When converting a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license, applicants are required to undergo a knowledge test and a skills test based on their country or region of origin and their driving history. Depending on the country or region, applicants may be exempt from these tests.

Although it is commonly referred to as a “practical test,” it is not, strictly speaking, the standard driver’s license skills test. It is a procedure designed to assess the skills necessary for driving and to determine whether the applicant is eligible for an exemption from Japan’s written and practical tests.

In October 2025, the skills assessment tasks and grading criteria were made more stringent, resulting in a pass rate of 13.1% for the October–December period of that year. To pass, candidates must not only demonstrate the ability to operate a vehicle but also accurately perform a series of actions—such as safety checks, signaling, changing lanes, and turning right or left—in accordance with Japanese traffic rules.

この記事で分かること
2026年8月時点の技能確認の実施方法、主な走行課題、減点と試験中止の考え方、横断歩道・踏切・右左折・S字・クランクなどの重要ポイントを分かりやすく解説します。

What Is the Skills Assessment for Converting a Foreign Driver's License?

The foreign driver’s license conversion process is a procedure whereby individuals who hold a valid driver’s license issued by a foreign government agency or similar authority can obtain a Japanese license corresponding to the vehicle categories they are authorized to drive under their foreign license, with certain parts of the examination waived. As a general rule, applicants must provide proof that they have resided in the country or region where they obtained their foreign license for a total of at least three months.

Applications must be submitted in person at the Driver’s License Center of the prefectural police department with jurisdiction over your address in Japan. Since the required documents, appointment procedures, and the process on the day of your visit vary by prefecture, be sure to check the latest guidelines from the office where you will be applying.

注意
知識確認・技能確認が免除される国・地域があります。また、必要書類や予約枠、通訳の取扱いは都道府県警察によって異なります。全国一律と決めつけず、申請先へ事前確認してください。

What has changed since October 2025?

Effective October 1, 2025, the requirements for address verification, knowledge testing, and skills testing for converting foreign driver’s licenses have been tightened. The main changes are as follows.

item	Before the revision	After the review
Written Test	10 questions focused on illustrations; score 70% or higher	The illustration questions have been eliminated, and the total number of questions has been increased to 50. A score of 45 or more is required.
Driving Exam	Verify basic driving skills on the practice course	Added challenges such as crossing at crosswalks. Scoring for violations such as failure to signal and improper turning has been made stricter.
Address Verification	There were cases where even short-term visitors could apply	As a general rule, a copy of your certificate of residence is required. Visitors on short-term stays, such as tourists, are generally not eligible to apply.

According to an announcement by the National Public Safety Commission, the pass rate for the knowledge test during the three-month period from October to December 2025 was 42.8%, while the pass rate for the skills test was 13.1%.
Prior to the revision, in 2024, the pass rates were 92.5% for the knowledge test and 30.4% for the skills test; following the stricter standards, the pass rates have dropped significantly.

ポイント
技能確認は「運転経験が長ければ合格できる」ものではありません。日本で求められる確認の順序や合図の時期、左側通行、右左折前の寄せ方などを理解し、行動で示すことが重要です。

Procedures for Conducting Skill Assessments as of August 2026

The standard is 70 points or more out of 100.

The skills assessment uses a point deduction system starting at 100 points, and a score of 70 points or higher is the threshold for being deemed “fit to drive.” However, if you commit dangerous acts such as running a red light, failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, or driving on the right side of the road, the assessment may be terminated regardless of your remaining points.

Standard, Semi-Medium, Medium, and Large vehicles must travel at least 1,200 meters

According to the National Police Agency’s guidelines for practical tests, the total driving distance for standard, quasi-medium, medium, and large vehicle licenses must be at least 1,200 meters. The guidelines stipulate that at least three different courses must be set up, each containing equivalent tasks but with different driving routes.

The main steps are as follows. The order of the steps and specific course details may vary by driver's license center.

