tests, and potentially driving school. This is much more involved and expensive than a simple transfer.
How much does it cost to transfer Your Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese Drivers? As of 2025, the fee for transferring a license is around ¥4,000/¥5,000 , though this can vary slightly by location. You pay at the center on the day of your appointment.
Why This Matters for Tokyo Residents
For people living in Tokyo, having a Japanese driver’s license opens up more than just the ability to drive. It serves as a valid form of ID that’s easier to carry than a passport. All car rental companies require a Japanese license for residents or long-term visa holders in Japan. If you plan to own a car in Tokyo, having a Japanese license is necessary for registration and insurance.
It is also epically important to those who own an IDP as this are no longer valid once you register as a resident and have visa status, renting a car with an IDP while holding a residence card is illegal with Police strictly enforce this.
The process might seem lengthy, but for eligible countries, it’s far easier than learning the Japanese driving test system from scratch. With the right preparation and patience, you can complete your license transfer in a single day.
Final Thoughts
Transferring your foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one is a manageable process if you come prepared. The key is having all your documents ready, booking your appointment as soon as slots open, and bringing patience for the waiting periods.
For foreign residents planning to stay in Japan long-term, this transfer is worth doing early. It gives you more flexibility for travel, makes car ownership possible, and provides peace of mind knowing you have proper documentation for driving in Japan.
Useful Resources
For the most current information and to start your application:
- JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) – Official translation services for foreign driver’s licenses: How to apply for a translation | JAF
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Reservation Service
– For those who want to convert their driver’s license obtained in 29 countries and territories to a Japan license. – Book Your Appointment
– For those who want to convert their driver’s license obtained OTHER THAN in 29 countries and territories to a Japan license – Book Your Appointment
– Official English Translations to Procedures related to Driver’s License - Tokyo Driving Centers Location (Google Maps) – Multiple locations across Tokyo including Koto, Fuchu, and Samezu
Remember to check the official websites for any updates to requirements or procedures, as rules can change. Having accurate, up-to-date information helps make your license transfer as smooth as possible.
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This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on one person’s experience at the Koto Driving Center in Tokyo in October 2025. The license conversion process may vary depending on which driving center you visit, and individual experiences can differ. Housing Japan is not liable for any issues, delays, or outcomes that may occur during your license conversion process. Requirements, procedures, and policies are subject to change by Japanese authorities. Always verify current information with official sources such as the Metropolitan Police Department, your local driving center, or the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) before beginning your application.
