{"id":461,"date":"2023-10-24T10:50:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T01:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/?page_id=461"},"modified":"2025-05-27T17:05:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T08:05:17","slug":"drivers-license","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/drivers-license\/","title":{"rendered":"Driver's License Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There are the following types of driver's licenses that allow you to drive a car in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regular domestic driver's license (for residents in Japan)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International Driver's License<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Foreign Driver's License<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SOFA U.S. military driver's license in Japan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Please check the National Police Agency document for the most accurate information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npa.go.jp\/english\/bureau\/traffic\/2_drivers_license_English_ver2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Police Agency document<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Japanese Driver's License<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" src=\"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas-1200x797.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas-1200x797.png 1200w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas-500x332.png 500w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas-113x75.png 113w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas-480x319.png 480w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/publicdomainq-0017641ehcsas.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:767px) 480px, (max-width:1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>A driver's license issued by the Public Safety Commission of Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you are an overseas national, please bring your residence card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are an overseas national and it has not been more than 3 years since you obtained a Japanese driver's license, please bring your driver's license issued overseas as well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#eeeeee\">We do not accept the following types of driver's licenses.<br>\u2015Driver's license for those who do not have a certificate of residence in Japan.<br>\u2015Driver's license with the name of the hotel in the address field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Foreign driver's licenses<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"851\" src=\"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foreign-Drivers-License-EN.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-463\" style=\"width:500px;height:undefinedpx\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foreign-Drivers-License-EN.png 1000w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foreign-Drivers-License-EN-500x426.png 500w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foreign-Drivers-License-EN-300x255.png 300w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foreign-Drivers-License-EN-768x654.png 768w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foreign-Drivers-License-EN-88x75.png 88w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foreign-Drivers-License-EN-480x408.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:767px) 480px, (max-width:1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Foreign driver's license issued by eligible countries and regions (Swiss Confederation, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of France, Kingdom of Belgium, Principality of Monaco, Taiwan).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must have domestic driver's license &amp; Japanese translation &amp; original passport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Japanese translation must be issued by the embassy or consulate in Japan or JAF in each country based on the applicant's application.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Taiwanese applicants must have a Japanese translation issued by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Fukuoka, Naha, Sapporo), the Taiwan Association for Relations with Japan (formerly the Association for Relations with the East), or the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For Germans, a translation by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) or the German Automobile Federation (ADAC) is required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The validity period in Japan must be within the validity period of the foreign driver's license and within one year of arrival in Japan (to be confirmed by the date of landing in Japan stamp in the passport).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Please make sure to have your passport stamped with the entry\/exit stamp. Without the stamp, we can not verify your date of entry. So you can not be able to rent a car.<\/mark><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cef802a47e52289baf6dd4cf993b4b5e\">If your documentation is incomplete, you will not be able to rent a car for any reason. In such cases, please be very careful as you will be charged a cancellation fee in accordance with the terms and conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">International driving permit In Geneva Convention (1949)<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"705\" src=\"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/International-Driving-Permit-EN.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-464\" style=\"width:500px;height:undefinedpx\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/International-Driving-Permit-EN.png 1000w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/International-Driving-Permit-EN-500x353.png 500w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/International-Driving-Permit-EN-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/International-Driving-Permit-EN-768x541.png 768w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/International-Driving-Permit-EN-106x75.png 106w, https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/International-Driving-Permit-EN-480x338.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:767px) 480px, (max-width:1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>International driver's license issued to countries that are signatories to the Geneva Conventions (1949).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must have domestic driver's license &amp; international driver's license &amp; passport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hong Kong : The above documents + original Hong Kong ID card are required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>America : Passport cards are not valid in Japan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The only valid international driver's license in Japan is the paper type issued by member countries of the 1949 Geneva Convention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International driver's licenses are valid within one year from the date of issue and within one year from the date of arrival in Japan (confirmed by the date of landing in Japan stamp in the passport).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are listed in the Basic Resident Registry or registered as an alien in Japan and wish to drive with an international driver's license, the international driver's license is valid within one year from the date of re-entry into Japan after having stayed outside Japan for at least three consecutive months, and within the validity period of the international driver's license.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Please make sure to have your passport stamped with the entry\/exit stamp. Without the stamp, we can not verify your date of entry. So you can not be able to rent a car.<\/mark><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Japanese international driver's license issued in Japan is not valid for driving in Japan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cef802a47e52289baf6dd4cf993b4b5e\">If your documentation is incomplete, you will not be able to rent a car for any reason. In such cases, please be very careful as you will be charged a cancellation fee in accordance with the terms and conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">List of parties to the Geneva Conventions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Europe<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>United Kingdom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greece<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Norway<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Denmark<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sweden<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Netherlands<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>France<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Italy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Russia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serbia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Montenegro<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Finland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Portugal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Austria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Belgium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ireland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hungary<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Romania<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iceland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bulgaria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malta<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Albania<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Luxembourg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monaco<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>San Marino<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vatican City<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kyrgyzstan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Georgia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Czech Republic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slovakia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slovenia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lithuania<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Croatia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Liechtenstein<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Estonia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">America<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>United States of America<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Canada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peru<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuba<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ecuador<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Argentina<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chile<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paraguay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Barbados<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dominica<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guatemala<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haiti<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trinidad and Tobago<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Venezuela<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jamaica<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Africa<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>South Africa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Central African Republic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Egypt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ghana<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Algeria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Morocco<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Botswana<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Congo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Congo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Benin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cote d'Ivoire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lesotho<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Madagascar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malawi<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mali<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Niger<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rwanda<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Senegal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sierra Leone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Togo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tunisia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uganda<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zimbabwe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Namibia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Burkina Faso<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nigeria<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Asia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Philippines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thailand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bangladesh<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malaysia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Singapore<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sri Lanka<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cambodia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Japan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Korea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brunei Darussalam<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oceania<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Australia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New Zealand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fiji<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Papua New Guinea<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Middle East<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Turkey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Israel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Syria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cyprus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jordan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lebanon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>United Arab Emirates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Administrative district<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hong Kong<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Macau<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>French Overseas Territories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aruba<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curacao<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saint Martin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cayman Islands<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Isle of Man<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guernsey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jersey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gibraltar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>United States Territories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Countries that are party to the Geneva Convention but have not yet issued a Geneva-style international driver's license<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Algeria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Albania<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kyrgyzstan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guatemala<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cote d'Ivoire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Congo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Georgia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serbia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haiti<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>France<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bulgaria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Belgium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Botswana<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monaco<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Montenegro<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rwanda<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Russia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The above countries do not issue Geneva-style international driver's licenses, so you cannot drive a car in Japan with an international driver's license from that country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of the above, France, Belgium, and Monaco allow driving in Japan with a Japanese translation attached to the driver's license of the country concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SOFA License<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SOFA U.S. military driver's license and U.S. military ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In order to drive a car in Japan, you must have a valid driver's license in Japan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":480,"parent":0,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-461","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3334,"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/461\/revisions\/3334"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fujimax-jdm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}