1. Driving at the indicated speed
2. Driving on the main course and the circuit course, including the curves of the circuit and stopping at designated locations.
3. Turning right or left at an intersection, passing through traffic lights
4. Crossing a pedestrian crossing
5. Passing a railroad crossing
6. Driving on a curved course (S-curve)
7. Driving on a winding course (crank)
8. Stopping and starting on an uphill course
9. Passing through obstacle-placed areas

10 Key Points for Skill Assessment

1. Safety checks before and after riding and correct driving posture

Before getting into the car, check the area around and behind the vehicle for safety, and open the door in a way that does not obstruct following vehicles. When getting out of the car, check behind you using the mirrors and by looking directly before opening the door.

Sit back in your seat and adjust it so that you can firmly press the brake pedal. Lean your back against the seatback and assume a posture where your elbows are slightly bent when gripping the steering wheel. Adjust the rearview mirror, side mirrors, headrest, and seatbelt before starting.

2. Before pulling away, be sure to check your surroundings and signal

Before pulling away, check your surroundings using the rearview mirror, side mirrors, and visual inspection, and give the necessary signals. Signaling alone or simply checking your surroundings is not enough. Make it a habit to perform safety checks and signaling as a single, coordinated sequence of actions.

3. Drive on the left and stay in your lane

In Japan, traffic drives on the left. As a general rule, you should drive on the left side of the road, and if there are multiple lanes in the same direction, you should normally drive in the leftmost lane. Driving on the right side of the road is a serious offense that will result in the termination of your driving test.

However, you must adjust your driving to road conditions, such as when avoiding obstacles. Do not suddenly veer toward the center of the road or drift into the oncoming lane more than necessary without first checking for safety.

4. Obey stop signs and traffic signals precisely

At locations with a stop sign or a flashing red light, bring your vehicle to a complete stop just before the stop line. It is important not to cross the stop line and to check for traffic on both sides after coming to a stop.
At a red light, stop before reaching the legally designated stopping point. At a yellow light, stop if you can do so safely; if the situation requires sudden braking, prioritize the safety of those around you when making your decision.

5. When changing lanes, follow this sequence: “Check the mirror → Signal → Wait 3 seconds → Check again → Move.”

If you consistently follow this sequence when changing lanes, it will be easier to avoid missing anything.

1. Check the rearview mirror to see what's behind you
2. Check the side-view mirror on the side you're turning toward
3. Signal to those changing course
4. Wait about 3 seconds, then check your blind spots again using the mirrors and by looking directly.
5. Turn your face forward, check that it is safe, and change course smoothly.

重要
目視とは、ミラーに映らない死角を自分の目で直接確認することです。目視中に車がふらつかないよう、短く確実に行います。

6. Pass obstacles while maintaining a safe lateral distance.

If there is an obstacle in your path, the basic rule is to wait so as not to obstruct oncoming traffic. Before avoiding the obstacle and before returning to your original path, check behind and to the sides, and give any necessary signals.

If you cannot maintain a sufficient lateral distance, do not force your way through and proceed slowly. Obstructing oncoming vehicles or driving beyond the necessary range on the right side to avoid obstacles may result in the test being terminated.

7. When turning right, move to the center of the lane and give way to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning left.

When turning right, check for safety on the right side using your mirrors and by looking directly, and begin signaling at least 30 meters before the point where you will turn right. Then, move your vehicle towards the center of the road beforehand and proceed slowly just inside the center of the intersection before turning right.

Do not obstruct oncoming vehicles that are going straight or turning left. After turning right, quickly return to driving on the left side of the road.

8. When turning left, move to the left edge of the road and visually check for any obstructions.

When turning left, check for safety on the left side using your mirrors and by looking directly, and begin signaling at least 30 meters before the point of the left turn. Move to the left edge of the road beforehand, and proceed slowly and make a tight turn while checking that there are no motorcycles or bicycles in the way.

Driving maneuvers such as moving to the left only just before turning, swerving to the right before turning left, or making wide turns may result in penalty points being deducted.

