Fukuoka Foreign License Conversion: Test Centers, Booking, Fees

Which test center? It depends on whether you need the practical check

The Fukuoka test center (Minami Ward, Fukuoka City) and the Kitakyushu test center (Kokuraminami Ward) only accept applicants who do not need the practical check. That means people with a license from a country or region exempt from both checks (27 countries and 8 regions, including South Korea, Taiwan, the UK, Germany, Canada, Australia and seven US states), from Indiana (exempt from the practical check only), people applying for a moped (原付) license, and people who have held a Japanese license before.

If your license is from anywhere else, for example Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Nepal or Indonesia, and you want a regular car license (普通免許), you apply at Chikuho or Chikugo. Note that Chikugo stopped accepting practical checks for the semi-medium license (準中型) from April 1, 2026 until further notice, so for 準中型 you need Chikuho.

Booking: go in person to get a document review date

Fukuoka uses a designated-date system for the document review. Go to the test center where you will apply, tell the window staff you want the document review for foreign license conversion (外国免許切替の書類審査), and they set your date. They also do a preliminary check of your papers at that moment, so bring the full set. You cannot book by phone or through someone else, and you cannot change the date by phone; you must go back in person.

The police say daily capacity is limited, your preferred date may not be available, and waiting periods can be long because of high demand. The date can also differ depending on your residence status. On every visit, bring your original passport (without it you will be turned away) and your original residence card (在留カード).

On your review date, and what comes next

Reception on the document review day is Monday to Friday (except holidays and the New Year period), 13:00 to 13:30. If you arrive after 13:30 you will not be accepted that day. Applications with missing documents may be refused, and you may not be served in arrival order.

After the document review, you take the aptitude test (適性試験, including an eye test), the knowledge check (知識確認) and the practical check on later visits. The knowledge and practical checks need reservations; ask about them at your document review. Practical-check reservations are made at the test center window, not by phone. Moped applicants have no practical check.

• Application forms are available at the test center (submit them at Window 7 on 2F in Fukuoka, Window 1 in Kitakyushu, Window 5 in Chikuho, Window 8 in Chikugo)
• You set a PIN for the license's IC chip when you apply
• If you do not speak Japanese, bring an interpreter (通訳人)

Knowledge check: 50 questions, 30 minutes, 20 languages

The knowledge check has 50 written true/false questions in 30 minutes, and you pass with 45 or more correct. Besides Japanese, the test is available in 20 languages. If you passed the old 10-question picture test on or before September 30, 2025 but failed the practical check, and you reapply on or after October 1, 2025, you must take the new 50-question test even within the 6-month exemption period.

Languages: English, Spanish, Persian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Nepali, Indonesian, Myanmar, Khmer, Mongolian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic and Hindi.

Documents required by Fukuoka Police

You need a valid foreign license and proof that you stayed in the issuing country for a total of 3 months or more after getting it (checked with your license and passport). Only first-class licenses (第一種免許) can be converted. Since October 1, 2025, short-term visitors such as tourists staying under 3 months cannot get a license at all.

• Application form with the medical questionnaire (質問票), available at the test center
• 2 photos, 3 cm high × 2.4 cm wide
• 1 resident record (住民票の写し) showing nationality, status of residence, period of stay, expiry date and residence card number; without My Number, no copies; plus your residence card (shown)
• Your valid foreign license and its Japanese translation (翻訳文) made by an embassy or consulate, or by an organization the police list such as JAF
• Proof of 3+ months' stay (passport, Ministry of Justice entry/exit record, etc.). If the license has no issue date or it was renewed, bring your old license or a driving history certificate, with translation
• Extra documents by country (for example, a color printout of the digital license for China, LICENSE HOLDER DETAILS for the Philippines). Check the police's country list PDF (国別必要書類一覧)
• Glasses if you need them for the eye test. No personal seal (印鑑) is needed

Fees (checked October 2026)

You pay the test fee plus the issuance fee. For a regular car license with the plastic card only, that is ¥2,500 + ¥2,350 = ¥4,850. If you apply for two or more license types at once, add ¥200 for each extra type.

Access and language support

All four test centers have free visitor parking. The windows have a subtitle display system that supports 134 languages (introduced in March 2024). The police also publish the procedure guide as PDFs in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Ukrainian. For questions, call the nearest test center (weekdays 8:30–17:15).

If you apply at Chikuho or Chikugo, you will visit several times: document review, knowledge check, practical check. Failing the knowledge check means booking again, so practice the same 50-question, 30-minute format in English, Vietnamese or Chinese with the menkyopass mock test first.

FAQ

Related guides

• Japan License Conversion Process: 6 Steps from Booking to License
• Japan License Conversion Documents: Juminhyo, Translation, Passport
• Japan License Conversion: Countries Exempt from Tests
• Failed Japan License Conversion? Reapplying and the 6-Month Rule
• How to Book a License Conversion Appointment in Japan

Sources (in Japanese)

• 福岡県警察「外国免許からの切り替え手続き」
• 福岡県警察「福岡・北九州試験場における外国免許切替『書類審査』の指定日制について」
• 福岡県警察「筑豊試験場における外国免許切替『書類審査』の指定日制について」
• 福岡県警察「筑後試験場における外国免許切替『書類審査』の指定日制について」
• 福岡県警察「技能試験及び外国免許からの切替（実技確認）の予約について」
• 福岡県警察「【筑後試験場】準中型免許に関する技能試験等の受付中止について」
• 福岡県警察「外国免許切替手続き受付窓口（福岡自動車運転免許試験場）」
• 福岡県警察「外国免許切替手続き受付窓口（北九州自動車運転免許試験場）」
• 福岡県警察「外国免許切替手続き受付窓口（筑豊自動車運転免許試験場）」
• 福岡県警察「外国免許切替手続き受付窓口（筑後自動車運転免許試験場）」
• 福岡県警察「福岡自動車運転免許試験場」（所在地・アクセス）
• 福岡県警察「北九州自動車運転免許試験場」（所在地・アクセス）
• 福岡県警察「筑豊自動車運転免許試験場」（所在地・アクセス）
• 福岡県警察「筑後自動車運転免許試験場」（所在地・アクセス）
• 福岡県警察「外国人・国外転出者の免許申請時の必要書類について」
• 福岡県警察「【制度改正】免許申請時の住所確認及び外国免許切替制度の厳格化について」
• 福岡県警察「試験場における字幕表示システムの導入について」
• 福岡県警察「国別必要書類一覧」PDF
• 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」