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Living in Japan
Driving in Japan
International Driving Permit
Japan has signed the Geneva Convention of 1949 on Road Traffic and recognizes the International Driving Permit issued from its member nations listed below.
This permit will allow you to drive in Japan for up to one year. After that, you will need to switch your license to a Japanese Drivers License.
Here is the list of the member nations :
| ASIA | EUROPE | ||
| Philippines | India | UK | Greece |
| Thailand | Bangladesh | Norway | Denmark |
| Malaysia | Singapore | Sweden | Netherlands |
| Sri Lanka | Cambodia | France | Italy |
| Laos | South Korea | Russia | Serbia Montenegro |
| MIDDLE AND NEAR EAST | Spain | Finland | |
| Turkey | Israel | Portugal | Austria |
| Syria | Cyprus | Belgium | Poland |
| Jordan | Lebanon | Ireland | Hungary |
| AFRICA | Romania | Iceland | |
| South Africa | Central Africa | Bulgaria | Malta |
| Egypt | Ghana | Albania | Luxembourg |
| Algeria | Morocco | Monaco | San Marino |
| Botswana | Dem. Rep. of Congo | Vatican | Kyrgiz Republic |
| Rep. of Congo | Benin | Georgia | Czech Republic |
| Cote d'Ivoire | Lesotho | Slovak Republic | |
| Madagascar | Malawi | NORTH/CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA | |
| Mali | Niger | USA | Canada |
| Rwanda | Senegal | Peru | Cuba |
| Sierra Leone | Togo | Ecuador | Argentina |
| Tunisia | Uganda | Chile | Paraguay |
| Zimbabwe | Namibia | Barbados | Dominica |
| OCEANIA | Guatemala | Haiti | |
| New Zealand | Fiji | Trinidad and Tobago | Venezuela |
| Australia | Papua New Guinea | Jamaica | |
Japan doesn't recognize the International Driving Permit issued by France, Germany and Switzerland, but the holders of a drivers license from these countries can drive in Japan for up to one year with an official Japanese translation of their licenses issued from their Embassy or Consulate in Japan, or by JAF - Japan Automobile Federation.
You can only obtain this International Driving Permit in your own country.
Switching to a Japanese License
If you are staying for more than one year, or if your country doesn't issue an International Driving Permit recognized by the Japanese authorities, you will need to switch your drivers license to a Japanese drivers license.
Required documents
- Valid license issued from your own country
- Official Japanese translation of the above license issued from the Embassy or Consulate of your own country, or by JAF - Japan Automobile Federation
- Alien Registration card
- Photos (3cmx2.4cm)
- Any document to prove that you have stayed for more than 3 months in the country where your license has been issued (passport, etc.)
Once you have submitted these documents to the nearest Driving License Testing and Issuing Centers run by the Prefectural Police, you will then need to take a written exam (traffic rule knowledge check) provided in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Persian and Russian.
If you pass the written exam, you are required to make an appointment for a practical exam (driving skill check) where you will need to actually drive a car.
However, Japan has agreements with the following 22 countries that allow the holders of the drivers licenses issued in these countries to be exempt from the written and pracrtical exams, so all you need to do is the paperwork :
Iceland, Ireland, UK, Italy, Austria, Australia, Netherlands, Canada, Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Finland, France, Belgium, Portugal, Luxemburg
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