9. Priority is determined by the following rule: Priority road → Wider road → Left-hand priority.

At intersections without traffic control, first determine the priority road by looking at road signs and the continuation of the center line. Next, check if the intersecting road is clearly wider. If neither road is a priority road and both are of similar width, be careful not to obstruct the progress of vehicles approaching from the left.

When turning right, even if you entered the intersection first, the general rule is not to obstruct the progress of oncoming vehicles going straight or turning left.

10. Carefully navigate pedestrian crossings, railway crossings, S-curves, and sharp turns.

pedestrian crossing

When crossing a pedestrian crossing, check both left and right for pedestrians and cyclists. If it is not clear that there are no people crossing, slow down to a speed that allows you to stop immediately before the pedestrian crossing. If pedestrians or others are crossing or about to cross, stop immediately before the pedestrian crossing and do not obstruct their passage.

Railroad crossing

Immediately before a level crossing, come to a complete stop without crossing the stop line. Visually check left and right, and also check for sounds. Do not proceed if the warning signals are sounding or if there is a risk of not being able to enter the level crossing. For specific checks, including opening and closing windows, please follow the instructions of the examiner or the driver's license center.

S-curve/Crank

Curved courses are called S-curves, and bent courses are called cranks. Slow down sufficiently and be aware of the position of not only the front wheels but also the rear wheels. If you drive onto the curb or go off the road, stop immediately without continuing to drive and follow the examiner's instructions. Reversing on your own judgment may lead to failure to check for safety or violation of instructions.

Main Criteria for Point Deductions in the Skills Assessment

The practical test score sheet for foreign license conversion includes items that result in deductions of 20, 10, and 5 points, as well as items that result in the test being stopped due to dangerous behavior. The following table shows representative examples of things to pay particular attention to during the on-course skills check for regular cars, etc. The official scoring is done by the examiner based on the scoring standards of the National Police Agency and the circumstances on the day.

classification	Main examples	Points to note
20 points	Driving against traffic (moderate), excessively high speed, failure to slow down, etc.	A significant deduction that brings you much closer to passing the exam in one go.
10 points	Failure to check for safety, excessive speed, sudden steering, insufficient lateral distance, poor judgment of priority, violation of traffic lane rules for the direction of travel within the area, etc.	Repeatedly making the same type of mistake can result in losing 30 points or more in a short period of time.
5 points	Failure to signal when starting, changing lanes, or turning right or left; improper stopping position; minor wheel slippage; etc.	Although some cases are treated as “special penalty points,” this does not mean they will be overlooked.

混同しやすい点
警察庁の採点表では、路上試験と場内試験で点数が異なる項目があります。例えば『進行方向別通行区分違反』は路上20点・場内10点です。外免切替は場内の実技成績表に沿って説明する必要があります。

Major Acts That Can Lead to the Cancellation of an Exam

The following actions may be treated as dangerous conduct or similar offenses, and may result in the skill assessment being terminated regardless of the remaining points.

• Driving or attempting to drive on the right side of the road (right-hand traffic)
• Disregarding traffic signals, such as running a red light or proceeding past the stop line at a yellow light when it is safe to stop
• Failure to stop immediately before the stop line at a designated stop zone
• Obstructing the progress of vehicles with the right of way, oncoming vehicles proceeding straight ahead, vehicles on the left, etc.
• Failing to stop immediately before a railroad crossing, entering the crossing while the warning signal is sounding, or entering the crossing when there is a risk of coming to a stop within it
• Major wheel detachment, severe impact, and continuing to drive after the impact
• The examiner may need to assist with the brakes or steering
• Failing to follow the examiner's instructions; deviating from the designated course
• It becomes clear that the cumulative total of penalty points falls below the passing threshold

The changes in April 2026 will primarily focus on the testing procedures for medium-sized and sub-medium-sized vehicles

Effective April 1, 2026, with the introduction of new automatic transmission (AT) licenses for medium-sized and quasi-medium-sized vehicles, the vehicles used and the procedures for the skills assessment required for converting foreign licenses have been revised. This does not mean that the basic skills assessment standards for standard driver’s licenses have undergone another major revision at the same time.

