Driving License in Japan by Country: Do You Need to Take the Test?

· GaimenGo Team

Driving License in Japan by Country: Do You Need to Take the Test?

Whether you must sit Japan's written and practical driving tests depends on where your license was issued. Pick your country to see your exact conversion process, steps, and documents.

Whether converting your foreign license in Japan (外免切替 / Gaimen Kirikae) is a quick formality or a months-long project comes down to one thing: where your license was issued. Drivers from some countries walk in, take an eye test, and leave with a Japanese license the same day. Everyone else must pass a 50-question knowledge test and an on-course practical driving test.

Pick your country below to see exactly which path applies to you — your step-by-step process and the documents to bring.

The two tiers, explained

Tier 1 — exempt from both tests. If your license is from a country or region Japan recognises as having equivalent standards, you skip the written and practical tests and only complete a document check and an eye test. These include the UK, Ireland, and most of the EU (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and more), plus Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Canada.

Tier 2 — tests required. Everyone else — including China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia, Brazil, Peru, and most of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America — must pass a 50-question true/false knowledge test (90% to pass) and a practical driving test on a closed course.

The United States is state-dependent. Only a handful of states (commonly Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, and Washington) are exempt. Drivers licensed elsewhere (California, New York, Texas, and so on) take both tests.

What changed in October 2025

Japan tightened the rules significantly on October 1, 2025:

  • Tourists are no longer eligible. You must hold a medium or long-term residence status.
  • A 住民票 (Certificate of Residence) is mandatory, dated within 6 months.
  • The knowledge test got much harder — 50 questions at a 90% pass mark (previously 10 questions at 70%). Reported pass rates fell from about 92% to around 43%.

Documents almost everyone needs

  • Valid foreign driver's license
  • Official Japanese translation (JAF online, ¥4,000 — or your embassy for some countries)
  • Passport(s) with entry/exit stamps proving a 3-month stay after your license was issued
  • Residence card (在留カード)
  • Certificate of Residence (住民票), dated within 6 months
  • Passport photos, plus application and exam fees in cash

If you have to take the written test

Do not pay for outdated question packs. GaimenGo gives you around 150 fresh true/false questions every day and full mock exams that mirror the reformed test — free, with no signup. Start with the practice quiz or a mock exam, and track your whole journey on the conversion roadmap.

_This guide is general information. Japan's exemption list and requirements vary by prefecture and change over time — always confirm with JAF and your local Driver's License Center before applying._