Can You Take the Test
in English?
Short answer: yes — the test itself is in English (and 19 other languages). The catch is the prefecture websites, where English support is rare. Here’s exactly where you do and don’t get English help.

The knowledge test is offered in 20 languages: English, Spanish, Persian/Farsi, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Burmese, Mongolian, Ukrainian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic, and Hindi. Whichever prefecture you apply in, you can sit the test in your language at the center.
- Full English
- 4 prefectures — Tokyo, Gunma, Kanagawa, Nagasaki
- Partial English
- 6 prefectures
- No English page
- 37 prefectures
So the test is in English nationwide, but the booking and paperwork often aren’t. If your prefecture has no English page, bring a Japanese-speaking helper or use Google Translate / DeepL on the official page.
Last updated 2026-05-30. Informational only — always confirm current requirements with your prefecture’s driver’s license center, as they can differ locally.