Foreign License Conversion
in Kagoshima Prefecture

Police organization:

Kagoshima Prefectural Police (鹿児島県警察)

Test center:

Kagoshima Prefectural Driver's License Test Center (鹿児島県運転免許試験場)

City

Aira City (姶良市)

Access

899-5421 Kagoshima Prefecture, Aira City, Higashimochida 3934 (姶良市東餅田3934). Foreign license conversion for the prefecture is handled at this test center.

Test languages:

20 languages (nationwide standard since June 2024)

Reservation required

How to reserve

Pre-screening (事前審査) is mandatory before any in-person visit. The standard process is by mail (原則、郵送での対応): applicants first mail copies of the required documents (with a contact memo/phone number) to the test center; staff review the documents, then phone the applicant to schedule the in-person visit date. Direct counter submission is for receipt only and receives no on-site review.

Reservation page ↗

https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ja19/police/unten/shiken/menkyoshiken_026.html

Phone

0995-65-2295 (運転免許試験場, foreign license conversion line)

Reception hours

Phone reception weekdays only (excluding year-end/New Year holidays): 10:30–12:00 and 13:00–16:00.

The knowledge (written) test is available in roughly 21 languages per the official page, including Japanese, English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai. This covers the written-test translation only; no dedicated in-person English interpreter/staff support at the application counter is confirmed.

Per the official page, an ordinary (普通) license conversion costs ¥2,500 (exam/processing) + ¥2,350 issuance for a standard license; the My Number–integrated license variant issuance is ¥1,550. Fees vary by license class; confirm exact amounts with the test center.

Pre-screening by mail is mandatory; documents must be submitted as copies first and must include a contact phone number/memo. Required documents include: resident registration (juminhyo showing nationality), foreign driver's license (front & back, plus prior licenses if renewed), passport proving 3+ months of residence in the issuing country after the license was obtained, residence card (front & back), official Japanese translation of the foreign license (accepted issuers: government authorities, the issuing country's designated body, JAF, ZipPlus, or ALADDIN), prior Japanese license if any, and supplementary certificates if the foreign license lacks required information. Reform effective 2025-10-01: knowledge test is 50 questions in 30 minutes, 45 correct to pass; practical course also revised.

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

• Issuance fees for non-ordinary license classes (only ordinary confirmed: ¥2,350 standard / ¥1,550 My Number variant)
• Whether any in-person English-language interpreter or counter staff support is available
• Online reservation system availability (process is mail + phone; no online booking URL found)
• Detailed practical (driving) test scheduling and waitlist length

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://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ja19/police/unten/shiken/menkyoshiken_022.html
• Official source ↗ https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/police/tetsuzuki-shinsei/unten-menkyo/index.html

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.