If your licence was issued in France, you need an official Japanese translation of it to drive in Japan. An international driving permit won't get you a car. At the rental counter you'll be asked for three things: your French licence, the translation and your passport.
Isn't France part of the Geneva Convention?
It is, and that's what confuses people. France ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic in 1950, and Japan follows the same convention. You would expect the French permit to work.
In practice, the JAF lists only two ways for holders of a French licence to drive in Japan: with the Japanese translation, or by converting to a Japanese licence. The international permit isn't on that list. The same goes for Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan. We'd rather point you to what the JAF actually says than guess at the reason, and what it says is clear enough: bring the translation.
Does it matter where I'm from?
Only the issuing country counts. A French licence needs the translation whether you hold a French passport or another one.
What should I keep in the car?
Your original French licence, the paper original of the Japanese translation and your passport, all together. The passport shows when you entered Japan, which matters because the translation is valid for one year from that day, or until your licence expires if that comes first. A new entry starts a new year.
Can I apply from France?
Not yourself. Since 1 April 2025 the JAF accepts applications only through an online form in Japanese that works only from inside Japan, takes only credit cards and sends the document to a Japanese address. The counter and postal options no longer exist.
For French licences the JAF quotes two to three business days on average once the application is submitted, not counting Japanese weekends and public holidays.
When should I start?
Before booking the car, ideally. Many Japanese rental companies ask for the translation at reservation, not at pickup. We run a campervan rental in Fukuoka and most of our guests are European; this is where bookings most often get stuck.
Ordering today looks like this:
The submission date is ours to keep, so we commit to it. The arrival date depends on the JAF, so we show it as a range.
What does it cost?
From €99 with us, with faster tiers if you're short on time. The JAF's 1 July 2026 fee revision left the fee unchanged for French licence holders who only want to drive temporarily.
Look at the delivery format when you compare. Some providers give you a code to print at a Japanese convenience store, so the document only exists after landing. Ours comes as a PDF by email before departure, which is what you need to complete the booking. To drive, you carry JAF's paper original, which we deliver to your hotel or rental counter in Japan from the day after the translation is ready, for an extra €10.
Apply for the translation or read this in French.
Checked against the JAF's official English guidance and the UN Treaty Collection in September 2026. Karen and Doko Shibagaki, Camjyo Inc., Fukuoka.