Desired license	Standard Vehicles	Additional Information
Medium-Sized Vehicle License (Unrestricted)	AT Medium-Sized Vehicle + MT Standard Vehicle	Transitional measures will be in place for the time being for medium-sized vehicles with manual transmissions.
AT Medium-Sized Vehicle License	AT Medium-Sized Vehicle	No practical test is required for a standard manual transmission (MT) driver's license.
Semi-Medium-Sized Vehicle License (Unrestricted)	AT Medium-Sized Vehicle + MT Standard Vehicle	Transitional measures will be in place for the time being for MT medium-sized vehicles.
AT Semi-Medium-Sized Vehicle License	AT Semi-Medium-Sized Vehicle	No practical test is required for a standard manual transmission (MT) driver's license.

If you already hold a license that allows you to drive a standard manual transmission passenger car in Japan, there is a provision that exempts you from the practical driving test using a standard manual transmission passenger car during the skill assessment for medium-sized and quasi-medium-sized vehicles. Please check with the office where you submit your application for details.

7 Steps to Get Closer to Passing the Exam

• First, understand Japan’s traffic rules and the actions that are evaluated. Don’t bring your own driving habits with you.
• Repeat the sequence of checking mirrors, signaling, looking, and changing lanes until you can perform these actions without having to think about them.
• Use the course map to identify key points to check, such as right- and left-turn points, stop lines, crosswalks, railroad crossings, and obstacles.
• To ensure the examiner is aware of your safety check, do not rely solely on eye contact; instead, move your head appropriately to make it clear.
• Since driving too slowly can also result in penalty points, accelerate on straightaways as appropriate and slow down sufficiently before turning.
• On S-curves and hairpin turns, reduce your speed and practice while paying attention to the paths of the front and rear wheels.
• Before taking the exam, practice driving a real vehicle and take a mock test under the guidance of an instructor who understands the scoring criteria for converting a foreign driver's license.

FAQ

Can I pass the test after just one practice session?

The amount of practice required varies depending on your driving experience, your understanding of Japanese traffic rules, and your usual driving habits. Taking practice sessions does not guarantee that you will pass the test. It is important to identify any areas needing improvement during your first practice session and to schedule additional practice as needed.

If I memorize the exam material, will I pass?

While it's helpful to understand the course material, simply memorizing it isn't enough.
You must make safe decisions based on the examiner’s instructions, traffic signs, traffic signals, and the conditions of other vehicles and pedestrians.

If my tire comes off the road on an S-curve or a hairpin turn, is it okay to back up on my own?

First, stop immediately and follow the examiner’s instructions. Reversing on your own initiative could lead to failure to check for safety behind you or a violation of instructions.

Do you always stop before a crosswalk?

You must come to a complete stop if pedestrians or others are crossing or are about to cross. If it is not clear that there are no pedestrians or others present, you must slow down to a speed that allows you to stop immediately. You are not required to stop every time; you only need to do so until it is clear that no one is crossing.

Summary | Mastering the "Japanese Safety Check Routine" Is More Important Than Driving Skills

Due to stricter regulations taking effect in October 2025, the practical skills test for converting a foreign driver’s license now includes tasks such as navigating crosswalks and railroad crossings, and scoring for signals, right and left turns, and safety checks has become more rigorous.The pass rate for the skills test from October to December 2025 was 13.1%, making it difficult to pass without adequate preparation.

The key is not to show off your driving skills, but to follow Japan’s traffic rules and carefully check for safety one step at a time. Repeat the steps—checking mirrors, signaling, looking around, pulling over, slowing down, and stopping—in the correct order, and master the actions that will demonstrate safe driving to the examiner.

Support for Converting Foreign Driver's Licenses

ZIPLUS We offer services for obtaining Japanese translations of foreign driver’s licenses, as well as preparation for the written and practical exams. Please feel free to contact us for advice on how to prepare based on the prefecture where you’ll take the exam, the type of license you’re seeking, and your current driving experience.

Japanese translation of foreign driver's license:Request for translation

Knowledge and skills assessment measures:Foreign license conversion peace of mind package

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