An Overview of Foreign Driver's License Conversion: A Comprehensive Guide to Foreign Driver's License Conversion, Conditions, Required Documents, Costs, and Timeframe
First, the conclusion
The knowledge check consists of "50 questions, 45 or more correct answers, and 30 minutes."
From October 1, 2025, the knowledge test for converting to a foreign driver's license has changed significantly from the old system of "10 illustration-based questions, with a minimum of 7 correct answers." Currently, you need to answer 50 questions in text format in 30 minutes, with a minimum of 45 correct answers. It is important not only to memorize signs, but also to understand Japanese traffic rules and prepare to make correct judgments in various situations.
Legal basis: Partial amendment to the National Police Agency's "Regarding the Handling of Matters Concerning Driver's License Examinations, etc." and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's "Regarding the Amended Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations Effective October 1, 2025."
By first identifying your weak areas using the free knowledge-checking practice test (10 questions with explanations) which is in the same true/false format as the actual exam, and the 16 practice problems in this article, you can more easily create a study plan.
This article provides a step-by-step guide, covering everything from eligibility requirements and exam format to study methods, practice questions, supported languages, and countries/regions where verification is waived. It's designed to help both foreign nationals themselves and company representatives assisting employees with foreign license conversions understand what needs to be checked and where.
New system effective from October 1, 2025
What has changed in the knowledge check?
| item | old system | Current system |
|---|---|---|
| The number of questions | 10 questions | 50 questions |
| Question format | Illustration-focused | Text format (excluding questions about traffic signs) |
| Passing criteria | 7 questions or more (70% or more) | 45 questions or more (90% or more) |
| Time limit | ― | half an hour |
You can get up to 5 questions wrong out of 50. Furthermore, you have an average of about 36 seconds per question. You will need the ability to accurately read the questions and make quick judgments based on Japanese traffic rules.
The pass rate after the system change was 42.8%.
According to nationwide statistics released by the National Public Safety Commission for October to December 2025, the pass rate for the knowledge check was 42.8%. This is a significant decrease from 92.5% in 2024. However, this figure covers the first three months immediately following the system change and may fluctuate depending on future examination trends. What has changed before and after the stricter regulations is explained in detail in the section on the stricter regulations for foreign license conversion and the pass rate.
Source: Summary of the National Public Safety Commission Chairman's Press Conference (March 5, 2026)
Being able to drive and being able to explain Japanese traffic rules are two different things.
Even those who have driven abroad for a long time may be confused by Japan's unique rules, such as driving on the left side of the road, pedestrian priority at crosswalks, crossing railway tracks, and timing of signals. Please make your judgment based on Japanese rules, not just on your experience.
Preparation for passing the exam
Studying to confirm your knowledge should proceed in the order of "understanding → classification → time".
Instead of repeatedly practicing 50 questions from the start, it's easier to identify your weaknesses if you break down the reasons for your mistakes before studying.
ZIPLUS Practical Check
A 30-minute assessment before you start studying
First, you will solve 50 questions in 30 minutes and categorize your mistakes into the following four types. This is not an official scoring standard, but rather an editing framework used by ZIPLUS to create a study plan.
Insufficient rules
Even after seeing the correct answer, I can't explain the reasoning. I'll review each area, such as signs, priority rules, crosswalks, and right/left turns.
Language barrier
I understand them in my native language, but I get confused with the Japanese terms "slow down," "overtake," and "safe distance." I'll compare traffic terms with their native language equivalents.
Judgment speed
You can get the correct answer, but it will take you over 30 minutes. This will help you develop a sense of timing, with approximately 36 seconds per question, in a real exam format.
Misreading
Don't overlook phrases like "always," "at any time," and "you may." Mark the conditions and exceptions in the question before answering.
Five areas of study I want to prioritize
- Signals, signs, and markings: You'll learn not only the colors and shapes, but also what you need to do in each situation.
- Pedestrian and cyclist protection: Check your judgment at crosswalks, schools, residential areas, and places with poor visibility.
- Intersections, right/left turns, lane changes: Understand safety checks, signals, and driving position as a single action.
- Speed, following distance, and adverse conditions: We will list conditions that increase stopping distance, such as rain, nighttime driving, and downhill driving.
