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Korean Driver's License to Japanese: No Tests, Extra Documents

Updated: 2026-10

South Korea is one of the 29 countries and regions exempt from both the knowledge test (知識確認) and the skills test (技能確認). Pass the document review and the aptitude test (eyesight etc.) and you get a Japanese license (Tokyo Metropolitan Police, checked October 2026). In Tokyo, though, Korean nationals must add two certificates from the Korean Embassy, and the translation, proof of 3 months' stay and residence certificate (住民票) are still required.

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Korea is exempt from both tests

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police (警視庁, updated 7 September 2026) and Saitama Police's list (1 September 2025) both name South Korea as exempt from the knowledge test (50 true/false questions) and the driving skills test. The document review and aptitude test are not exempt.

Common conditions: (1) your Korean license is valid; (2) you stayed in Korea 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 certificate with the special items (特定事項), issued within 6 months and without your My Number. You cannot apply on a Temporary Visitor (短期滞在) status.

Item	Korean license holders (Tokyo example)
Knowledge test (50 questions)	Exempt
Skills test (driving)	Exempt
Document review, aptitude test	Required
License types per application	Two or more at once (special rule for the 29 exempt countries/regions)
Test centers	Fuchu (府中), Samezu (鮫洲), Koto (江東). Koto only handles licenses from the 29 exempt countries/regions

Extra documents for Korean licenses in Tokyo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police's List of Required Documents by Country (as of August 2026) splits Korean licenses by nationality. Korean nationals need two certificates from the Korean Embassy in Japan.

If you are not a Korean national but got your license in Korea, you may be asked for the same two certificates obtained in Korea, depending on what you submit, and possibly other proof of stay.

Nationality	Required documents (Tokyo)
Korean	Certificate of Driver's License (embassy), Certificate of Entry & Departure (embassy)
Other	Depending on your documents, Certificate of Driver's License and Certificate of Entry & Departure from the issuing authority in Korea; proof of stay may also be needed

Other prefectures (Saitama, Tochigi, Yamanashi)

Extra documents vary by prefecture. These examples were checked in October 2026; always check the latest list where you apply.

Saitama Police require certificates issued abroad to carry the issuing country's foreign-ministry authentication or an apostille, and want originals (no copies).

Where you apply	Extra documents for Korean licenses
Tokyo Metropolitan Police	Korean nationals: embassy Certificate of Driver's License and Certificate of Entry & Departure
Saitama Police	Korean nationals: entry/exit record and license certificate (consulate). Others: entry/exit record and license certificate from the Korean license center (Seoul authority)
Tochigi Police	License translation; entry/exit record, license certificate and driving history certificate (consulate or Seoul authority)
Yamanashi Police	Korean nationals: entry/exit record and license certificate (consulate). Others: entry/exit record and license certificate from the Korean license center

Translation: JAF or embassy-notarized translation

Your own translation alone is not accepted. Tokyo accepts translations from the issuing country's embassy in Japan, JAF and a few others.

The Korean Embassy notarizes license translations for Korean nationals. The notarization certifies that you swore before a consul that the translation is of the original; it does not guarantee accuracy. The embassy warns that overwriting, corrections, erasable pens and missing characters often lead test centers to ask for a new translation.

Provider	Fee and time (checked Oct 2026)	Notes
JAF	¥6,600 (for conversion). Korean licenses take about 2–3 weeks	Online only, from within Japan. Besides both sides of the license, upload your residence card, residence certificate or passport
Korean Embassy (notarized translation)	¥520 per document, same day	Korean nationals only. No mail applications. Keep hanja as written, render hangul without hanja in katakana, and write your name exactly as on your residence card. Do not add a Japanese address or an extended aptitude-test period

Proving 3 months' stay: watch out for automated gates

Your 3+ months in Korea after getting the license are checked through all your old and current passports. Tokyo advises anyone who used automated immigration gates to get an entry/exit record certificate from the issuing country. If you travel between Japan and Korea through automated gates and have no stamps, prepare early.

In Tokyo, your length of stay also decides the beginner-mark obligation (初心者マーク, 1 year in total) and carrying a passenger on a motorcycle (1 year on ordinary roads, 3 years on expressways). The Korean Embassy covers Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Gunma and Ibaraki; residents elsewhere use the consulate general for their area.

Fees (Tokyo, checked Oct 2026)	Amount
Application fee (ordinary car 普通)	¥2,500
Application fee (moped 原付)	¥1,600
Application fee (large, medium, semi-medium)	¥3,900
Application fee (other)	¥2,800
Issuance fee	¥2,350

Common sticking points for Korean applicants

Even without tests, incomplete paperwork means your application is not accepted. Watch out for:

You need the physical license card. Tokyo says a digital license alone cannot be converted
No passport stamps (automated gates) → bring an entry/exit record
Errors in the translation or inconsistent name spelling → match your residence card exactly, no corrections
On the application form, people with a name in Chinese characters write the romanized name followed by the characters in brackets (National Police Agency rules)
Korea drives on the right, Japan on the left. Turning left on red is not allowed except where a white sign with a blue arrow (左折可) permits it

Exempt, but still learn Japan's rules

A Korean license skips the knowledge test, but Japanese road rules differ from Korea's in places. Since 1 September 2026 the legal speed limit on residential roads without a center line is 30 km/h. The menkyopass mock test, available in Korean and English, is a quick way to check Japanese rules.

FAQ

Q. Is there no test for a Korean license?

A. The knowledge and skills tests are exempt. You still go through the document review and aptitude test (eyesight etc.).

Q. What do I get from the embassy?

A. In Tokyo, Korean nationals get a Certificate of Driver's License and a Certificate of Entry & Departure from the embassy. Names and issuers differ by prefecture, so check where you apply.

Q. JAF or the embassy for the translation?

A. Either works. JAF costs ¥6,600 and takes about 2–3 weeks for Korean licenses; the embassy's notarized translation is ¥520 per document, same day (Korean nationals only, no mail).

Q. Can I convert my car and motorcycle licenses at once?

A. In Tokyo, licenses from the 29 exempt countries/regions, including Korea, can be converted two or more types at once.