Foreign License Conversion
in Ibaraki Prefecture

Police organization:

Ibaraki Prefectural Police (茨城県警察)

Test center:

Ibaraki Driver's License Center (運転免許センター)

City

Mito (水戸市)

Access

〒310-8550 茨城県水戸市笠原町978-6 (978-6 Kasahara-cho, Mito). Tel 029-293-8811. Nearest station / bus route not stated on the official page.

Test languages:

20 languages (nationwide standard since June 2024)

Reservation required

How to reserve

Online reservation via the prefectural system is mandatory for first-time applicants, in effect from 2025-12-01 (令和7年12月1日): '初めて申請する方は、予約システムによる事前予約をしてください'. Window and phone advance reservations are NOT accepted ('窓口での事前予約は受け付けません'). Only first-time applicants may book ('初めて申請する方のみ予約ができます'); those who have previously taken the test cannot reserve via the system.

Reservation page ↗

https://menkyo-yoyaku.pref.ibaraki.jp/flconv

Phone

029-293-8811

Knowledge confirmation (test) is available in 20 languages: English, Arabic, Indonesian, Ukrainian, Urdu, Korean, Khmer, Sinhala, Spanish, Thai, Tagalog, Chinese, Nepali, Hindi, Vietnamese, Persian, Portuguese, Burmese (Myanmar), Mongolian, Russian. No interpreter is provided by the center — applicants not confident in Japanese are told to bring their own interpreter ('日本語に不安がある方は、通訳者とお越しください').

Examination fees: moped/small special ¥1,600; ordinary (regular) ¥2,500; large/medium/semi-medium ¥3,900; others ¥2,800. License issuance fee ¥2,350–¥2,450. (e.g. ordinary conversion ≈ ¥2,500 exam + ¥2,350 issuance.)

Licenses are, as a rule, issued the same day ('原則、即日交付となります'). Document screening includes an interview about how the foreign license was acquired ('外国の免許を取得した時の方法等について聞き取り審査を行います'). The required Japanese translation of the foreign license must be made by one of: the issuing country's embassy/consulate, JAF, ZIPLUS, or ALADDIN. The residence record (住民票) for foreign nationals must show nationality, status of residence, period of stay, etc.

We could not confirm the following from primary sources. Please check the official page before relying on them:

• Exact public-transit access (nearest station / bus route) to the Driver's License Center
• Exam-day reception hours/window for the conversion test itself
• Legacy phone/Window 14 reservation hours (Mon–Fri 15:00–16:30) — not present on the current official page, which now states window/phone reservations are not accepted
• Whether application forms/exam ticket/questionnaire are obtained at Window 14
• Whether driving practice is unavailable at the center and that wait times can be long
• Whether any interpreter cost/arrangement is needed beyond bringing one's own

Always verify on the prefectural police's official page before you go — addresses, reservation methods, and document requirements change frequently.

• Official page (Japanese) ↗ — open via Google Translate / DeepL
• Official source ↗ https://menkyo-yoyaku.pref.ibaraki.jp/flconv

The 6-step process (eligibility → translation → appointment → document screening → 50-question test → practical test) is the same nationwide. See the main hub for the complete walkthrough, document checklist, and translation services.