Converting a foreign driving license into a Japanese driving license

Aug 20, 2023

The article describes the process for converting a foreign driver's license directly into a Japanese driver's license.

This process is only available for certain countries.

Other options for driving in Japan, short of completing a driving test in the same way as locals, include:

Using an International Driving Permit. You can do this up to one year from the date of issue.
Using a foreign driving license that is valid in Japan. You can do this up to one year after arriving.

Warnings

Before embarking on this process, reconsider if you really need a driving license.

Attending a driving license center in Japan is a very unpleasant experience. I've heard it said that even the police in Japan hate going to these centers. No matter how painful your prior bureaucracy experiences in Japan have been so far, it's nothing compared to a driving license center.

If you are sure you need a license, be aware that visiting a center is a whole day affair (about seven hours). This means you should bring things to do while you're waiting, bring your favourite foods and drinks, maybe a laptop or portable game, and get ready for a long haul. And bring a phone charger.

You will also be required to have an interpreter present throughout the process.

You will also need to be there as soon as the center opens. A common rule for license conversions is they only accept the first 25 applicants per day. If you're number 26 you'll be turned away.

It is also best to apply immediately after your birthday. This is because Japanese driving licenses follow an absurd expiry rule. The license expires one month after your third birthday after getting the license. Therefore it's best to apply just after your birthday, to give the license about 3 years total duration. If you made the mistake of applying just before your birthday, it'd expire in about 2 years.

Note that you have to renew your license within one month either side of your third birthday. So you'll only have a two month window to renew it. If you fail to do that, you'll have to start over again.

Requirements

In addition to having an interpreter and arriving on time, you'll require the following:

Your foreign driving license.
A translation of your foreign driving license issued from JAF
If your driving license doesn't indicate the date of issue, a document that states it. Commonly this is a "driving record" issued by the government who issued your foreign license. If they offer different types of driving record document, the basic one is OK (so long as it indicates the original date of issue), and it doesn't need a translation.
Evidence that you stayed in that foreign country for at least 3 months after the date of issue. They are very particular about this, so you must clearly prove it. They know no-one would choose to go through their awful ordeal instead of flying overseas to circumvent it, so they're very defensive about this point. They'll ask for your passport, and your previous one if appropriate. However, what they like the most (and they don't write this fact down) is three payslips from your employer (three different months) from when you were in the foreign country, which indicate your address at that time. You will especially need proof like this if that country didn't mark your passport with entry and exit stamps.
Any previous Japanese license you had. If you have an expired Japanese license, they like to see it, and it gives credit regarding the color bands (e.g. if previous Japanese license had the starter green color, next will be the intermediate blue color).
Your photograph. The 3 x 2.4cm type available at photo booths. This is purely for the application form.
A fresh residence certificate (jūminhyō). This must include your period of stay and your status of residence.
Photocopies. They officially request you bring photocopies of your foreign license, your old Japanese license (if applicable), and copies of every populated page of your passport. However, in practice they might not ask for these when you are there.

Process

Arrive at the center by opening time.
Have your interpreter locate the window for foreign license conversions.
At that window, show them your documents. They'll confirm you have everything, and then give you an application form. They'll also give the interpreter a form to sign saying they're your interpreter.
Complete the form, and then return it to the window. Now you will wait until after midday.
Some time after midday, they will call your name out. If they can't reach you this way, they may call your interpreter's phone number (which the interpreter writes on their form).
They'll now ask a series of questions about your foreign license. These questions are extremely invasive and annoying. Things you won't be able to remember, like "how many questions did the theory test you took have?". This is just part of the ordeal, you guess best you can, and give reasonable and "OK sounding" answers. They don't have any means of checking any of your answers. I assume they're screening out outright fraud, or if anyone says "I ran someone over" for the "did you have any traffic violations?" one.
They'll then have you fill in a generic check-the-boxes form, regarding "no I didn't do crimes", "no a doctor hasn't told me not to drive", etc.
After more waiting, you'll be called back to the window, and sent to another window to pay, another place to generate a passcode slip for your driving license card, and then to the eye testing center for a quick eye test.
After that's done, you'll return to the original window, and they'll tell you your appointment time and place for your license photo (they don't use the one you give them). You'll then go to this room for your digital photo.
You'll be then sent to another waiting room. Here you'll eventually receive your printed license. There will then be further waiting until they release you.

Other notes

Interpreters for these kinds of things are not easy to find. You might consider paying a Japanese-speaking acquantaince to sit through it with you. Otherwise, you can try reaching out on Upwork, on English teacher websites (sometimes a Japanese speaker who teaches English and is therefore bilingual might be interested in such a gig), or asking translators if they'd be interested.

They should be made aware how long the visit will potentially take, and that most of the time will be sitting and waiting. Basically, you're paying them to be sat there ready.

You could consider asking a friend instead, but you'll have to warn them what they're in for, and you'll owe them a huge favor after.