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Converting a Bangladeshi Driving Licence in Japan: Documents

Updated: 2026-10

Bangladesh is not on the exemption list, so after the document check you take both the knowledge test (知識確認) and the driving test (技能確認). In Tokyo you also need a driving record from Bangladesh. The knowledge test is not offered in Bengali, so you take it in English or another supported language.

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Bangladeshi licences: document check, knowledge test and driving test

Only 29 countries and regions, such as South Korea, Taiwan and parts of Europe, are exempt from both tests, and Bangladesh is not one of them (Tokyo police 警視庁, checked October 2026). The knowledge test is 50 true/false questions in 30 minutes; you need 45 to pass. The driving test needs 70 out of 100.

You need: (1) a valid Bangladeshi licence; (2) a total of at least 3 months in Bangladesh after getting it; and (3) residence registration in Japan with a copy of your residence record showing nationality and status (住民票の写し, 特定事項入り). No proxy applications.

Bangladesh-only documents in Tokyo

Tokyo's list of documents by country (国別必要書類一覧, as of August 2026) asks Bangladeshi licence holders for "driving records obtained from the issuing authority". This is hard to arrange from Japan, so get it before you come or ask family early.

If your licence does not show the first issue date, you need a document proving it. If you hold two or more licence types (car and motorcycle, for example), you need proof of when you got each (Tokyo police).

Document	Conditions (Tokyo)
Bangladeshi driving licence (original)	Valid card or paper original; a digital licence alone is not accepted
Driving record	From the issuing authority in Bangladesh
Japanese translation (翻訳文)	JAF, the embassy, etc.
Passports (old and new)	Bangladeshi stamps showing 3 months or more
Copy of residence record (住民票の写し)	With status details, no My Number, issued within 6 months (Tokyo)

Saitama needs three authentications: ministry, court and embassy

Extra documents vary a lot by prefecture. Saitama police ask for a licence certificate from Bangladesh authenticated by (1) Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (2) a court in Bangladesh and (3) the Bangladesh Embassy in Japan. Authentication takes time, so start early if you apply in Saitama.

Miyagi police list a driving record issued in Bangladesh. Saitama and Aichi police say certificates issued abroad need authentication by that country's foreign ministry (公印確認) or an apostille. These examples were checked in October 2026; always check the latest list where you apply.

Where you apply	Extra documents for Bangladeshi licences
Tokyo police	Driving record (from Bangladesh)
Saitama police	Licence certificate (from Bangladesh) with three authentications: foreign ministry, court, embassy in Japan
Miyagi police	Driving record issued in Bangladesh

Translation and proving 3 months

You cannot translate the licence yourself. Only designated bodies (the issuing authority or embassy in Japan, JAF and others) are accepted. JAF's translation for conversion costs 6,600 yen and takes 5 to 10 business days on average (from July 1, 2026). You apply online and upload both sides of the licence.

The 3 months are counted as total days in Bangladesh after you got the licence. Passport stamps are the basic proof; without them you need proof of stay such as immigration records (Tokyo police).

Steps and fees in Tokyo

In Tokyo you book online, then go to the Fuchu (府中) or Samezu (鮫洲) test center for the document check. The Koto (江東) center only handles licenses from exempt countries, so you cannot apply there. Applications are accepted on weekdays from 8:30 to 15:00 (not 11:00 to 13:00). After the document check comes the knowledge test, and if you pass, the driving test on a later booked date. You cannot take the driving test on the day you apply.

For licenses from non-exempt countries, you can normally apply for only one license type at a time. If you want to convert both a car and a motorcycle license, prepare documents showing when you got each one and apply separately.

Fee (Tokyo police, checked October 2026)	Amount
Application fee (ordinary car, 普通)	2,500 yen
Application fee (moped, 原付)	1,600 yen
Application fee (large, medium, semi-medium)	3,900 yen
Issuance fee	2,350 yen
JAF translation (for conversion)	6,600 yen

No Bengali test: prepare in English

Tokyo's knowledge test is offered in 20 languages, but Bengali is not one of them (checked October 2026). You can choose English, Urdu, Hindi and others. Aichi's language list does not include Bengali either. If you are not taking it in Japanese, preparing in English is the practical choice.

According to the National Police Agency (警察庁), pass rates for October to December 2025 were 42.8% for the knowledge test and 13.1% for the driving test. Bangladesh drives on the left like Japan, but Japanese signs, full stops (一時停止) and railway crossings are tested in detail. If you pass the knowledge test but fail the driving test, reapplying within 6 months of the knowledge test day exempts you from it. You can practice the 50-question format with menkyopass's English mock test.

FAQ

Q. Can I take the knowledge test in Bengali?

A. Neither Tokyo nor Aichi offers Bengali (checked October 2026). You take it in English or another supported language.

Q. Do I need the ministry and court authentications in Tokyo?

A. Tokyo's list says "driving records from the issuing authority". The document check can still lead to requests for more papers, so ask your test center.

Q. Can I apply with only a digital licence on my phone?

A. No. Tokyo police require the original card or paper licence; a digital licence alone cannot be converted.