Japan converts foreign licenses through gaimen kirikae, and the rules hardened in October 2025 — the knowledge test grew from 10 questions to 50 with a 90% pass mark, and applicants must now hold a registered residence, not a hotel address. Nationals of about 30 test-exempt countries swap paperwork only; everyone else faces the knowledge test plus a notoriously strict practical exam that most people fail at least once. Outside the big cities a license is close to a job requirement, which makes the effort worth budgeting early.
Key facts
- Conversion route
- Gaimen kirikae at a license center
- Knowledge test since Oct 2025
- 50 questions, 90% to pass
- Core documents
- Valid license + proof of 3 months' driving in issuing country + residence record
- Practical exam
- Strict; multiple attempts are normal
- Full driving school instead
- ~¥250,000–350,000
What changed in October 2025
The conversion system was rebuilt after years of criticism that it was too easy. The knowledge test jumped from 10 casual questions to 50 questions with a 90% pass mark, available in multiple languages but no longer passable on guesswork. And the address rule closed: applicants need a registered residence — the resident record behind your residence card — ending tourist-visit conversions. What didn’t change: your home license must be genuine, valid, and backed by proof you actually drove in that country for three months after getting it.
The two-tier reality
If your license comes from one of about 30 recognized jurisdictions — South Korea, Taiwan, most of Western Europe among them — conversion is an afternoon of paperwork and an eyesight test. Everyone else, including holders from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, and Brazil, takes the knowledge test and the practical. The practical is the filter: it grades test-course ritual — theatrical mirror checks, millimetre left turns — and most experienced drivers fail their first attempt on protocol, not skill. Budget two to four tries; watching one round as a spectator before your turn is the cheapest lesson available.
Whether it’s worth it — and the fallback
In Tokyo or Osaka a car is optional. Everywhere else — the farm jobs, care facilities, and factory shifts where rural employers hire — “license required” appears in the posting itself, and a license unlocks a visibly larger job map. If conversion stalls, the fallback is a Japanese driving school: ¥250,000–350,000 and a few weeks, with some schools offering English or Vietnamese support. Expensive, but it ends in a license on the first pass — and for holders of licenses Japan won’t recognize, it’s not the fallback, it’s the road.
Common mistakes & warnings
- Since October 2025 you must be registered as a resident to convert — the old practice of converting on a short visit with a hotel address is closed.
- You must prove you stayed at least three months in the issuing country after the license was issued — passport stamps or residence records serve as evidence, and a license obtained on a quick trip abroad will be refused.
- Driving on an expired conversion window or an invalid international permit counts as unlicensed driving — a criminal offense that ends visas. Check your paperwork before renting a car, not after.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries skip the tests?
Around 30 jurisdictions with recognized licensing standards — including South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, France, and the UK — convert with paperwork and an eyesight check only. China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, and Brazil are not on the list, so their holders take both tests.
How hard is the practical exam really?
It's graded on Japanese test-course protocol — exaggerated mirror checks, curb-hugging left turns, S-curves — not on whether you can drive. First-time failure is the norm, and each retry is a small fee and a new appointment; treat two to four attempts as the realistic plan.
Can I just drive on an International Driving Permit?
Only a Geneva Convention IDP works in Japan, for up to one year — and once you become a resident, the conversion clock matters. Licenses from China and Vietnam can't use the IDP route at all, so conversion or driving school is their only path.
Official sources
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules change; always confirm details with the official sources listed above before making decisions.