Converting an Indian Driving License in Japan: Documents

An Indian 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; India 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 Indian license is still valid; (2) you stayed in India 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 (tourists, etc.) cannot apply, and you must apply in person.

Three India-specific documents in Tokyo

Tokyo's list of documents by country (国別必要書類一覧, as of August 2026) asks Indian license holders for the documents below. The Extract of Driving License is required for everyone and comes from the issuing authority in India. It is hard to get once you are in Japan, so arrange it before you come or ask family to get it early.

The DL Status and the Affidavit are conditional. According to the English version of the list, you need a DL Status if your license covers multiple categories and the license does not indicate them, and an Affidavit from the embassy if the name on your license differs from the name on your passport. Even a different spelling or use of initials can lead to a request to prove you are the same person, so compare the two before you apply.

Other prefectures (Saitama, Tochigi, Miyagi)

Extra documents vary by prefecture. These examples were checked in October 2026; all of them ask for a license certificate issued by the Indian authorities. Always check the latest list where you apply.

Saitama says certificates obtained abroad need a seal confirmation by the issuing country's foreign ministry or an apostille, and that a document explaining the reason is needed if your names differ. Because the document review is in Japanese, Saitama also asks you to bring an interpreter who understands Japanese and your Indian language (phone or app interpreting is not accepted).

Translation: JAF or the Embassy of India

You cannot use your own translation or one by a friend. Of the translators Tokyo accepts, the ones available for an Indian license are the embassy in Japan and JAF; the private translators cover only certain countries, and India 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 that day. If it expires soon, renew it in India first and then get the translation.

Proving 3 months, and holding both car and motorcycle licenses

Your time in India 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 "proof of stay" 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 and bring papers showing when you got each one. You also need one photo (3 cm × 2.4 cm) per type.

Your time in India is also used to decide whether you must show the beginner mark (1 year in total) and whether you may carry a passenger on a motorcycle (1 year on ordinary roads, 3 years on expressways).

Take the knowledge test in Hindi, English or Urdu

Tokyo offers the knowledge test in 20 languages, including Hindi, English and Urdu. Other Indian languages such as Tamil and Bengali are not available, so choose the language you understand best (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. India drives on the left like Japan, but the test asks in detail about Japanese signs, full stops (一時停止) and railway crossings. 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.

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 License Conversion Test Languages: Which Are Available?
• Failed Japan License Conversion? Reapplying and the 6-Month Rule

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「国別必要書類一覧」英語版PDF
• 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」
• 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
• 栃木県警察「必要証明書類（国別）一覧」PDF
• 宮城県警察「国別に必要となる書類」PDF
• 在日インド大使館「Consular Services and Documents Required」
• 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）