- In case of an accident, breakdown, or emergency: Confirm the order of actions to take, such as providing first aid to the injured, reporting to the police, and preventing secondary accidents.
7-day learning model
Check before taking the exam
The process from applying for a foreign driver's license conversion to knowledge verification.
You cannot take the knowledge test first. You must apply to the driver's license center of the prefectural police that has jurisdiction over your place of residence, and proceed to the knowledge test only after passing the document review and aptitude test.
- 1
- 2Check eligibility requirements and exemptions.
The basic requirement is that you have resided in the country or region where you obtained your foreign license for a total of three months or more. Knowledge and skills assessments may be waived depending on the country or region.
- 3Prepare the necessary documents and their Japanese translations.
In addition to a valid foreign driver's license, passport, or other documents proving your length of stay, and a resident registration certificate, you will need to prepare a Japanese translation prepared by an authorized institution. Required documents vary depending on the country and prefecture where the license was obtained.
- 4Document screening and aptitude test
After verifying your driver's license status and residency history, you will proceed to aptitude tests, including vision tests.
- 5Knowledge check
You have 30 minutes to answer 50 questions, and you pass if you answer 45 or more correctly. You can choose to take the exam in Japanese or one of 20 foreign languages.
- 6Skills verification and license issuance
After the knowledge assessment, we will proceed to the skills assessment. The skills assessment may be scheduled for a separate day.
Required documents, reservation methods, available languages, and fees vary depending on the prefecture and the applicant's circumstances. Do not rely solely on this article; please confirm with the driver's license center where you will be applying.
Basic requirement: National Police Agency "Those who hold a foreign driver's license"
Pre-show comprehension check
16 practice questions to check your knowledge (categorized by subject, with explanations)
The following are example questions created by ZIPLUS for learning purposes, based on publicly available Japanese traffic rules. They are not reproductions of actual knowledge-checking questions. Please consider whether they are correct or incorrect, just as you would in the actual exam, and read the explanations as well.
Pedestrians, intersections, and signals (Questions 1-4)
Question 1: There is a pedestrian attempting to cross a crosswalk, but if it appears the car can pass first, it may slow down and proceed.
When there are pedestrians attempting to cross the road, you must stop before the crosswalk and not obstruct their passage. Do not prioritize the driver's judgment that "it looks like I can pass."
Question 2: When turning right, the signal should be given when you are 30 meters before the point where you will turn right.
Be careful not to confuse signals for turning left or right with signals for changing lanes. The general rule for changing lanes is to signal approximately 3 seconds before you begin the action.
Question 3: When crossing a sidewalk to exit a parking lot onto the road, you do not need to stop if you do not see any pedestrians.
When crossing a sidewalk or shoulder to enter or exit a facility off the road, stop completely just before crossing to avoid obstructing pedestrian traffic.
Question 4: Even if the traffic light ahead is green, you must not enter the intersection if it is congested and could obstruct traffic on the intersecting road.
A green light doesn't necessarily mean you have to go. If stopping in the intersection would obstruct other traffic, wait further down the road.
Drinking, nighttime, accidents, speed (Questions 5 to 8)
Question 5: If you feel you can drive normally after drinking a small amount of alcohol, you may drive.
You should not judge based on the amount of alcohol consumed or your own feelings. Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is prohibited.
Question 6: At night, on roads without oncoming or preceding vehicles, use high beams to ensure a wide view of the road ahead.
High beams are the default setting at night, but switch to low beams when passing oncoming vehicles or driving directly behind other cars to avoid dazzling them.
Question 7: In the event of an accident involving injuries, provide first aid and prevent secondary accidents before contacting the police.
Immediately stop driving, provide assistance to any injured parties, and prevent further hazards on the road. Then, report the details of the accident to the police.
If the sign in question 8 does not specify a maximum speed, you may drive up to the legal speed limit regardless of weather conditions or visibility.
The maximum speed doesn't mean you *must* drive at that speed. You should drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely, taking into account factors such as rain, nighttime, visibility, and traffic volume.
Signals, signs, and railway crossings (Questions 9-12)
Question 9: At an intersection with a stop sign, you must stop immediately before the stop line and not obstruct the progress of vehicles traveling on the intersecting road.
Where there is a stop line, stop just before the stop line. After stopping, make sure not to obstruct the passage of vehicles or pedestrians on intersecting roads.
