DTS

Driving in Japan: permits by country

Educational overview based on NPA materials. ← DTS Home

This page was translated from the Japanese version with the help of AI. If anything differs, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese version

Driving in Japan with a foreign or international license

Foreigners can drive in Japan mainly through three routes: (1) an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the Geneva Convention, (2) a home license plus an official Japanese translation, or (3) converting a foreign license to a Japanese license.

Geneva vs Vienna Convention

Japan is a party only to the 1949 Geneva Convention. IDPs issued solely under the 1968 Vienna Convention are not valid in Japan. See the country list for details.

Translation route countries

Drivers from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Estonia, Monaco, and Taiwan may drive with their home license plus an official Japanese translation (e.g. from JAF) without an IDP.

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By country/region: documents usable in Japan (IDP / translation)

Summary based on NPA guidance (including materials dated 8 September 2025, Reiwa 7). The table groups the “IDP route” and the “translation route”; details explain that the IDP route requires your domestic license plus a valid IDP under the rules, and the translation route requires your domestic license plus a valid translation.

Country / regionCountryGeneva Convention IDP (Japan)Vienna Convention IDP (Japan)TranslationMain route
Switzerland——○Countries/regions where driving is allowed with domestic license + official Japanese translation
Germany○—○Countries/regions where driving is allowed with domestic license + official Japanese translation
France——○Countries/regions where driving is allowed with domestic license + official Japanese translation
Belgium——○Countries/regions where driving is allowed with domestic license + official Japanese translation
Monaco——○Countries/regions where driving is allowed with domestic license + official Japanese translation
Taiwan——○Countries/regions where driving is allowed with domestic license + official Japanese translation
China———Countries/regions needing confirmation of issuance or treatment
United StatesUnited States of America○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Canada○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
United Kingdom○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
South KoreaRepublic of Korea○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Australia○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
New Zealand○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Hong Kong○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Macau○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Singapore○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Malaysia○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Thailand○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Italy○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Austria○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Netherlands○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Sweden○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Norway○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Denmark○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Finland○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Spain○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Poland○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Portugal○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Czech Republic○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Greece○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Croatia○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Slovakia○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Slovenia○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Israel○——Countries/regions where you must confirm the IDP form
Argentina○——Countries/regions where treatment depends on the form
Iceland○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Ireland○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
India○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
South AfricaRepublic of South Africa○——Countries/regions where an IDP can be used (Geneva route)
Albania———Geneva signatory (no Geneva-form IDP issued — not valid in Japan)
Ghana———Geneva signatory (no Geneva-form IDP issued — not valid in Japan)
Kyrgyzstan———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Côte d'Ivoire———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Zimbabwe———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Bulgaria———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Vietnam———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Serbia———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Montenegro———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Botswana———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Brazil———Countries/regions where an IDP is not valid for driving in Japan
Cuba———Countries/regions needing confirmation of issuance or treatment
United Arab Emirates———Countries/regions needing confirmation of issuance or treatment
Bangladesh———Geneva signatory (no Geneva-form IDP issued — not valid in Japan)
Liechtenstein———Geneva signatory (no Geneva-form IDP issued — not valid in Japan)
Russia———Geneva signatory (no Geneva-form IDP issued — not valid in Japan)
Rwanda———Geneva signatory (no Geneva-form IDP issued — not valid in Japan)

Source: National Police Agency: For holders of foreign driving licences (Japanese)

Sources and last checked

Key rules last checked: 2026-09-28

Country list reference date: 2025-09-08 (date of the source material)

Rules can change. Before starting any procedure, check the latest information on the linked official pages. See the update history