1-2 International Driving Permit and foreign driver’s licenses
(1) International Driving Permit
If you hold an International Driving Permit issued by a signatory country of the Geneva Convention, you can drive in Japan during the period designated below:
●The valid period of an International Driving Permit
The valid period is he shorter of either of the following: for one year after the date on which you landed in Japan; or the remaining valid period of your International Driving Permit. However, this provision is exempted if you have registered as a foreign resident in Japan, thereafter departed Japan with a reentry permit and landed in Japan again after a period shorter than three months from the date of your departure. In this case, the valid period is calculated from the date of your first entry into Japan.
●List of the signatory countries of the Geneva Convention
| Albania |
Algeria |
Argentina |
Australia |
| Austria |
Bangladesh |
Barbados |
Belgium |
| Benin |
Botswana |
Bulgaria |
Cambodia |
| Canada |
South Africa |
Chile |
Congo |
| Cote d'Ivoire |
Cuba |
Cyprus |
The Czech Republic |
| Democratic Congo |
Denmark |
Dominica |
Ecuador |
| Egypt |
Fiji |
Finland |
France |
| Georgia |
Ghana |
Greece |
Guatemala |
| Haiti |
Vatican |
Hungary |
Iceland |
| India |
Ireland |
Israel |
Italy |
| Jamaica |
Japan |
Jordan |
Kyrgyz |
| Laos |
Lebanon |
Lesotho |
Luxemburg |
| Madagascar |
Malawi |
Malaysia |
Mali |
| Malta |
Monaco |
Morocco |
Nambia |
| The Netherlands |
New Zealand |
Niger |
Norway |
| Papua New Guinea |
Paraguay |
Peru |
The Philippines |
| Poland |
Portugal |
Republic of Korea |
Rumania |
| Russia |
Rwanda |
San Marino |
Senegal |
| Sierra Leone |
Singapore |
Slovakia |
The Central African Republic |
| Spain |
Sri Lanka |
Sweden |
Syria |
| Thailand |
Togo |
Trinidad and Tobago |
Tunisia |
| Turkey |
Uganda |
The United Kingdom |
The United States of
America |
| Venezuela |
Serbia |
Montenegro |
Zimbabwe |
| United Arab Emirates |
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(2) Renewal of International Driving Permit
In Japan you cannot renew any International Driving Permit issued in other countries: the International Driving Permit is independently controlled by each country pursuant to the treaty.
If your International Driving Permit has expired, you need to acquire a new one in the issuing country.
If you stay in Japan for longer than one year, you are advised to have a driver’s license issued in Japan.
(3) Overseas driver’s license (foreign driver’s license)
If you have a driver’s license issued in Germany, France or Switzerland with a Japanese translation attached to it, you can drive in Japan for one year after your entry into Japan. Such a translation, however, must be prepared in any of the issuing organization of your driver’s license, the embassy or a consulate of the issuing country located in Japan or the Japan Automobile Federation (, see 2-4 JAF).
You must carry your passport and the above documents when you drive.
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