How To Get A Driving License In Japan For Foreigners

Foreigners in Japan can obtain a Japanese driver's license (unten menkyo, 運転免許) through three main paths: converting an existing foreign driver's license (gaimen kirikae, 外免切替), using an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or applying for a new license from scratch through a Japanese driving school.

Since October 2025, Japan tightened its license conversion rules, requiring proof of residency, a 50-question written test with a 90% pass rate, and a stricter practical driving test.

This guide covers each path, the exempted countries, driving school costs, and what has changed under the 2025 reforms so you can drive legally and confidently in Japan.

Comparing the three paths to a Japanese driver's license

Switching a foreign driver's license to a Japanese

If you already have an existing license, you can convert it to a Japanese license if you have a valid driver’s license from your home country or an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). 

Since we already have an article about converting your driver's license into a Japanese one, we’ll quickly review their steps.

International Driver’s Permit (IDP)

If you already hold an international driver's license or a valid foreign license, you can convert it to a Japanese driver’s license.

There are two main international driving permit treaties, but Japan only signed the 1949 Geneva Convention. So, only International Driver’s Permits (IDPs) issued under the Geneva Convention are valid in Japan.

These IDPs are only valid for one year from the issue date or one year after landing in Japan, whichever comes first. 

Home country driver’s license

Japan has bilateral driving agreements that make their domestic drivers license valid between both countries. 

There are 7, which includes 

• Switzerland

• Germany

• France

• Belgium

• Monaco

• Estonia

• Taiwan

These agreements allow you to drive in Japan up to one year from the landing date or one year after the issue date, whichever is shorter. You must carry a certified translation license when you drive.

October 2025 rule changes for foreign license conversion

On October 1, 2025, Japan's National Police Agency introduced significant reforms to the gaimen kirikae (外免切替) license conversion process.

These changes affect all foreign residents applying to convert their driver's license:

1. Residency is now mandatory. All applicants must submit a certificate of residence (juminhyo, 住民票). Tourists and short-term visitors using hotel addresses can no longer apply.

2. The written test expanded from 10 true/false questions to 50 questions covering Japanese traffic laws, road signs, and driving rules. The passing score is 90% (45 out of 50).

3. The practical driving test is stricter. Examiners now evaluate skills such as pedestrian crosswalk stops, railroad crossings, and hill driving that were not previously tested during conversion.

These reforms were introduced after a rise in traffic accidents involving foreign drivers who had converted their licenses without fully understanding Japan's driving rules.

In 2024, approximately 75,905 foreigners converted their foreign driver's license to a Japanese one, up from 48,885 in 2019, according to the National Police Agency.

Exempted countries for license conversion

Separately from the 7 bilateral agreement countries listed above, Japan exempts license holders from the following countries and US states from both the written and practical driving tests when converting their license.

You still must pass an eye test, provide documents, and complete a short interview.

The following countries are exempt from both written and practical tests: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

The following US states are also exempt: Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington.

License holders from all other countries and US states must take the full written test (50 questions, 90% pass rate) and the practical driving test at a driver's license center.

Test exemptions are based on the issuing country of your license, not your nationality.

Your foreign driver's license must be valid at the time of application, and you must prove you lived in the issuing country for at least three months after obtaining it.

How to get a Japanese driver’s license as a foreigner

If you cannot obtain your home country or international license, you can get a driving license in Japan. 

Key points

• Learner’s permit: It’s only valid for six months.

• Written driving test: Must pass with at least 45/50.

• Practical driving test: Must be at an accredited driving school

• Be at least 18 years old

• Be physically able to drive

• Have good eyesight

• Have good hearing

Additionally, you may need to be certified in first aid. If you go to a driving school, a practical first aid course can be added.

Application process

Getting a Japanese license can be broken down into 3 steps.

Step 1: Get a learner’s permit.

Also called a learner’s license or a provisional license, it'll allow you to practice driving under supervision before getting an official Japanese driver's license.

You’ll need: 

• A certificate of residence (juminhyo)

• Two headshot pictures (3×2.4cm)

• Resident card

• Glasses, if needed

You will also need to pass a 50-question written driving knowledge test with a score of at least 90% (45 out of 50 correct).

The test covers Japanese traffic laws, road signs, and driving rules. Some driver's license centers offer this test in English and other languages, but availability varies by location.

After getting your permit, you’ll have 6 months to get a Japanese driving license. Otherwise, you’ll need to start again. 

Step 2: Practice driving.

Japan's beginner driver sticker | BTimes

While driving school is not required, it makes learning how to drive in Japan easier. 

Japanese driving school fees differ by school, location, and the type of license you want.

As of 2025, the average cost for automatic transmission training at a regular driving school in Tokyo is approximately 300,000 to 400,000 yen.

Manual transmission courses are typically 10,000 to 30,000 yen more. A standard driving course takes about 2 to 3 months to complete.

