International Driving Permit · Updated September 2026

Can you drive in Japan on an International Driving Permit?

Yes, if your permit follows the 1949 Geneva Convention format and was issued by a country Japan recognises. You can then drive for up to one year from the day you land, and never beyond one year from the permit's issue date. Six countries and regions skip the permit and use their own licence with an official Japanese translation instead. Once the year is up, residents who want to keep driving must convert to a Japanese licence, which since October 2025 means passing a 50-question written test.

Short answer: a Geneva-format IDP lets you drive for one year from arrival in Japan (and within one year of its issue date). Vienna-format permits are not valid, even from a Geneva country. If you live here and leave for less than three months, coming back does not restart the year.

The rules for an International Driving Permit

FormatOnly a permit in the format set by the 1949 Geneva Convention. A permit issued under another convention (such as the 1968 Vienna Convention) is not valid in Japan, even if the issuing country is also a Geneva party.
How longWithin one year of the permit's issue date and within one year of the day you landed in Japan, whichever ends first.
Residents: the 3-month ruleIf you are on the resident register (a mid- to long-term resident), leave Japan with a re-entry permit and come back within three months, the day you return does not count as a new arrival, even with a fresh IDP. Your year still runs from the earlier arrival. Only a trip abroad of three months or more restarts the year.

Which countries' permits are accepted

Keishicho publishes the National Police Agency's list of Geneva Convention countries. It includes, among many others, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, the UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, the Nordic countries and Poland, plus Hong Kong and Macau.

The UAE and Bangladesh issue two kinds of permit; only the Geneva-format one is valid in Japan. The police note that the list is not exhaustive, so if your country is missing, ask the licence centre. Countries that are not on it, such as China, Vietnam and Brazil, cannot be used with an IDP: residents from those countries drive by converting their licence.

Geneva countries whose permits still do not work

As of May 2026 these Geneva Convention countries do not issue a Geneva-format permit, so their IDPs cannot be used in Japan: Albania, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, France, Ghana, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia and Zimbabwe. Drivers from France, Belgium and Monaco can use the translation route below instead.

Licence plus Japanese translation: six countries and regions

Licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan are valid in Japan without an IDP, if you carry an official Japanese translation of the licence. The translation must come from one of these:

The same limits apply: one year from arrival, and the 3-month rule for residents.

When the year runs out

If you live in Japan and want to keep driving, you need a Japanese licence. For most people that means converting your home licence (gaimen kirikae). Since 1 October 2025 the knowledge check for conversion is a 50-question true-or-false test with a 45-out-of-50 pass mark, taken in English or 19 other languages, followed by a stricter practical check. Some countries' licences are exempt from both checks. See the conversion guide and what changed in October 2025, and try the free 50-question mock test to see where you stand.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I drive in Japan on an International Driving Permit?

Up to one year from the day you arrive in Japan, and never beyond one year from the permit's issue date.

Is a Vienna Convention IDP valid in Japan?

No. Japan accepts only permits in the 1949 Geneva Convention format. A Vienna-format permit is not valid, even if your country is also a Geneva party.

I live in Japan. Can I get a new IDP on a trip home and drive for another year?

Only if you were away for three months or more. If you are on the resident register and come back within three months, your return does not count as a new arrival, so the year keeps running from your earlier arrival.

Can I use a French or Belgian IDP in Japan?

No. France and Belgium do not issue Geneva-format permits. Drivers from France, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany and Taiwan use their own licence plus an official Japanese translation (for example from JAF) instead.

Can I drive in Japan with a Chinese licence?

Not with an IDP: China is not on the Geneva list. Residents with a Chinese licence drive in Japan by converting it to a Japanese licence, which includes the 50-question knowledge test.

What happens after my year on an IDP ends?

You must stop driving on the IDP. Residents convert their home licence to a Japanese one (gaimen kirikae), which since October 2025 includes a 50-question written test with a 90% pass mark for most countries.

Related guides

Practice papers written for this exam, in English

Ten topic papers, 500 true-or-false questions with answers, explanations and a Japanese term glossary. ¥500 per paper, or ¥4,000 for all ten plus ten full 50-question mock tests. Paper 07 is free.

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This page was last checked in September 2026 against the Tokyo Metropolitan Police (Keishicho) pages on international driving permits, the Geneva Convention country list (as of May 2026) and foreign licences with a Japanese translation. Rules, fees and formats are set prefecture by prefecture and change with little notice, so always confirm the current requirements with your local licence centre before you book. Independent study material; not affiliated with any prefectural police, licence centre or driving school.