Converting a Foreign License in Miyagi: Sendai Center Guide

Book by phone before the document review

Before the application (document review, 書類審査), call 022-373-3601 (extension 275) to book. Bookings are taken Monday to Friday, excluding weekends, national holidays, other holidays and the New Year period. On the day, come at the time the staff member gives you when you book.

If you need to cancel your document review, you must call. Miyagi police also say this in English: if you cancel, call in advance.

The Miyagi flow: review & interview → tests → license

If your country requires the tests, you first have your documents checked and reviewed with an interview; the knowledge and driving tests are booked for a later date. After passing the aptitude test (eyesight etc., 適性試験) and both tests, your license is made and issued. Applicants from exempt countries go from document review and interview to the aptitude test and then issuing.

Depending on how busy the day is, waiting can last until around 5 p.m., and sometimes the license can't be issued on the day you apply. If you pass the document review and would like driving practice, say so when you apply.

Knowledge test: 50 questions, 30 minutes, 20 languages

Since October 1, 2025, the knowledge test (知識確認) has 50 questions in 30 minutes (nationwide it is true/false, and you pass with 45 or more). Miyagi police list 20 available languages: English, Spanish, Persian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Nepali, Indonesian, Khmer, Mongolian, Burmese, Sinhala, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Ukrainian.

Bring a pencil and eraser. The driving test (技能確認) uses the course inside the license center, following the route set for each license class. If you can't hold a conversation in Japanese, bring an interpreter.

Required documents

These are the documents on Miyagi police's official page. Conditions: you hold a valid foreign license and stayed in the issuing country for a total of 3+ months after getting it. Since October 1, 2025, foreign nationals on short-term stay (短期滞在) cannot apply.

• Foreign driver's license (bring old licenses too). If the issue date is unclear, a driving-history certificate may be required
• Japanese translation of the license from an approved issuer (that country's embassy or consulate, JAF, etc.)
• Residence record (住民票) showing nationality and other specified items (国籍等特定事項) or registered domicile, issued within 6 months, without your My Number. If you can't get one, other papers such as a residence certificate (居住証明書) or family register are needed — ask first
• Passport (including old ones). If there are no home-country stamps, bring flight tickets or similar showing entry and exit
• 1 photo, 3 × 2.4 cm, taken within 6 months
• Any Japanese license you hold (valid or expired)
• If stamps don't prove the 3-month stay, other proof such as school transcripts, employment certificates or tax certificates is needed

Extra documents by country (Miyagi police list)

In its PDF "Documents required by country" (国別に必要となる書類), Miyagi police list extra documents for these countries. Originals are required — copies are not accepted. Countries not listed may also need documents.

Fees and getting there

Miyagi police's conversion page does not list the fee amounts (checked October 2026). For reference, Tokyo's Metropolitan Police (警視庁) charge an application fee of ¥2,500 + issuing fee of ¥2,350 for a standard license. Miyagi's license centers accept cashless payment: credit cards, e-money and QR codes.

The Miyagi Driver's License Center is at 仙台市泉区市名坂字高倉65, main phone 022-373-3601. Take a Miyagi Kotsu (宮城交通) bus and get off at "運転免許センター" or "鹿島ショッピングタウン".

• From Izumi-Chuo (泉中央) subway station, stop 5-2: about 7 minutes (for 松陵ニュータウン via the center, or for 鶴が丘ニュータウン)
• From Yaotome (八乙女) subway station, stop 3: about 8 minutes
• From JR Sendai Station, stop 6: about 40 minutes (via 運転免許センター, for 鶴が丘ニュータウン or 松陵ニュータウン)

Get used to the 50-question format first

The knowledge test requires 90% correct, and failing means another try on a later date. menkyopass's mock tests use the same 50-question, 30-minute format as the real test, in Vietnamese, English, Chinese and Japanese.

FAQ

Related guides

• Japan License Conversion Process: 6 Steps from Booking to License
• Japan License Conversion Documents: Juminhyo, Translation, Passport
• Japanese Translation of Your License for Conversion: JAF, Fees
• Japan License Conversion: Countries Exempt from Tests
• Failed Japan License Conversion? Reapplying and the 6-Month Rule

Sources (in Japanese)

• 宮城県警察「外国免許切替え申請手続きについて」
• 宮城県警察「国別に必要となる書類」PDF
• 宮城県警察「各免許センター案内」
• 宮城県警察「宮城県運転免許センター」（キャッシュレス決済の案内）
• 警視庁「外国免許から日本の免許への切替え」（手数料の例）
• 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」