Converting a Cambodian Driving License in Japan: Documents

A Cambodian license means document review, knowledge test and skills test

Only licenses from 29 countries and regions, such as South Korea, Taiwan and parts of Europe, are test-exempt; Cambodia is not one of them. After the document review you must pass the knowledge test (知識確認: 50 true/false questions, 30 minutes, at least 45 correct) and the skills test on a course (技能確認: at least 70 out of 100).

Three conditions apply to everyone: (1) your Cambodian license is still valid; (2) you stayed in Cambodia for a total of 3 months or more after getting it; (3) you are registered as a resident in Japan and can submit a residence record (住民票の写し) with the specified items, without your My Number, issued within 6 months. People on a short-term status cannot apply, and you must apply in person. Even if you got the license before coming to Japan, you cannot convert it unless you spent a total of 3 months in Cambodia after getting it.

No Cambodia entry in Tokyo's list: what you still need

Tokyo's list of documents by country (国別必要書類一覧, as of August 2026) has no entry for Cambodia. The list does say that other documents are also required, and the common documents apply to everyone.

Pay special attention to dates. Tokyo says that if your license does not show the date you first got it, you need a document proving it (such as a driver's record), and that people with two or more license types need proof of when they got each one. It is safest to get a certificate showing the issue date from the licensing authority while you are still in Cambodia.

Other prefectures (Miyagi, Saitama)

Miyagi's list of documents by country says, for Cambodia, "a certificate showing the issue date of the driving license". Saitama's list has no Cambodia entry, but says that for any country a license history certificate is needed if the license shows no first issue date, and entry and exit records are needed if your passport stamps are incomplete.

Saitama also says certificates obtained abroad need a seal confirmation by the issuing country's foreign ministry or an apostille, and because the review is in Japanese, you must bring an interpreter who understands Japanese and your language (phone or app interpreting is not accepted). These examples were checked in October 2026; check the latest list where you apply.

Translation: JAF or the Embassy of Cambodia

You cannot use your own translation or one by a friend. Of the translators Tokyo accepts, the ones available for a Cambodian license are the embassy in Japan and JAF; the private translators cover only certain countries, and Cambodia is not among them (Tokyo, checked October 2026). Ask the embassy directly whether it issues translations and what it charges.

If you renew your license you need a new translation. Tokyo says the skills test is usually about 3–4 months after you book and your license must be valid until then, so renew in Cambodia first if it expires soon.

Proving 3 months, and holding both car and motorcycle licenses

Your time in Cambodia after getting the license is checked with the entry and exit stamps in all your passports, old and new. If you used automated gates and have no stamps, you need an official record of your entries and exits. When the passport is not enough, Tokyo lists documents such as an employment certificate, academic transcript, tax certificates (3 or more consecutive years), residence certificate and utility bills. A salary certificate alone is not accepted.

In Tokyo, holders of non-exempt licenses can in principle apply for only one license type at a time. To convert both a car and a motorcycle license, apply separately, with one photo per type. Your time in Cambodia also decides the beginner mark (1 year in total) and carrying a passenger on a motorcycle (1 year on ordinary roads, 3 years on expressways).

Cambodia drives on the right: what is reversed in Japan

Cambodia drives on the right; Japan drives on the left. Both the knowledge test and the skills test assume left-hand traffic, so you need to switch your habits for turning and overtaking.

The test also asks in detail about Japan-specific rules, for example:

• Vehicles keep to the left side of the road; overtaking is in principle on the right
• At a "止まれ" (stop) sign, stop completely just before the stop line (slowing down is a violation)
• In principle, stop before a railway crossing
• From 1 September 2026, the legal speed limit on residential roads without a center line is 30 km/h

Take the knowledge test in Khmer

Tokyo offers the knowledge test in 20 languages, including Khmer (checked October 2026).

According to the National Police Agency, the pass rates for October–December 2025 were 42.8% for the knowledge test and 13.1% for the skills test. If you pass the knowledge test but fail the skills test, reapplying within 6 months of the knowledge test exempts you from it. Practice with menkyopass's mock test to get used to 50 questions with 45 needed to pass, and to Japanese traffic rules.

FAQ

Related guides

• Japan License Conversion Documents: Juminhyo, Translation, Passport
• Japanese Translation of Your License for Conversion: JAF, Fees
• The 3-Month Stay Rule for License Conversion in Japan: Proof
• Japan Traffic Rules That Trip Up Foreign Drivers: 6 Key Rules
• Japan License Conversion Test Languages: Which Are Available?

Sources (in Japanese)

• 警察庁 丙運発第59号（令和8年1月8日）別添「外国免許等関係事務取扱い要領」
• 警察庁「外国で取得した免許をお持ちの方」
• 警察庁「生活道路の法定速度」
• 警視庁「外国で取得した運転免許証を日本の運転免許証に切り替えるには」
• 警視庁「必要書類（共通）」PDF
• 警視庁「国別必要書類一覧」PDF（令和8年8月現在）
• 警視庁「注意事項」PDF
• 警視庁「外国語による学科試験・知識確認」
• 宮城県警察「国別に必要となる書類」PDF
• 埼玉県警察「国別必要書類及び滞在期間証明書類注意事項」PDF
• JAF「翻訳文の申請方法」
• 日本経済新聞「外国人の免許切り替え、筆記試験の合格率9割→4割に 25年10〜12月」（警察庁公表の報道）