Transfer your country’s license to a Japanese license

For embassies and other representative offices in the country, please refer to the List of Embassies and Consulates on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website.

Documents required

Bring the required documents to your nearest JAF Translation Office. (Application by proxy is accepted if the applicant is unable to visit the office.)

• 1.　Application form for Japanese Translation of foreign driver’s license:
  The form can be downloaded from this page, and the application form is also available at the JAF counter If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact your nearest JAF office by telephone to obtain the form via fax or other method.

• Download Instructions

  Japanese English Chinese France Vietnam

  Download Application Form

  Japanese English Chinese Chinese (Taiwanese) France Vietnam

  ※ The application forms are written in the respective language and Japanese.

• 2.　A driver’s license (original, in principle):
  Your license will be returned as soon as we copy it. Photocopies are accepted if you are not able to bring the original license. In that case, please prepare clear photocopies of the front and back of the license, preferably in color, that allow the inscriptions on the license to be read clearly.
  *A Fukuye is only required for license issued by People's Republic of China. A Official Receipt is only required for license issued by Republic of the Philippines.
• 3.　A photocopy of a residence card or a resident record etc:
  This is only required for licenses written in Arabic or Russian and licenses issued in certain countries, including the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Union of Myanmar.

Issuance fee

3,000 yen per license
*Please note that JAF will not refund the translation issuance fee even if the application for Gaimen Kirikae is rejected by the Driver’s License Center. A fee of 3,000 yen is also charged for re-issuance when the license is lost or for other reason.

Days required for issuance

As of now, we do not issue the translations on the same day. The processing time varies depending on the issuing country, condition, content of the driver’s license, and JAF Branch Office. For details, please contact your nearest Branch Office in advance.

Application by mail

Applications via mail are also accepted when the applicant cannot visit the office

• Send the application form for Japanese translation of a overseas driver’s license (use the application form downloaded from the JAF website), a copy of your driver’s license (including copies of the front and back of the license, preferably in color and clear enough that the text on the license can be easily read) with the issuance fee of 3,000 yen plus return postage of 500 yen (3,500 yen in total) by registered postal cash envelope to a JAF branch that accepts applications by mail.

  * The return postage (including charge for service) will be 500 yen for two translations and 600 yen for three or more translations in the case of sending to the same address if requesting translation of more than one license.

• Applications are only accepted from Japanese addresses, and the return address must be within Japan and match the address submitted on the application.
• It takes approximately one to two weeks from application to delivery (about two to three weeks to obtain translations for the driver’s licenses listed in 3. of "Documents required?".

  * Please note that JAF does not accept the application (including the transmission of issuance fee) from overseas and that JAF does not send the Japanese Translation to overseas.

Other important notice

Please note that JAF does not offer translation services for International Driving Permits. The effective period of the Japanese Translation is the same as that of the original driver’s license. When the license is renewed or its inscriptions are changed, such as an address change, a new Japanese Translation must be obtained.