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Converting a Foreign License in Niigata: Phone Booking, Documents

Updated: 2026-10

In Niigata Prefecture, foreign license conversion (gaimen kirikae, 外免切替) is done at the Niigata Driver's License Center (新潟県運転免許センター) in Seiro town. The document review, knowledge test and driving test all require a booking, made by phone with the center's 技能教習所係 desk (025-256-4040, weekdays 9:00–16:15). Everything below comes from the Niigata Prefectural Police official pages (checked October 2026) — always check the latest version.

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The Niigata flow: documents → knowledge test → driving test

Niigata police split the process into two stages. First you prepare your documents, book, and attend the document review (書類審査). If you pass, you book again and go through the aptitude test (適性試験, eyesight etc.) → knowledge test (知識確認) → driving test (技能確認) → license issuance. You can only move on after passing each step.

Step	Booking	Key points
① Document review	By phone	Counter 2, 2nd floor of the center. No fee
② Aptitude + knowledge test	By phone	50 true/false questions, 30 min, pass with 45+
③ Driving test	Book after passing the knowledge test	Must pass within 6 months of the knowledge test
Exempt countries (29) etc.	Booking required	Documents → aptitude test → license; tests normally waived

Who can apply, and the booking phone line

Bookings and questions go to the center's 技能教習所係 desk, direct line 025-256-4040, Monday–Friday (excluding weekends and holidays) 9:00–16:15. Staff are sometimes away and can't answer; if so, call back later. The official page says voicemail messages can't be handled. Callers are asked to be able to understand Japanese.

There is no document review by phone or mail. The applicant must come in person, and anyone who doesn't understand Japanese must bring an interpreter.

You meet the age and other requirements for a Japanese license
Your foreign license is valid and is the same class as, or higher than, the Japanese license you apply for
After getting it, you stayed in the issuing country for a total of 3 months or more (provable with documents)
Foreign nationals: valid residence status within its period, and able to obtain a residence certificate (住民票)
Your address is in Niigata Prefecture

What to bring to the document review

These are the basic documents Niigata police list. Depending on the review, you may be asked for more.

Once you pass the review, prepare A4 copies at actual size (not enlarged or reduced): both sides of your foreign license (and any attachments), both sides of your residence card (在留カード), and every passport page with your personal details, visas or stamps. You also need one application photo (taken within 6 months, 3cm tall × 2.4cm wide, normally no hat, facing forward, plain background). Copies and photos can be made for a fee inside the center.

Your foreign driver's license (and any attachments). If no issue date is shown, other documents may be required
Residence card (在留カード) for foreign nationals
Passports — bring all of them, including expired ones. If your license was issued before your passport, your stay is counted from the passport's issue date. Without entry/exit stamps, you need another document proving your stay
One residence certificate (住民票の写し): foreign nationals need one showing every item except My Number (nationality, residence status, period of stay, etc.); Japanese nationals need one showing 本籍. Neither should show My Number
Japanese translation of your license (日本語翻訳文), made only by an embassy or consulate, or a body designated by the Public Safety Commission such as JAF

On the day of the knowledge and driving tests

Bring the application documents returned to you, the foreign license you showed at the review (with attachments), your residence card, passport and the test fee. Without them you can't take the test.

The knowledge test has 50 questions: mark ○ if a statement is correct and × if it is wrong. You pass with 45 of 50 correct; time is 30 minutes. Pencils and erasers are lent; put everything else away. Turn your smartphone off and leave it with your bags where the examiner says. Questions about the content won't be answered. After passing, book the driving test.

For the driving test, you may be refused if your clothes aren't suitable for driving, and the test can be cancelled on the day due to bad weather. The whole course counts as a roadway, and scoring runs from getting in to getting out (the warm-up drive isn't scored). Check safety by looking directly and using mirrors. If a wheel goes off the edge, stop at once and go back to before that point; failing to stop immediately ends the test. Taking a wrong turn isn't penalised, but your driving until you rejoin the route is scored. Dangerous driving, the examiner having to intervene, or ignoring instructions ends the test. The police publish conversion course maps for two sites: Niigata (main center) and Nagaoka (長岡支所 branch).

Deadlines: documents and knowledge pass both last 6 months

Your application documents are valid for 6 months after the review. After 6 months, or if your foreign license or registered details change, you may need another review. If your foreign license expires, you lose eligibility for this procedure.

A knowledge-test pass is also valid for 6 months. If you don't pass the driving test within that time, you start again from the knowledge test. If you fail the driving test but are still within the period, you just rebook the driving test.

Fees and languages

The document review is free (you pay for photos or copies if you need them). For a regular car license (普通免許), each test attempt costs 2,500 yen, and an issuance fee is added when you pass. Since 1 September 2024, Niigata police accept cashless payment or cash.

Since 28 June 2024, test questions are 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. Knowledge-test questions are translated, but oral explanations at reception and before the test are in Japanese.

Item	Amount
Document review	Free
Test fee (regular car, per attempt)	2,500 yen
Issuance (card license only)	2,350 yen
Issuance (My Number card license only)	1,550 yen
Issuance (both)	2,450 yen

Getting to the center, and preparing for the test

The Niigata Driver's License Center is at 北蒲原郡聖籠町東港7丁目1番地1; main phone 025-256-1212 (option 3). Niigata Kotsu buses leave from stop 12 at Niigata Station and take about 40 minutes. Test reception is on weekdays only — closed on weekends, holidays and 29 December–3 January.

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

FAQ

Q. Can I book online in Niigata?

A. Bookings for the conversion's document review, knowledge test and driving test are made by phone with the 技能教習所係 desk (025-256-4040, weekdays 9:00–16:15). The caller should be able to speak Japanese.

Q. Does the document review cost anything?

A. No. You pay the test fee when you take a test (2,500 yen per attempt for a regular car license) and the issuance fee after passing.

Q. If I fail the driving test, do I redo the knowledge test?

A. Not if you are within 6 months of passing the knowledge test — just rebook the driving test. If you don't pass within 6 months, you restart from the knowledge test.

Q. Which languages can I take the test in?

A. 20 languages, including English, Chinese and Vietnamese. Oral explanations at reception and before the test are in Japanese.