My Experience Switching a Foreign Driver’s License to a Japanese One
I’m originally from the U.S. and have been living in Japan for about five years now. I work in Tokyo, but I love taking road trips on the weekends, so having a Japanese driver’s license became important for me. Since I already had a valid U.S. license, I decided to go through the process of switching it to a Japanese one, which is known here as “gai men kirikae.”
Step 1: Gathering the Documents
First, I checked the website of the local driver’s license center to see what documents I needed. Here’s what I had to prepare:
-
A valid foreign driver’s license
-
An official Japanese translation of the license (from JAF)
-
My passport
-
Residence card (zairyū card)
-
A copy of my residence certificate (jūminhyō, without My Number)
-
Proof that I had stayed in the country where I got my license for at least 3 months after getting it
One important thing was getting the license translated. I had it done by JAF (Japan Automobile Federation), which took about a week and cost around 4,000 yen.
They also needed to confirm that I had lived in the U.S. for at least three months after getting my license. Luckily, my old passport had entry and exit stamps, which helped prove that.
Step 2: Going to the License Center
Once I had everything ready, I booked an appointment and went to the Fuchu Driver’s License Center in Tokyo on a weekday morning. The place was already busy, and it took about an hour just to get through the initial paperwork check.
After the documents were reviewed, I had a short interview. The staff spoke a little English, which helped. They asked questions like:
-
Where did you get your license?
-
Did you actually drive there?
-
How long did you live in that country?
Once I passed that part, I moved on to the aptitude test and a short written test. Since the U.S. is one of the countries that doesn’t require a driving test, I didn’t need to take the practical exam.
Step 3: Aptitude and Written Tests
The aptitude test was just a vision and color-blindness check. The instructions were mostly in Japanese, but the staff used gestures to guide me, so I managed just fine.
Then came the written test — a short 10-question multiple-choice quiz. I was able to take it in English. It covered basic road signs and driving rules. I had practiced using some sample questions from JAF’s website, so I passed without much trouble.
Step 4: Photo and License Issuance
After passing the tests, I had my photo taken and got my new Japanese license the same day. Holding that card in my hand felt like a real achievement and gave me peace of mind.
Time and Cost
-
JAF translation: 4,000 yen
-
Residence certificate: 300 yen
-
Application and exam fees: about 2,500 yen
-
Time at the center: around 5 hours total
If you prepare well, the process can be done in one day — but depending on your country, you might have to take a driving test, so it’s important to check ahead.
Final Thoughts
The most time-consuming part for me was gathering all the documents, especially digging out my old passport and getting the license translation. Also, since most of the process is in Japanese, having some language skills (or a Japanese-speaking friend) is really helpful.
That said, getting a Japanese license has made my life here so much easier. I can travel more freely, especially outside of Tokyo, and it feels good to know I’m driving legally and confidently in Japan.
