First, clear up three misconceptions common among Chinese drivers (the key value of this guide)Experience
Misconception 1: Get an international driving permit (IDP) in China and you can drive in Japan—it doesn’t work
Japan recognizes international driving permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Mainland China is not a party to the Geneva Convention, so so-called ‘international driving permits’ issued in China are invalid in Japan; driving with one is unlicensed driving and carries criminal penalties. Visitors from Geneva Convention countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, and France may drive in Japan temporarily with an IDP, but this shortcut is not available to Chinese nationals. In short, holders of a Chinese driver’s license in Japan must either convert it through 外免切替 (foreign-license conversion) or take the tests from scratch; there is no third option. Note that ‘international driving permits/IDPs’ sold by Chinese online shops or agents are not officially recognized in either Japan or China and are invalid.
NoteThis issue was raised in a House of Councillors written question (session 217). Before using an international permit, check its issuing country on the Tokyo police Geneva Convention contracting-country page [要確認: list may change annually].
Misconception 2: Switching a foreign license just means “getting a translation and exchanging the license”—it’s easy. The requirements have been significantly tightened since October 2025.
The process used to be more lenient (some tourists even applied using hotel proof of stay). After the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations were revised on October 1, 2025: ① Applicants must submit a 住民票 listing their residence status and 在留カード number, among other details. In principle, short-term visitors (tourist visa holders) can no longer apply; the process has clearly returned to a system for mid- to long-term residents. ② The knowledge check has increased from 10 to 50 questions and the passing score from 70% to 90% (45/50 correct). It has changed from illustrated multiple choice to reading-comprehension questions covering rules specific to Japan, such as 一時停止 (mandatory stops), right of way, and pedestrian protection. ③ The practical test is now graded strictly at a level equivalent to obtaining a new license, including judgments about slowing at pedestrian crossings, stopping at railway crossings, and when to check for safety.
Misconception 3: With a Chinese driver’s license and an address in Japan, you can switch it right away—you must also prove that you lived in China for three months after obtaining your license
One strict requirement for 外免切替 is proof that, after obtaining the license in that country, you stayed there for a total of at least 3 months. Reviewers usually check passport entry and exit stamps; following the 2025 revision, they may also ask for supporting documents such as an employment certificate, pay slips, or a rental agreement. Many people cram for a Chinese driving test shortly before leaving China and come to Japan soon afterward; they may fail the ‘actual period of stay’ requirement and have to take the tests from scratch. First check whether your passport shows 3 months in China between the license issue date and your arrival in Japan.
NoteThe ‘3 months’ threshold comes from the convention; the specific documents required vary among prefectural license centers To verify.
Path A: Switching a Chinese driver’s license to a Japanese license—process and required documentsOfficial
Overall process (according to official guidance)
Pass the document review (confirmation of driving history) → pass the aptitude test (vision/color vision/hearing) → pass the knowledge check (50 questions; 90% required) → pass the practical driving test → receive a Japanese license. Document reviews are often handled on site without an appointment; appointments are required from the knowledge check onward. The knowledge and practical tests are generally held on the same day. Important: China is not among the countries or regions exempt from the practical test (exemptions include Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan, and certain others), so applicants from China must take both the knowledge and practical tests; neither is waived.
Required documents checklist
① Original valid Chinese driver’s license (bring any old licenses too); ② Japanese translation of the license (see below); ③ passport, including old passports, to verify the 3-month stay; ④ 在留カード; ⑤ 住民票の写し listing your residence status, etc.; ⑥ ID photo; ⑦ application fee. As a rule, all documents must be originals; photocopies are not accepted.
Watch outDocument requirements differ slightly from center to center. Confirm them with your target license center by phone or on its official website before applying To verify.
How to get a translation
The translation must be issued by an authority in the country that issued the license, that country’s embassy or consulate in Japan, or an organization designated by the National Public Safety Commission. The most commonly used option is JAF (Japan Automobile Federation): translating a Chinese driver’s license costs about 7,000円 [要確認, changes annually]; applications can be made online and the translation printed at a convenience store. The Chinese embassy in Japan may also accept applications. A translation of an ordinary foreign license costs about 6,000円; Chinese licenses cost slightly more because the source is in Chinese.