Question 10: A yellow traffic light means "proceed with caution."
You must not proceed beyond the stop line when the traffic light turns yellow. However, if you are approaching the stop line when the light turns yellow and cannot stop safely, you may proceed.
Question 11: When crossing a level crossing without traffic signals, you must come to a complete stop immediately before the crossing and check for safety to the left and right using your eyes and ears.
Stop before a level crossing and check for safety to the left and right. Do not enter a level crossing if there is no room for your car to enter on the other side.
Question 12: On roads without designated lanes, the general rule is that vehicles should travel in the left-hand portion of the road, away from the center.
Japan has left-hand traffic. Drivers who have driven in countries with right-hand traffic should be careful not to enter the right lane immediately after turning right or left, or when exiting a parking lot.
Passengers, mobile phones, special vehicles (Questions 13-16)
Question 13: When driving at a low speed, it is permissible to hold a mobile phone and make a call.
You must not hold your cell phone in your hand to talk or stare at the screen while driving. This applies even at low speeds. If you need to use your phone, pull over to a safe location first.
Question 14: Seat belts must be worn not only by the driver but also by passengers in the back seat.
The driver must ensure that passengers in both the front and rear seats wear seat belts. Children under 6 years old must use a child safety seat.
Question 15: When passing a stopped school or kindergarten bus, you must slow down and ensure it is safe.
Children getting on or off the bus may suddenly run out into the road. When passing a bus, slow down and check for safety.
Question 16: If an emergency vehicle is approaching, even if you are in the middle of an intersection, stop immediately and yield the right of way.
At or near intersections, move to the left side of the road to avoid the intersection and come to a complete stop. Stopping in the middle of an intersection may obstruct the passage of emergency vehicles.
Even for questions you answered correctly, explain "why".
Questions you answered correctly by chance can be confusing if the wording changes during the actual test. Aim to be able to explain the reason in a single sentence, such as "to give priority to pedestrians" or "to avoid blocking the intersection."
Taking the exam in a language other than Japanese
Knowledge checks are available nationwide in Japanese and 20 foreign languages.
Knowledge checks for converting foreign driver's licenses are available nationwide in Japanese and the following 20 other languages. Please specify your preferred language when applying, and contact the driver's license center that has jurisdiction over your address for information on venues, dates, and reservation methods.
20 foreign languages used nationwide
English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Burmese, Mongolian, Ukrainian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi, Persian.
Legal basis: National Police Agency, "Further Promotion of Multilingualization of Written Examinations" List of supported languages: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, "Written Examinations that Can Be Taken in Foreign Languages"
If you are taking the exam in your native language, using traffic terminology in the same language while studying will reduce confusion. You will also see Japanese road signs and markings, so learning them in your native language and Japanese side-by-side will be helpful when actually driving.
First thing to check before taking the exam
Countries and regions where knowledge and skills assessments are waived.
Licenses from the following countries/regions are exempt from knowledge and skills assessments. However, application, document review, and aptitude tests are still required. Do not judge solely based on the country/region where the license was obtained; also check the validity of the license and conditions such as the length of stay.
- Iceland
- Ireland
- England
- Italy
- Australia
- Austria
- Netherlands
- Canada
- South Korea
- Greece
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Spain
- Slovenia
- czech
- Denmark
- Germany
- new zealand
- Norway
- Hungary
- Finland
- France
- Belgium
- Poland
- Portugal
- Monaco
- Luxembourg
- Taiwan
- The seven US states in question (Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Washington)
The seven states listed above exempt you from both knowledge and skills assessments. Indiana exempts you from skills assessment only, but requires knowledge assessment. Other states are not uniformly exempt.
Confirmed on September 22, 2026: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, "How to convert a driver's license obtained abroad into a Japanese driver's license"
Learning services
What you can do with the knowledge check and preparation app "Drivey"
Drivey is a service that allows you to learn on your smartphone or computer to check your knowledge. In addition to solving problems, you can understand traffic rules through videos and interactive Q&A, and check your understanding with mini-tests and mock exams.
- Approximately 200 questions focusing on frequently appearing themes.
- Video explanations to help you understand traffic rules and safety checks.
- Question and answer format, subject-specific mini-tests, timed practice exams.
