Converting a Foreign License in Nara: Counter Booking, Cash Fees

Who can apply in Nara, and the review flow

You must live in Nara Prefecture, hold a valid foreign driver's license, and have stayed in the issuing country or region for a total of 3 months or more after getting it. People with a traffic violation (or accident) record in Japan, or with one of the 'certain illnesses' relevant to the Road Traffic Act, are asked to consult beforehand. If reading and writing Japanese is hard for you, come with an interpreter.

Booking: early-month weekdays, in person at the counter

Nara police instruct applicants to visit counter A of the testing section on a weekday at the start of the month (from 8:30 a.m. on days the division is open) to get a document-review booking. When you go to book, you must bring your foreign driver's license and ID (My Number card, residence card 在留カード, etc.).

Both booking and review take place at 奈良県警察本部交通部運転免許課 (counter 試験係A, 橿原市葛本町120-3). For questions about tests, call the testing section on 0744-25-5224. The police state they will stop handling your case if your foreign license turns out to have been obtained improperly, or if you make excessive demands, use abusive language or ignore necessary instructions.

What to bring to the review

This is the list in Nara police's 'Attachment 1' (別紙1).

• Your foreign driver's license — all of them if you have several. If damaged or the photo or text is unclear, you may be asked to get it reissued
• A translation (翻訳文) made by the issuing authority or the issuing country's embassy or consulate in Japan, JAF, etc. Korea: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka; Taiwan: Taiwan-Japan Relations Association
• Passports — every one you have, valid or expired
• One residence certificate (住民票) issued within 6 months before applying, with an official seal. Foreign nationals need it unless they hold a My Number card license; it must show every specified item, including nationality, residence status, period of stay, its expiry date and residence card number
• ID; foreign nationals need a residence card or special permanent resident certificate
• Your Japanese license (valid, or expired licenses / My Number card licenses). If lost or taken by a foreign authority, tell the counter
• My Number card (if you have or want a My Number card license)
• One application photo taken within 6 months, 3cm tall × 2.4cm wide, no hat, plain background
• Glasses, hearing aids etc. if needed for the aptitude test; a black ballpoint pen

Supporting documents: proving your license date and stay

To confirm your license's acquisition date, renewal date and the fact that you really obtained it, Nara police may ask for supporting documents (補完資料). The police say the list is only an example and requirements vary from person to person.

• To confirm the license: a license history / driving record, 基本信息・考试历史, an Official Receipt, a certificate from your embassy or consulate in Japan, or a driving school's graduation certificate or enrolment form (names vary by country or state)
• If your passport has no entry/exit stamps: an entry/exit record certificate (出入境証明書), the (e-)tickets for flights you took, a housing lease (with name, address and term), utility bills such as electricity or water (with name, address and period), or a certificate of enrolment or completion of studies
• Other: a national ID card

Cash-only fees: review + test vehicle + issuance

Nara accepts cash only, and you pay three items: the review fee, the test vehicle fee and the license issuance fee. For a regular car license with the card license only, that's 2,500 + 1,750 + 2,350 = 6,600 yen. Add 200 yen if another license class is issued at the same time.

The knowledge test comes in 20 languages

Nara police say that from 31 July 2024 the conversion knowledge test is available in 20 languages: English, Spanish, Persian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Burmese, Mongolian, Ukrainian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic and Hindi. Ask the testing section for details.

Since October 2025 the knowledge test nationwide is 50 true/false questions in 30 minutes, with 45 correct (90%) needed to pass. If you pass it but fail the driving test, reapplying within 6 months of the knowledge-test date exempts you from the knowledge test.

Getting to the center, and preparing for the test

Address: 橿原市葛本町120番地の3. About a 15-minute walk (about 1km) from Kintetsu Ninokuchi Station (新ノ口駅); by car, about 500m east of the 運転免許センター西 intersection on Route 24.

You need 45 correct answers in the knowledge test. menkyopass mock tests let you practise the same 50-question, 30-minute format in Vietnamese, English, Chinese or Japanese.

FAQ

Related guides

• Japan License Conversion Process: 6 Steps from Booking to License
• Japan License Conversion Documents: Juminhyo, Translation, Passport
• How Much Does License Conversion Cost in Japan? Fees Explained
• The 3-Month Stay Rule for License Conversion in Japan: Proof
• Converting a Foreign License in Osaka: Kadoma & Komyoike Booking

Sources (in Japanese)

• 奈良県警察「外国免許から日本の免許への切り替え手続」（2025年10月1日掲載・案内画像）
• 奈良県警察「外国免許からの切り替え」
• 奈良県警察「運転免許学科試験の多言語化について」
• 奈良県警察「運転免許センターへのアクセス・お問い合わせ」
• 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」