MenkyoQuest
FOREIGN LICENSE CONVERSION · 外免切替

What Documents Do You Need
for Gaimen Kirikae?

Converting a foreign driver’s license in Japan starts with the document screening (shorui shinsa). It looks like a lot, but it’s really just six items. Here’s the full checklist, the mistakes people make, and where to get each one.

4-panel comic — Hikari: I want to convert my license, but the document list looks endless… do I really need all of it? Yui: It looks scary, but it's basically just six things. The two people forget most: an official Japanese translation of your license, and the right kind of jūminhyō. Hikari: Wait, a normal jūminhyō won't do? Yui: Right — since October 2025 it has to show your nationality, residence status, and period of stay. Just ask for that version at the city office. Hikari: Okay, a checklist makes it way less scary. Yui: Exactly! Here's the full checklist below — grab each item and you're ready for the document screening ✨
Hikari: I want to convert my license, but the document list looks endless… do I really need all of it? Yui: It looks scary, but it's basically just six things. The two people forget most: an official Japanese translation of your license, and the right kind of jūminhyō. Hikari: Wait, a normal jūminhyō won't do? Yui: Right — since October 2025 it has to show your nationality, residence status, and period of stay. Just ask for that version at the city office. Hikari: Okay, a checklist makes it way less scary. Yui: Exactly! Here's the full checklist below — grab each item and you're ready for the document screening ✨
✅ DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
  • Original foreign driver's license
    Bring the physical card. A photocopy of both sides is also useful.
  • Official Japanese translation of your license
    From JAF, your embassy/consulate, or an authorized firm. A self-made translation is NOT accepted. Required nationwide.
  • Passport(s)
    Must show entry/exit stamps proving you stayed 3+ months in the issuing country after you got the license.
  • Jūminhyō (residence certificate)
    Must show your nationality, residence status, and period of stay — request that version at the city office. Mandatory since Oct 2025.
  • Application photo
    3cm × 2.4cm. Some centers also take the photo on site.
  • Inkan / personal seal
    Where the prefecture requires it. A signature is accepted in some places.

Each prefecture has its own exact checklist — confirm yours on the 47-prefecture guide.

⚠️ COMMON MISTAKES
  • The translation must be official (JAF / embassy / authorized firm) — your own translation will be rejected.
  • A standard jūminhyō is not enough — ask for the one that shows nationality, residence status, and period of stay.
  • Your passport needs the stamps proving 3+ months in the issuing country after getting the license.
  • Bring originals to the document screening (shorui shinsa), not just copies.
FAQ
Where can I get the official Japanese translation of my foreign license?
From JAF (Japan Automobile Federation), your embassy or consulate, or an authorized translation firm such as Ziplus or ALADDIN. A self-made translation is not accepted. An official translation is required nationwide for gaimen kirikae.
What kind of jūminhyō do I need for license conversion?
A jūminhyō (residence certificate) that shows your nationality, residence status, and period of stay. Since October 2025 this version is mandatory — request it specifically when you apply at your city or ward office; a standard jūminhyō without those fields is not enough.
Do people from test-exempt countries still need documents?
Yes. Even if you are from one of the 29 exempted countries/regions and skip the knowledge and practical tests, you still go through document screening, so the full document set is still required.
Documents ready? The next hurdle is the 50-question knowledge test (90% to pass). Practice it free, in English, with AI-explained questions.

Last updated 2026-05-30. Informational only — always confirm current requirements with your prefecture’s driver’s license center, as they can differ locally.

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