How to prepare for the knowledge test (50 questions)
The test consists of 50 true-or-false questions, and you need at least 90% (45 answers) to pass. It is available in multiple languages. It checks understanding of Japanese traffic rules, including 一時停止 (mandatory stops), right-of-way, and pedestrian protection. Differences from Chinese rules are a frequent source of lost points, such as ‘pedestrians have priority,’ ‘always stop at railway crossings,’ and judging roundabouts or priority roads. We recommend practicing the corresponding sections of a Japanese written-test question bank.
Watch outWhen booking, check the license center’s knowledge-check guidance for available languages and exam format To verify.
Estimated costs
The application and issuance fees together are generally in the range of several thousand yen (about 2,500–3,900円 for the application plus about 2,350円 for issuance, depending on the license class) [要確認, changes annually], plus about 7,000円 for the translation. This is much cheaper than starting from scratch (around 20–30万円). If you meet the 3-month stay requirement and can pass the 50-question and practical tests, this is the least expensive route.
Path B: Getting a license from scratch in Japan—comparing three optionsVariable
Swipe sideways to see the full table
| Route | Estimated cost | Duration | Who it suits / pitfalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 通学 (commuting to a driving school) | Ordinary car, automatic transmission (AT): about 27–32万円; manual transmission (MT): about 28–33万円 [要確認, varies by area] | 2–3 months (for automatic-transmission lessons) | Flexible schedule and steady pace; total price includes local transportation and meals. The most common option; moderate Japanese-language ability is needed (some schools offer support in Chinese and English). |
| 合宿免許 (residential intensive driving course) | Ordinary car, AT: about 17–28万円; MT: about 22–30万円 [要確認, varies by season] | As little as about 2 weeks | Fastest and cheapest; accommodation, meals, and transportation are often included in the package. You must set aside 2 continuous weeks and travel out of the area; prices rise and reservations are difficult during peak seasons (school breaks). |
| 一発試験 (taking the test directly at a test center) | For each attempt: about 2,500円 for the full-license written test and about 3,300円 for the practical test (fees add up if you fail), plus about 17,750円 for the course required after passing To verify. | Varies by person (the practical test is easy to fail, so repeated attempts may be needed). | Cheapest on paper, but there are no driving lessons and the practical-test pass rate is very low, so it is not suitable for beginners. Usually considered only by experienced drivers, such as people who failed 外免切替. |
Points for international students to note when getting a license from scratchExperience
- The way MT lessons are taught changed on April 1, 2025: everyone first learns basic operation in an AT car, and those who want an MT license then take a short additional clutch-practice course. If you only need a car for everyday transportation, choose an AT-only license; it is cheaper and faster.
- Some test centers offer the full-license written test in multiple languages, but not every prefecture offers Chinese. Before applying, confirm the languages available at your target test center To verify.
- Residential driving-course prices are high and places are limited during peak seasons (February–March and August–September), so book early if you want to go during a school break. Off-season (May–June and October–November) is cheapest.
- The 一発試験 (direct test without attending a driving school) is nearly impossible for beginners: there are no driving lessons, the practical test is graded strictly, and most people fail repeatedly. The combined cost and time may not be worthwhile.
After Getting a Car: Legal Requirements for Buying and Owning OneVariable
Shako shomei (proof of parking space)
Before buying an ordinary car, apply at the police station with jurisdiction for a 車庫証明 (parking-space certificate), proving you have a regular parking space; the fee is about 2,600–2,700円 To verify. For a kei car, you usually file a notification afterward, and some areas do not require it at all; you only pay an approximately 500–600円 plate-marking fee. You cannot complete registration without a parking space.
Jibaiseki hoken (compulsory insurance)
Enrollment under the Automobile Liability Security Act is mandatory. Without it, you cannot drive on public roads or pass 車検 (vehicle inspection). It only covers bodily injury to the other party, up to a limited amount. For a kei car, 24 months of coverage costs around 1.9万円 [要確認, revised annually].
