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Hyogo Foreign License Conversion: Akashi Booking (A/B), Fees

Updated: 2026-10

In Hyogo, foreign license conversion (外免切替) takes place in Foreign License Review Room No. 7 at the Akashi Driver's License Test Center (明石運転免許試験場), Monday to Friday, by appointment. Your first review is booked online through the "外国免許切替審査専用予約" forms, choosing form A or B depending on the country that issued your license. Only first-class (第一種) licenses can be converted. Everything below comes from Hyogo Prefectural Police pages (checked October 2026). Always check the latest page.

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Booking: pick the right form, A or B

The police page "学科試験・技能試験・外国免許切替手続きの予約について" lists monthly "外国免許切替審査専用予約" forms (links for September and October when checked in October 2026). Since the July 2026 bookings, the forms are split into A and B by issuing country. Both are for first-time reviews only.

If you have already been reviewed (for example, retaking the 50-question knowledge test), book by phone at 078-912-1778, not online. People without internet access or who want to change a booking also call (weekdays 9:00 am–4:00 pm).

Form	Issuing country/region
B	Iceland, Ireland, USA (Oregon, Ohio, Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland, Washington), UK, Italy, Australia, Austria, Netherlands, Canada, South Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Monaco, Luxembourg, Taiwan
A	All other countries (Vietnam, China, Philippines, Nepal, India, other US states, etc.)

Register on e-Hyogo first

From the April 2026 bookings, the new system requires you to register your email on e-ひょうご and then apply from the URL in the reply email. You register only once; after that you check everything on My Page.

Once registered, you can change or cancel your test date yourself on e-ひょうご. The police publish separate PDF guides for registration/booking, checking a booking, and changing/cancelling.

Documents: official entry/exit records as the rule

Whatever your country, you need all of A to C below. To prove a stay of 3 months in the issuing country, the rule is official entry/exit records issued by that country's authorities. Only if there are unavoidable reasons may you consult the reviewer and bring substitutes (residence certificate from a diplomatic mission, employer's posting certificate, utility bills, etc.).

A Identity: one photo 3 cm × 2.4 cm (within 6 months), residence card (在留カード), passport, residence certificate (住民票) showing domicile or nationality, residence category, status and period of stay, and NOT showing the My Number
B License: valid foreign license (old and new), Japanese translation (embassy/consulate, JAF, etc.), Japanese license if you ever had one
C Stay record: entry/exit records showing a total stay of 3 months or more in the issuing country after you got the license
With IC passports or many stamps, the stay may not be verifiable from the passport alone

Country-specific papers and stamp-free countries

If your passport has no stamps (including only an entry or only an exit stamp), your stay cannot be confirmed, so bring entry/exit records from the issuing country. The police list Japan, the USA, Canada, China, South Korea and Australia as examples of countries that do not stamp. For China, records can be downloaded from the National Immigration Administration website; for Korea, apply at the Consulate-General in Kobe. Licenses without a clear expiry or first-issue date need a driving record.

Country	Document
Philippines	Official Receipt, apostille
Brazil	Prontuário
Nepal	Embassy certificate or License Holder Details
Mexico	Embassy certificate or driving record
Malaysia	Printout of the license profile screen in the My JPJ app
Pakistan	Embassy certificate or certificate

Fees (Hyogo police guide)

Total = test fee + issuing fee. Issuing fee: card only 2,350 yen, card + マイナ免許証 2,450 yen, マイナ免許証 only 1,550 yen. When buying revenue stamps (証紙), prepare the test fee and issuing fee separately because they go to different payees.

License	Test fee	Total (card only)
Standard car (普通)	2,500 yen	4,850 yen
Large/medium/semi-medium	3,900 yen	6,250 yen
Large/standard motorcycle, other	2,800 yen	5,150 yen
Moped (原付), small special	1,600 yen	3,950 yen

Languages, location and contact

The police booking page lists 21 languages for written tests (including Japanese, English, Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali and Tagalog). The conversion page does not state whether the conversion knowledge test uses the same languages, so confirm when you book.

To reach the Akashi center, from JR Akashi Station or Sanyo Akashi Station take a Shinki bus via the test center from stop "南7乗り場" on the south side of the JR station, about 10 minutes, and get off at "試験場前". There is no parking at the center. Contact: conversion review desk 078-912-1778 or 0570-078-912 (weekdays 10:00 am–12:00 pm and 3:00–4:00 pm).

Retakes are booked by phone — aim to pass first time

If you fail the knowledge test, you have to rebook by phone. menkyopass mock tests use the same 50-question, 30-minute format in English, Vietnamese and Chinese.

FAQ

Q. Should I choose booking form A or B?

A. Form B if your license is from a country/region on the Hyogo police list (South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, certain US states, etc.); otherwise form A (e.g. Vietnam, China, Philippines).

Q. How do I rebook after failing the knowledge test?

A. Anyone who has already been reviewed books by phone at 078-912-1778, not online. If you reapply within 6 months of the knowledge test date, the knowledge test is waived (National Police Agency guidelines).

Q. How much does a standard car license conversion cost in Hyogo?

A. Test fee 2,500 yen + issuing fee 2,350 yen = 4,850 yen for the card only (Hyogo police, checked October 2026).

Q. Can I convert to a second-class (commercial) license?

A. No. Hyogo police say conversion is limited to first-class (第一種) licenses.