Complete Guide to Gaimen Kirikae: Converting Your Foreign Licence in Japan

Gaimen kirikae (外免切替) is the process of converting a foreign driving licence to a Japanese driving licence. Since the October 2025 reforms dramatically changed the written test format, understanding every step of this process has become more important than ever. This guide walks you through the entire procedure from document preparation to collecting your new Japanese licence.

Who Is Eligible?

To convert your foreign licence through gaimen kirikae, you must meet two fundamental requirements:

• Valid foreign licence: Your foreign licence must be currently valid (not expired) at the time of application. An expired licence will be rejected
• Three months of residency in the issuing country: You must prove that you lived in the country that issued your licence for at least three months after obtaining it. This is the most commonly failed administrative requirement. Japan uses this rule to prevent "licence tourism" where people obtain a licence in an easy-to-pass country solely for conversion purposes

You will need to prove the three-month residency with passport stamps, residence cards, or an official letter from your country's licensing authority.

Country-Based Exemptions

Japan has bilateral agreements with certain countries that exempt their licence holders from part or all of the testing process:

• Full exemption (no tests required): Approximately 25 countries including most EU/EEA nations, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, and Switzerland. Holders from these countries only need to pass an eye test and submit documents
• Written test only: Some countries require the written knowledge test but are exempt from the practical driving test
• Both tests required: Countries without bilateral agreements (including the United States, China, India, Brazil, and most of Southeast Asia) must pass both the written knowledge test and the practical driving test

The exemption list changes periodically. Check with your local driving licence centre (unten menkyo senta) for the most current list.

Required Documents

Prepare the following before your appointment:

• Foreign driving licence (original, not a copy)
• Japanese translation of your licence issued by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). This costs approximately 4,000 yen and takes 2-7 business days. Some embassies also provide accepted translations
• Passport with entry/exit stamps proving three months of residency in the issuing country
• Residence card (zairyu card) showing your current Japanese address
• One photograph (3 cm x 2.4 cm, taken within the last 6 months, plain background)
• Application form (available at the driving licence centre)
• Previous Japanese licence (if you had one before)

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Visit the Driving Licence Centre

Gaimen kirikae can only be processed at a driving licence centre (unten menkyo senta), not at a police station. Each prefecture has one or two centres. In Tokyo, the main centres are Fuchu and Samezu. Arrive early — most centres accept applications only in the morning (typically 8:30-9:30 AM) and processing takes most of the day.

Step 2: Document Review

Staff will review your documents, verify your foreign licence and JAF translation, check your passport stamps for the three-month residency requirement, and confirm your residence card is current. If any document is missing or incorrect, you will be sent home and asked to return another day.

Step 3: Eye Test

All applicants take a basic vision test. You need visual acuity of at least 0.7 in both eyes combined (or 0.3 in each eye individually). If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them. The test uses a Landolt C chart (a circle with a gap that you identify the direction of).

Step 4: Written Knowledge Test

If your country does not have a test exemption agreement, you will take the written knowledge test. Since October 2025, this consists of 50 TRUE/FALSE questions in a 30-minute time limit, with a 90% pass rate (maximum 5 wrong answers). The test is available in multiple languages including English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and others depending on the centre.

Questions cover all aspects of Japanese traffic law: traffic rules, road signs, speed limits, intersection priority, overtaking, parking and stopping, railway crossings, expressway driving, drunk driving laws, and emergency procedures. Practice thoroughly with our traffic rules and road signs practice questions.

Step 5: Practical Driving Test

If required, the practical test takes place on a closed course at the driving licence centre (not on public roads). The test evaluates:

• Driving on the left: Staying correctly positioned in the left lane, making proper left and right turns
• Speed control: Maintaining appropriate speed for the course
• Observation: Mirror checks, head checks, and blind spot awareness. Examiners watch for exaggerated checks
• Intersection behaviour: Correct positioning, signalling timing, and yielding
• S-curves and crank course: Navigating tight turns without mounting the curb
• Lane changes and overtaking: Proper signalling and mirror checks
• Emergency stop: Responding to a sudden stop signal

The practical test has a high failure rate, especially for applicants from right-hand-traffic countries. Taking practice lessons at a driving school that specialises in gaimen kirikae preparation is strongly recommended.

Step 6: Licence Issuance

If you pass all required tests, your Japanese driving licence will be issued the same day. The total fees are approximately 5,000-8,000 yen for the application and licence production. Your new licence will be valid for three years initially (or until your third birthday after issuance).

Typical Timeline

If you fail the written or practical test, you can rebook for another attempt. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but you must pay the application fee each time. Many people pass the written test on their second or third attempt with adequate preparation.

Fees Summary

• JAF translation: Approximately 4,000 yen
• Application fee: Approximately 2,550 yen
• Licence issuance fee: Approximately 2,050 yen
• Photograph (if not bringing your own): 700-800 yen at the centre
• Total: Approximately 9,000-10,000 yen (excluding practice lessons)

Key Takeaways

• The three-month residency proof is the most commonly failed requirement — prepare this documentation carefully
• Get your JAF translation well in advance of your appointment
• The written test is now significantly harder since October 2025 — thorough study is essential
• The practical test favours exaggerated safety checks and precise positioning
• Arrive early at the driving licence centre — morning slots fill up quickly
• Your Japanese licence will be valid for three years from first issuance