Voluntary insurance (private insurance; strongly recommended)
任意保険 (voluntary insurance) covers what 自賠責 does not: damage to the other party’s property, bodily injury beyond the mandatory limit, and damage or injury to you and your car. The law does not require it, but in practice almost everyone buys it. Premiums vary greatly by age, 等級 (insurance rating class), and vehicle type, so compare quotes.
Shaken (vehicle inspection)
The formal name is 自動車検査登録制度 (Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration System). A new car’s first inspection is after 3 years, then every 2 years for an ordinary passenger car. The cost consists of statutory fees (自動車重量税, 自賠責, and stamp duty) plus maintenance and service fees; a total of several tens of thousands to over 100,000円 is common, varying by vehicle weight, age, and whether it is an eco-friendly vehicle To verify. If your inspection expires, you cannot legally drive the car.
Other recurring taxes and fees
There is also an annual 自動車税 (automobile tax) or 軽自動車税 (kei-car tax), charged according to engine displacement or vehicle type, as well as ongoing costs such as fuel and monthly parking. Owning a car in Japan is a significant fixed expense, so include these costs in your total budget before buying.
Official Information SourcesOfficial
- National Police Agency: For Holders of Foreign Driver’s LicensesBasic information on the rules, including eligibility for converting a foreign license, proof of at least 3 months’ stay, and where to apply.
- Metropolitan Police Department: Converting a Foreign License to a Japanese LicenseExamples of required documents, appointments, reception procedures, and fees in Tokyo.
- Metropolitan Police Department: Information on Countries Party to the Geneva Convention, etc.Check information on countries party to the relevant international driving permit conventions.
- JAF: Japanese Translation of a Driver’s LicenseApplication portal for the Japanese translation required for foreign license conversion.
Japanese Terms and What to Say at the Service CounterOfficial
- 外免切替がいめんきりかえ
Foreign license conversion: The system for converting a foreign (Chinese) driver’s license to a Japanese license—the official name for Route A.
- 翻訳文ほんやくぶん
Translation: A Japanese translation of a foreign driver’s license, which must be issued by an authorized organization such as JAF and submitted for foreign license conversion.
- 適性試験てきせいしけん
Aptitude test: Physical checks, including vision and color perception. This test is required even if you are exempt from the knowledge and skills tests.
- 知識確認ちしきかくにん
Knowledge confirmation: The written test for foreign license conversion. From October 2025, it will consist of 50 questions, with a 90% passing score (45 correct answers); it can be taken in multiple languages.
- 技能確認ぎのうかくにん
Skills confirmation: The practical driving test for foreign license conversion. China is not among the countries exempt from this test, so you must take it.
- 免許センターめんきょセンター
Driver’s license center: The facility in each prefecture that handles foreign license conversions and licensing tests. Review standards and appointment procedures vary by location.
- 車庫証明しゃこしょうめい
Proof of parking space: A document you apply for at your local police station before buying a standard car, confirming that you have a designated parking space.
- 自賠責保険じばいせきほけん
Compulsory automobile liability insurance: Legally required car insurance. Without it, you cannot drive or pass shaken (it covers only bodily injury to others).
Role-play: An exchange at the counter when converting a foreign license (furigana provided for reading aloud)Experience
すみません、外免切替の手続きをしたいです。
Excuse me, I’d like to convert my foreign driver’s license to a Japanese license.
中国の免許ですね。翻訳文はお持ちですか？
You have a Chinese driver’s license, right? Do you have a translation?
はい、免許証とパスポート、在留カードもあります。
Yes. I have my driver’s license, passport, and residence card.
免許を取ってから、3か月以上中国に住んでいた証明が必要です。
You’ll need to provide proof that you lived in China for at least 3 months after obtaining your license.
では、まず適性試験です。あちらで視力を測ります。
In that case, let’s start with the aptitude test. Please go over there for the vision test.
わかりました。お願いします。
Understood. Thank you.
知識確認と技能確認は、いつ受けられますか？
When can I take the knowledge and skills tests?
予約制です。中国語で受けたい場合は、先に空いている日を確認してください。
You need an appointment. If you want to take the test in Chinese, please check which dates are available first.