FOREIGN LICENSE CONVERSION · 外免切替
Are You Eligible
for Conversion?
Before anything else, two number rules decide whether you can convert at all — and they confuse almost everyone. Here’s the 3-month rule and the 1-year rule, kept simple.
🔑 TWO RULES THAT DECIDE ELIGIBILITY
3-month rule (eligibility)
BEFORE coming to Japan
You must have lived in the country that issued your license for at least 3 months AFTER getting it. This proves you actually used the license at home.
1-year rule (IDP validity)
AFTER becoming a Japan resident
An International Driving Permit lets you drive for up to 1 year after you register as a resident. After that year, converting (gaimen kirikae) is mandatory to keep driving.
Timeline: 3 months in your home country (before Japan) → travel to Japan with an IDP → IDP covers up to 1 year of residency → after that, conversion is mandatory.
FAQ
What's the difference between the 3-month rule and the 1-year rule?
They are two separate rules on different timelines. The 3-month rule is about eligibility: you must have lived in the issuing country for 3+ months after getting your license, before coming to Japan. The 1-year rule is about your International Driving Permit: it only covers your first year of residency in Japan, after which conversion becomes mandatory.
How do I prove the 3-month stay in the issuing country?
Through your passport's entry/exit stamps, which must show you stayed in the issuing country for at least 3 months after the license was issued. Keep old passports if your stamps span more than one.
What if I can't prove the 3-month stay?
If you cannot show 3+ months of residence in the issuing country after getting the license, you are generally not eligible for gaimen kirikae and would need to obtain a Japanese license through a driving school instead. Confirm your specific case with your prefecture's license center.
Eligible? Then the knowledge test is your next step — 50 questions, 90% to pass. Practice it free, in English.
Last updated 2026-05-30. Informational only — always confirm current requirements with your prefecture’s driver’s license center, as they can differ locally.