Document pre-check

Clear the reasons applications get turned away at the counter — before your appointment. 15 questions, about 3 minutes.

This check lists what to confirm before you go. Practice differs by prefecture and this is not a guarantee that your application will be accepted. Always confirm with your local license center.

  1. Are you registered as a resident in Japan (can you obtain a juminhyo)?

    Since the October 2025 change, license conversion requires residence registration in Japan. A short-stay status (tourism and similar) is not eligible. Register your residence at your city or ward office first.

  2. On the day of your appointment, will your juminhyo still be less than 6 months old?

    A juminhyo older than 6 months is not accepted (some centers ask for 3 months). Get a fresh one close to your appointment date — issuing it too early is exactly how it expires on you.

  3. Is your My Number (individual number) printed on the juminhyo?

    A juminhyo showing My Number is not accepted. At the counter ask for one "without the individual number"; at a convenience-store kiosk choose the option not to print it. Some municipalities include it by default.

  4. Does the juminhyo show both "nationality/region" and "status of residence"?

    For foreign residents, those two fields are optional at issue. Request a copy that shows both "nationality/region" and "status of residence" — one with them omitted cannot be used to verify you.

  5. Is your foreign driving license still within its validity period?

    An expired foreign license cannot be converted. Ask the licensing authority in the issuing country whether you can renew it, or reissue it if you are still within their grace period.

  6. Can you read the date you first obtained the license on the license itself?

    Some countries do not print the original issue date on the license. If yours does not, you need a certificate from the issuing authority showing when you first got it. This can take several weeks to obtain, so start early.

  7. Did you stay in the issuing country for 3 months or more in total AFTER the license was issued?

    Without 3 months or more of total residence in the issuing country after the license was issued, you are not eligible for conversion. Time spent there before you got the license does not count. If you cannot meet this, the normal driving-school or direct-test route applies.

  8. Can you show those 3 months with entry/exit stamps in your passport?

    Automated immigration gates do not stamp passports. For periods with no stamp, use immigration records from the issuing country, school or employment certificates, or tax records. Which of these are accepted varies by center — phone ahead and ask.

  9. Do you have every passport covering that period, including expired ones?

    Expired passports are still valid evidence of your stay. If you no longer have them, request your entry/exit records from the issuing country. This can take several weeks.

  10. Do you already have a Japanese translation of the license from JAF or the issuing country’s embassy/consulate?

    A translation you made yourself, or one from a commercial translation agency, will not be accepted. It must come from JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) or the issuing country’s embassy or consulate in Japan. Taiwanese licenses are handled by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. Use the tracker below to work out your deadline.

  11. Is that translation for the exact license you will bring on the day (the one in your hand now)?

    Renewing or reissuing a license changes its number and expiry, which makes an older translation a translation of a different license. Get a new one for the license you actually hold now.

  12. Is your name written the same way on the license, passport, residence card and juminhyo?

    Middle names, spelling variants and former surnames all cause mismatches, and you may be asked for extra documents to prove you are the same person. Bring whatever explains the difference (proof of name change, a passport showing your former name, and so on).

  13. Does the address on your residence card match the one on your juminhyo?

    If you moved and did not update your residence card, it will not match your juminhyo. Have the address on the back updated at your city or ward office before you apply.

  14. Have you prepared the application photo to your center’s exact specification?

    Photo requirements (size, background, how recent) differ by center. Check your center’s guidance, or ask whether you can have it taken there on the day.

  15. Have you checked whether your center needs a booking, and its reception hours?

    More centers now require a booking. Confirm whether you need one, whether reception is morning-only, and what the fees are. Getting this wrong means waiting another 1–3 months.

Who can issue the translation

  • JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) — the usual route; you do not need to be a member
  • Your country’s embassy or consulate in Japan — for some countries this is the only route
  • Taiwanese licenses — issued by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association

Translations you made yourself, ones from commercial agencies, and ones made in the issuing country are not accepted.

Requesting a translation from JAF

  1. Prepare a copy of both sides of your license (or a clear photo)
  2. Apply in person, by post, or online — in person is fastest
  3. Pay the fee (charged per license)
  4. Receive the translation. Allow same-day to a few days in person, around two weeks by post

Fees and turnaround times change. Always confirm the current amount and opening hours on JAF’s own guidance.