- A dashboard where you can check your learning history, progress, test results, and weaknesses.
- Six languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, and Indonesian
Regularly check your performance under the same conditions as the actual exam: 50 questions and 30 minutes. Aim to consistently answer 45 or more questions correctly, not just once.
Drivey for Businesses
You can check the learning progress of foreign employees through the management screen.
Our corporate plan allows you to grant employees learning licenses and remotely monitor "who has learned what." It's also possible to start using the system two months before arrival to prepare for knowledge checks after entry.
Member management
We invite employees and grant them licenses according to their chosen course, such as converting their foreign driver's license.
Learning Management
You can check your study time, progress rate, and progress by category.
Test Management
We assess understanding based on test results, pass rate, test date and time, and number of attempts.
Report
Employee learning data can be exported as a CSV or PDF file and used for internal progress management.
The start date should be determined by working backward from the date of entry into Japan and the planned date of the exam, taking into account the applicant's work hours and Japanese language level.
To companies that support foreign employees
Five items that company representatives want to manage
Leaving it entirely up to the individual can easily lead to insufficient documentation, rescheduling appointments, and mismatches in the exam language. While being mindful of handling personal information, managing the following items in a single progress chart will make support easier.
qualification
The expiration date of the foreign driver's license and proof that you have stayed in the issuing country for a total of three months or more since obtaining the license.
Application
The application office that has jurisdiction over your address, the appointment date, required documents, and the status of the Japanese translation.
language
The test language to be chosen from Japanese or one of 20 foreign languages, and the venue and date of the test at the application destination.
study
You can check learning time, progress rate, test results, and weak areas on Drivey corporate management screen.
Next process
Coordinating tasks from scheduling skills assessments after knowledge verification, to creating practice plans and coordinating operations until license issuance.
When supporting multiple individuals, it is crucial to avoid confusing each person's application destination, license issuing country, and examination language. Exporting Drivey reports as CSV or PDF and comparing them with application, study, and examination progress charts makes it easier to identify any missed support sessions. If you require comprehensive support for foreign license conversion, please inquire about our corporate support package.
FAQ
Q&A to check your knowledge about converting to a foreign driver's license
How many questions do I need to answer correctly to pass the knowledge test?
You must answer at least 45 out of 50 questions correctly. A score of 90% or higher is required, and the time limit is 30 minutes.
Can I take the exam in a language other than Japanese?
Yes. In addition to Japanese, we offer support in 20 foreign languages nationwide. Please specify your preferred language when applying, and contact the driver's license center that has jurisdiction over your address for information on test venues, dates, and reservation methods.
Can I convert my international driver's license to a Japanese driver's license?
This is not a procedure to convert an international driving permit itself into a Japanese driver's license. The application is based on a driver's license issued by a foreign administrative authority.
Can I take the skills test on the same day I pass the knowledge test?
Skills assessment may require a separate appointment. In Tokyo, skills assessment is by appointment only and cannot be taken on the same day as application. Please check the procedures of the relevant institution.
If I have a license from a country that is exempt from this requirement, do I not need to do anything?
No. Even if knowledge and skills assessments are waived, applications, document reviews, and aptitude tests are still required. The validity of the foreign license and the length of stay after obtaining it will also be checked.
Are past exam questions for knowledge checks available?
Actual knowledge-checking questions are not publicly released by the police. Please prepare using the practice questions in this article, free knowledge-checking mock tests, and questions based on Japanese traffic rules, such as those Drivey. It is more important to be able to explain why a particular answer is correct than to simply memorize the questions.
Are there any workbooks available in English or Vietnamese?
Knowledge checks are available in 20 foreign languages, including English and Vietnamese. Drivey is available in 6 languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, and Indonesian. Studying in the same language as the exam will help you avoid getting confused with traffic terminology.
If I can answer 45 questions correctly once, will I be confident about the actual exam?
You may not be able to answer correctly if the question is phrased differently. Aim to answer 45 or more questions correctly on multiple attempts, using different questions, and be able to explain the reasons for your incorrect answers.
Can company representatives use Drivey to check their employees' learning progress?
The management screen for corporate plans allows you to view learning time, progress rate, test results, test date and time, and number of attempts. Employee-specific data can be exported as a CSV or PDF file.
