Japan License Conversion: Countries Exempt from Tests

The 29 exempt countries and regions

Tokyo police (警視庁) and Kanagawa police publish the same list, shown below. It reflects countries the National Police Agency (警察庁) has notified as having a licensing system at the same level as Japan's, so it can change. Check the latest information from your prefectural police before applying.

US licenses: it depends on the state

US driver's licenses are issued by states, so exemptions are state by state. A license from one of the seven states above skips both tests; an Indiana license skips only the practical test. Licenses from states not on the list — such as California, New York or Texas — require both tests.

What counts is which authority issued your license, not your nationality. The NPA guidelines define the exemption by 'holders of a license issued by the authorities of' the listed country or region. For example, a Vietnamese citizen with a German license qualifies, while a license issued in India does not, whatever the holder's passport.

What exempt applicants still have to do

Only the knowledge and practical tests are waived. The eligibility rules, documents and aptitude test are the same as for everyone else.

• A valid foreign license (original) and a Japanese translation (翻訳文)
• Proof that you stayed in the issuing country/region for a total of 3 months or more after getting the license (passport entry/exit stamps, etc.)
• A copy of your residence record (住民票の写し) — required since October 2025; Temporary Visitor (短期滞在) status holders generally cannot apply
• Photo, passport and any other documents your prefectural police require
• An eyesight/aptitude test (適性試験)
• Application and issuance fees (Tokyo example: 2,500 yen application for a regular car license plus 2,350 yen issuance)

In Tokyo you can also apply at Koto

In Tokyo, the Fuchu (府中) and Samezu (鮫洲) driver's license centers accept conversions from every country, while the Koto (江東) center accepts only licenses from the 29 exempt countries and regions (checked October 2026). Since exempt applicants don't need separate test days, the process is much shorter if your documents are in order.

Booking slots can still fill up, and incomplete applications are turned away. Some countries require extra documents, so also check Tokyo police's document list by country (国別必要書類一覧).

If you previously held a Japanese license

Under the NPA guidelines, someone who previously held a Japanese license and is applying for the same class again can also be exempted from the knowledge and practical tests. This may apply even if your license country isn't on the list, so ask the prefectural police where you apply.

Not exempt? Prepare for the knowledge test

Licenses from countries not on the list — including India, the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and China — require both tests. Since October 2025 the knowledge test is 50 text-based true/false questions in 30 minutes with 45 correct needed to pass, and the pass rate in October–December 2025 was 42.8% (NPA). menkyopass offers mock exams in English in the same format as the real test.

FAQ

Related guides

• Japan License Conversion Process: 6 Steps from Booking to License
• Japan License Conversion Documents: Juminhyo, Translation, Passport
• Japanese Translation of Your License for Conversion: JAF, Fees
• International Driving Permit vs License Conversion in Japan
• Japanese License Classes You Can Get by Converting (incl. AT)

Sources (in Japanese)

• 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」（知識確認・技能確認の免除国、江東試験場の受付範囲）
• 神奈川県警察「外国免許から日本の免許への切替え」（免除国、インディアナ州は技能確認のみ免除）
• 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」
• 警視庁「国別必要書類一覧」PDF