A Belgian international driving permit won't get you a rental car in Japan. What you need is your Belgian licence, an official Japanese translation of it, and your passport. You can't file for the JAF translation yourself from Belgium any more, so it has to be done by someone in Japan.
Why doesn't the Belgian permit work?
Belgium is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, the same one Japan follows, so it surprises people. But the JAF lists only two ways for Belgian licence holders to drive in Japan: with the Japanese translation, or by converting to a Japanese licence. The international permit isn't one of them. The same applies to Switzerland, Germany, France, Monaco and Taiwan.
Does the language of my licence matter?
No. Dutch, French or German, the translation is based on the Belgian licence itself. What counts is that Belgium issued it, not the language it's in or the passport you carry.
What do I need at the rental counter?
Your original Belgian licence, the Japanese translation and your passport. Keep all three in the car while you drive. The passport shows your date of entry, and the translation is valid for one year from that day, or until your licence expires if that comes sooner.
Why can't I apply from Belgium?
Since 1 April 2025 the JAF only accepts applications through an online form in Japanese. It works only from inside Japan, takes only credit cards, and sends the finished document to a Japanese address. The counter and postal routes have closed.
For Belgian licences the JAF quotes two to three business days on average once the application is filed, not counting Japanese weekends and public holidays.
When should I start?
Before you book the car. Many Japanese rental companies want to see the translation at reservation. We rent campervans in Fukuoka to mostly European guests, and we see bookings stall on this more than on anything else.
If you order today:
The day we submit is ours to commit to. After that it's in the JAF's hands, so arrival is a range.
What does it cost?
From €99, with faster tiers if you're flying soon. The JAF's fee revision on 1 July 2026 left the fee unchanged for Belgian licence holders who only want to drive temporarily.
When comparing, check the format. Some services give you a code to print at a convenience store in Japan, so you only have the document after you land. Ours arrives as a PDF by email before departure, so you can book the car with it. You then drive with the JAF's paper original, which we deliver to your hotel or rental counter in Japan from the day after the translation is ready (+€10).
Aanvragen in het Nederlands, en français or in English.
Checked against the JAF's official English guidance and the UN Treaty Collection in September 2026. Karen and Doko Shibagaki, Camjyo Inc., Fukuoka.