As an alternative, intensive driving camps (gasshuku menkyo, 合宿免許) are residential courses where you stay near the school and complete all training in about 2 weeks.

Driving camps typically cost 240,000 to 350,000 yen, which is roughly 100,000 yen cheaper than regular driving schools because accommodation and meals are included. These camps are popular with both Japanese people and foreign residents who want to get licensed quickly.

If you decide to go to a Japanese driving school, you will be exempt from the practical driving test. At the same time, they will help prepare for your written test, which you will take at the driver's license center.

Step 3: Take the final written test.

You’ll need to bring these items when you take your final written driving test:

• Certificate of graduation from a driving school

• Your learner’s license

• Residence card or My Number Card

• Certificate of residence

• A photo (3 × 2.4cm) taken in the last six months

The final written driving test is 95 questions that can broken into two sections:

• 90 multiple choice (similar to the learner’s permit written test)

• 5 illustration-based questions (2 points each)

You need to pass with at least 90 points out of 100 to receive your license.

How to renew a Japanese driver’s license

Your renewed license will be valid for 3 to 5 years depending on your driving record.

A first-time license (green license, 初心者) is valid for approximately 3 years.

After your first renewal, a standard blue license is typically valid for 3 years.

Only gold license holders (優良運転者), those with 5 or more years of clean driving and no traffic violations, receive a 5-year validity period.

When it is time to renew, you will receive a renewal notification postcard (更新連絡書, koshin renrakusho) about one month before your license expires.

Renewal must be done within one month before or after your birthday in the relevant year. Here is what you will do at a driver's license center:

• Handle some paperwork.

• Take another eye test.

• Take a new photo for the license.

• Watch a road safety lecture. (Gold license holders pay the least and attend a 30-minute road safety lecture. Blue and green license holders attend a longer lecture of 1 to 2 hours.)

Renewing your Japanese license costs approximately 3,000 to 3,850 yen as a processing fee, depending on your license type and whether you have any penalties.

Updating your Japanese driver's license when moving

When moving within Japan, you’ll need to update your driver's license address at the nearest police station that is not a koban. They will write your new address on the front, similar to when you update your My Number card.

Do I need a Japanese driver's license?

It depends on your situation.

Many people living in the city do not need a car as public transportation and taxis are available.

However, having a car for daily tasks will be extremely useful if you’re in the countryside or the suburbs.

English-friendly Japanese driving school

Here are 4 driving schools in Japan that English speakers can take.

Koyama Driving School (Tokyo) 

Koyama Driving School offers English support for foreigners and has branches in Tokyo and Kanagawa. Their classes are the most expensive but convenient since their tests will be in English.

Ogikubo-Driving School (Tokyo)

Ogikubo-Driving School (Tokyo) offers English support for foreigners learning to drive in Japan. While you must follow the procedures and register yourself, this school prepares you for the driving test. You will have to study the written test yourself. 

Okui Driving School (Saitama)

Okui Driving School (Saitama) has one of the lowest driving school courses, making it budget-friendly. They also offer an intensive course that lasts for about 2 weeks. 

EDS Driving School (Tokyo and Saitama)

EDS Driving School (Tokyo and Saitama) is also affordable, offering many courses to accommodate your schedule. 

Frequently asked questions

How to get a driver's license in Japan as a foreigner?

If you already have a valid foreign driver’s license, getting an official translation by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) is best. It must be an international driver's permit or have a bilateral driving agreement with Japan. If not, you’ll need to pass the written and practical Japanese driving test to get a driver's license in Japan as a foreigner.

How much does it cost to get a driving license in Japan?

It varies depending on the path you take. If you are converting an existing foreign driver's license, the fees total approximately 4,000 to 5,000 yen for the application form, eye test, and license issuance, plus about 3,000 yen for an official translation from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). If you attend a regular Japanese driving school, it costs between 300,000 and 400,000 yen for an automatic transmission license. An intensive driving camp costs approximately 240,000 to 350,000 yen including accommodation. Some employers in Japan will cover part of the driving school fee as a job benefit.

What is the fastest way to get a driver's license in Japan?

​​The fastest way to get a driver's license in Japan is to take an intensive driving course that lasts about a week or two. These intensive courses allow you to learn how to drive, study for the written test, and be exempt from the practical test.

Can I take a driving test in English in Japan?

The written knowledge test is available in English and over 20 other languages at major driver's license centers such as those in Tokyo, Osaka, and other large prefectures. However, the practical driving test at the license center is typically conducted in Japanese only. If you do not speak Japanese fluently, attending a driving school with English-speaking instructors is strongly recommended, as the school will prepare you for the practical test and you will be exempt from taking it at the license center.

In closing

Learning how to get a driving license in Japan for foreigners is more difficult than in your home country. But it's important to understand the process so that you can drive safely in Japan.