Gaimen50-question practice tests in the real exam formatJapanese Translation of Your License for Conversion: JAF, Fees
Updated: 2026-10
The Japanese translation (日本語翻訳文) you submit for a license conversion (外免切替) must be made by the issuing country's embassy or consulate, or by a body designated by Japan's National Public Safety Commission such as JAF or the Visit Japan Driver Support Association. Translations by you, a friend, a translation agency or a sworn translator in your home country are not accepted. JAF, the most common choice, takes online applications only, charges ¥6,600 and takes 5–10 business days on average.
Who can make the translation
The translators are fixed by Cabinet Order, and the National Police Agency (警察庁) explicitly warns that sworn or certified translators of foreign countries are not included. The translation must state the vehicle classes you may drive, the license's expiry date and any conditions.
The coverage below is from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police (警視庁) list of common required documents. The Visit Japan Driver Support Association only covers certain countries, so check yours before applying.
| Who | Covers | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority, or that country's embassy/consulate in Japan | All countries | Ask your embassy whether it issues them, and the fee and timing |
| Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (台湾日本関係協会) | Taiwanese licenses | Approved by the NPA |
| ADAC (German Automobile Club) | German licenses | Approved by the NPA |
| JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) | Most countries (suspended for Afghanistan) | Online only, ¥6,600 |
| Visit Japan Driver Support Association (訪日運転者支援協会) | France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, China, Taiwan | Per Tokyo police list |
How to get a translation from JAF
JAF no longer takes applications at counters or by post — only through its online application site, and only from within Japan. Someone else may apply on your behalf. The finished translation is not mailed: you print it yourself at a convenience store.
- ① Apply on JAF's translation application site (from inside Japan)
- ② Upload photos of the front and back of your valid license (unedited JPEG only; on iPhone set the camera format to “Most Compatible”). Chinese licenses also need the sub-page; Korean, Myanmar and Arabic-script licenses also need a residence card, residence record or passport
- ③ Pay by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club; no debit or prepaid cards) or in cash at a convenience store
- ④ When it's ready, print it via net print at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson and others (¥20 per sheet). The first print code expires after one week but can be reissued for up to a year from My Page
- ⑤ A PDF or a home print-out is invalid. Only the paper original printed at a convenience store or a JAF branch counts
| JAF translation type | Fee |
|---|---|
| For converting to a Japanese license | ¥6,600 (tax included) |
| For driving in Japan (Swiss, German, French, Belgian, Monaco, Taiwanese licenses) | ¥6,000 |
| Convenience-store printing | ¥20 per sheet |
How long it takes and when to apply
JAF's main page gives an average of 5–10 business days (2–3 business days for Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan). The FAQ on the same page says about 1–2 weeks until you can print, and about 2–3 weeks for Arabic-language licenses and licenses from South Korea, Thailand, Myanmar and similar. To be safe, apply at least three weeks before your appointment.
The translation is valid as long as the original license is. But if you renew the license or any details change (such as your address), you need a new one. Tokyo police say the driving test usually falls about 3–4 months after your booking date, so if your license expires soon, renew first, then book and get the translation of the renewed license. Doing it the other way round means paying ¥6,600 twice.
Embassy translations and country-specific notes
Embassy and consulate translations are accepted for every country, but whether your embassy issues them — and the fee and turnaround — varies. Contact your embassy in Japan directly.
In the Tokyo police's country-specific list (as of August 2026), Cameroon and Afghanistan require an embassy translation (JAF has suspended translations for Afghan licenses). Vietnam needs an embassy “certification (認証)” in addition to the translation, and China needs documents bearing the vehicle management office's official seal. Country rules can differ between prefectures, so confirm with the police where you apply.
Common mistakes: translations that get rejected
Most rejections over translations come down to who made it or what form it's in. These are not accepted:
- A translation by yourself, family, friends or your employer
- A translation by an ordinary translation agency, an administrative scrivener (行政書士), or a sworn/notarized translator in your home country
- A JAF translation kept as a PDF, printed at home, or photocopied
- A translation of your old license from before renewal
- A translation of an International Driving Permit (an IDP cannot be converted, and JAF doesn't translate them)
- A digital-only license (Tokyo police require the original card or paper license)
Use the waiting time to prepare for the knowledge test
The one to three weeks you wait for the translation are a good time to study for the knowledge test (知識確認): 50 questions in 30 minutes, with 45 correct needed to pass. According to the National Police Agency, only 42.8% passed in October–December 2025. menkyopass lets you practice mock tests in English in the same format as the real exam.
FAQ
Q. Can I translate my license myself?
A. No. Only translations by the issuing country's embassy or consulate (or issuing authority), or by designated bodies such as JAF and the Visit Japan Driver Support Association, are accepted. Sworn translations from your home country are not.
Q. How much is the JAF translation?
A. ¥6,600 including tax for the conversion type, plus ¥20 per sheet to print it at a convenience store.
Q. Does JAF mail the translation to me?
A. No. You print it via net print at a convenience store (or at a JAF branch). There is no mail or counter pickup.
Q. Does the translation expire?
A. It's valid until your original license expires. If you renew the license or its details change, you need a new translation.