Gaimen50-question practice tests in the real exam formatHow Much Does License Conversion Cost in Japan? Fees Explained
Updated: 2026-10
Converting to a regular car license (普通免許) in Tokyo costs a ¥2,500 application fee + ¥2,350 issuance fee + ¥6,600 for the JAF translation + a residence record (¥300 at the Shinjuku City counter) — about ¥11,750 in total, plus photos. Fees vary by prefecture and license class, and failing the driving test and reapplying can add more.
Cost breakdown (Tokyo, regular car license)
Based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Police page and each organization's official prices (checked October 2026). Residence record fees vary by municipality.
| Item | Amount | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (regular car) | ¥2,500 | Tokyo police |
| Issuance fee (交付手数料) | ¥2,350 | Tokyo police; paid when you receive the license after passing |
| Japanese translation (JAF, conversion type) | ¥6,600 | JAF; plus ¥20 per sheet to print at a convenience store |
| Residence record (住民票の写し) | ¥300 | Example: Shinjuku City counter; varies by municipality |
| Application photo (3 cm × 2.4 cm) | Actual cost | Photos from the booths at Tokyo's test centers are accepted |
| Estimated total | About ¥11,750 + photo | If using an embassy translation, ask the embassy for its fee |
Application fees by license class (Tokyo)
The application fee depends on which class you convert to. The ¥2,350 issuance fee is the same for all.
- In principle you can apply for only one class at a time (Tokyo police). Car plus motorcycle means separate applications, fees and photos (with exceptions such as holders from exempt countries)
- Large and medium licenses require a regular license first. You may apply at the same time, but the forms and fees are separate (NPA guidelines)
- If you fail the depth-perception test for semi-medium, medium or large licenses, the aptitude test fee is not refunded (Tokyo police)
| License class | Application fee |
|---|---|
| Regular car (普通) | ¥2,500 |
| Large / medium / semi-medium (大型・中型・準中型) | ¥3,900 |
| Moped (原付) | ¥1,600 |
| Other (e.g. motorcycle 二輪) | ¥2,800 |
| Issuance fee | ¥2,350 |
| Additional-class endorsement (併記) | ¥200 |
Fee items differ by prefecture
Prefectures list their fees differently. Tottori, for example, lists for a regular car: ¥2,500 application fee, ¥1,750 vehicle use fee (車両使用手数料) and ¥2,350 issuance fee (license card only). Tokyo's page has no vehicle use fee item.
Kanagawa police say fees vary by license class and whether you take the driving test, and tell you to confirm the amount when booking. Always check your own prefectural police page.
| Prefecture | Fees listed for a regular car license |
|---|---|
| Tokyo (警視庁) | ¥2,500 + ¥2,350 = ¥4,850 |
| Tottori | ¥2,500 + ¥1,750 vehicle use + ¥2,350 = ¥6,600 |
| Kanagawa | Varies by class and whether the driving test applies; confirmed when booking |
Translation and document costs
JAF's conversion translation is ¥6,600 including tax, payable by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club) or in cash at a convenience store. If you renew your license or its details change, you need a new one — another ¥6,600. Embassy and consulate translation fees vary by country, so ask your embassy.
If you need entry/exit records from your home country to prove the 3-month stay, add their issuing and postage costs. Requesting your own record from Japan's Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) costs ¥300 per request, but the agency says that record does not prove residence in other countries.
Extra costs if you fail
If you don't meet the standard on the knowledge or driving test, the partial exemption isn't granted (NPA guidelines) and you have to file a new application. We could not find an official nationwide explanation of which fees must be paid again, so ask your prefectural police.
Costs people often forget come from expired documents: the residence record must be issued within 6 months (Tokyo police), so you may need a new one, and renewing your foreign license means a new translation. The NPA reports a knowledge-test pass rate of just 42.8% (October–December 2025), so many people don't pass the first time.
The cheapest way: pass the first time
You can't cut the official fees much, but avoiding a reapplication saves both time and money. Get every document ready before booking and practice the knowledge test (45 of 50 correct needed) in the real format. menkyopass mock tests are available in English for a one-time ¥1,500 (first mock test and three topics free).
FAQ
Q. What's the total cost of converting a license?
A. For a regular car license in Tokyo: ¥2,500 application, ¥2,350 issuance, ¥6,600 JAF translation and a residence record (¥300 at Shinjuku, for example) — about ¥11,750 plus photos. It varies by prefecture and class.
Q. How much for a moped (原付) license only?
A. In Tokyo, ¥1,600 application fee + ¥2,350 issuance fee, plus translation and residence record costs.
Q. When do I pay the fees?
A. Tokyo police list the application fee and the issuance fee separately; the issuance fee is for when your license is issued after passing. Hiroshima police also note a separate issuance fee at that stage. Ask your center about when and how to pay.
Q. Do I pay again if I fail?
A. Failing means filing a new application, so extra costs are possible. We found no official nationwide explanation of the amount, so ask your prefectural police.
Related guides
- Japan License Conversion Process: 6 Steps from Booking to License
- Japanese Translation of Your License for Conversion: JAF, Fees
- Failed Japan License Conversion? Reapplying and the 6-Month Rule
- How to Book a License Conversion Appointment 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」（手数料）
- 警視庁「必要書類（共通）」PDF（写真・住民票）
- 警視庁「注意事項」PDF（申請できる免許の数・深視力検査）
- 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」
- JAF「翻訳文の申請方法」
- 新宿区「住民票等の証明」（手数料の例）
- 鳥取県 外国免許切替の案内（手数料）
- 神奈川県警察「外国免許から日本の免許への切替え」
- 広島県警察「外国免許から日本の免許への切替」
- 出入国在留管理庁「出入（帰）国記録の開示請求について」
- 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）