An international license is required for foreigners to drive a car in Japan. As the Japanese government has concluded the Convention on Road Transport (the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic), individuals with international licenses issued by the governments of the contracting parties to the Convention are eligible to drive a car in Japan.
Main conditions for driving with an international license:
- The validity period is one year from the date of entry.
- It is necessary to carry your home country's license as well.
In the case of foreigners with resident registration, the driver's license obtained in their home country can be converted to a Japanese driver's license. However, the applicant must pass the knowledge test and the skills test at the driving license center in the local government.
Main conditions for switching the foreign driver's license to a domestic license:
- That he or she has stayed for more than three months in the country where the driver's license was issued. (passport)
- Having a Residence Card (certified copy of the resident register)
- Passing driving knowledge and driving skills tests.
- Japanese translation of the foreign driver's license (issued by embassy or consulate in japan, JAF, etc.)
Also note that depending on the country where the license was obtained, you may be exempt from taking the tests.
To obtain a driver's license in Japan:
In Japan, there are driving schools that teach the knowledge and skills required for driving a car. Generally, Japanese people normally learn driving skills for several weeks at driving schools to obtain their driving license. There are around 50 driving schools in Japan (as of FY 2022) that offer lessons in foreign languages as well.
