Last verified: July 2026. Compiled by JDLTC (Japan Driver's License Translation Center), operated by Camjyo Inc. in Fukuoka, Japan, together with VAN TRIP JAPAN.
Japan recognizes exactly one type of International Driving Permit — the one issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Everything on this page follows from that single fact. There are three possible outcomes for your license:
- Official translation required — 6 jurisdictions (Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan). An IDP is not valid.
- 1949 Geneva IDP valid — the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and other Geneva Convention countries.
- Neither works — China, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and other non-signatories. License conversion is the only route.
1. Official Translation Required (6 Jurisdictions) — IDP Not Valid
| Country | What you need | Legal basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Original license + official Japanese translation | Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 (designated country) | IDP not accepted. Swiss guide → |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Original license + official Japanese translation | Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 (designated country) | IDP not accepted. German guide → |
| 🇫🇷 France | Original license + official Japanese translation | Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 (designated country) | IDP not accepted. French guide → |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Original license + official Japanese translation | Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 (designated country) | IDP not accepted. Belgium guide → |
| 🇲🇨 Monaco | Original license + official Japanese translation | Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 (designated country) | IDP not accepted. Monaco guide → |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | Original license + official Japanese translation | Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 (designated jurisdiction) | Covered by the same official-translation scheme. Taiwan guide → |
Why no IDP? These jurisdictions sit in the 1968 Vienna Convention system, while Japan only recognizes IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Instead of excluding these drivers, Japan designates them under Article 107-2 of its Road Traffic Act: their original license becomes valid when carried together with an official Japanese translation.
The translation lets you drive for up to one year from your date of entry into Japan, as long as the original license stays valid. Rental car counters check both documents — a license without the translation (or a translation without the original license) will be refused.
Where to get the official translation
| Provider | Price | Turnaround | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) | ¥6,000 (rate revised April 2026) | Typically 1–2 weeks | Ships within Japan only |
| JDLTC Standard | €99 / CHF 99 / NT$3,290 | 3–4 weeks | PDF by email, worldwide; mailed original +€10 |
| JDLTC Express | €139 | 5–7 days | PDF by email, worldwide; mailed original +€10 |
| JDLTC Rush | €179 | 1–3 business days* | PDF by email, worldwide; mailed original +€10 |
* Turnaround times are estimates, not a guarantee. Full comparison: what a license translation costs →
Need an official translation?
Apply online from anywhere in the world and receive your translation by email before your trip.
Apply Now — From €99 →2. 1949 Geneva Convention Countries — IDP Valid
If your license was issued by one of the countries below, you drive in Japan with a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP carried together with your home license. Get the IDP from the authorized issuer in your own country before you travel — Japan does not issue IDPs to visiting foreign license holders.
| Country | What you need | Legal basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 1949 Geneva IDP + US license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | IDPs issued by AAA |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1949 Geneva IDP + UK license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Request the 1949-format IDP |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 1949 Geneva IDP + Australian license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Issued by state motoring clubs |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 1949 Geneva IDP + Canadian license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Issued by CAA |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 1949 Geneva IDP + NZ license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 1949 Geneva IDP + Irish license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1949 Geneva IDP + Dutch license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Request the 1949-format IDP |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 1949 Geneva IDP + Italian license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Request the 1949-format IDP |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 1949 Geneva IDP + Spanish license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Request the 1949-format IDP |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 1949 Geneva IDP + Austrian license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Request the 1949-format IDP |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 1949 Geneva IDP + Singapore license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 1949 Geneva IDP + Hong Kong license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 1949 Geneva IDP + Korean license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 1949 Geneva IDP + Thai license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 1949 Geneva IDP + Philippine license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 1949 Geneva IDP + Malaysian license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇮🇳 India | 1949 Geneva IDP + Indian license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Request the 1949-format IDP |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 1949 Geneva IDP + Israeli license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | Israel guide → |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 1949 Geneva IDP + Norwegian license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1949 Geneva IDP + Swedish license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | 1949 Geneva IDP + Danish license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | 1949 Geneva IDP + Finnish license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | 1949 Geneva IDP + Icelandic license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 1949 Geneva IDP + Portuguese license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 1949 Geneva IDP + Greek license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 1949 Geneva IDP + Luxembourg license | 1949 Geneva Convention; Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2 | — |
Japan is a contracting party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so it honors IDPs issued under that treaty by other contracting parties. The IDP is only a companion document — it is valid in Japan only when carried together with the license it was issued against, and it cannot be obtained after you arrive.
Several European countries in this list also belong to the 1968 Vienna system, but that doesn't matter at a Japanese rental counter: the document Japan accepts is the 1949-format IDP. When your automobile association offers both formats, request the 1949 Geneva one. Full comparison: JAF translation vs IDP →
3. Neither IDP nor Translation — License Conversion Required
| Country | What you need | Legal basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | Japanese license via conversion (gaimen kirikae) | Not a 1949 Geneva party; no translation arrangement | IDP and translation both invalid |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Japanese license via conversion (gaimen kirikae) | Not a 1949 Geneva party; no translation arrangement | IDP and translation both invalid |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Japanese license via conversion (gaimen kirikae) | Not a 1949 Geneva party; no translation arrangement | IDP and translation both invalid |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Japanese license via conversion (gaimen kirikae) | Not a 1949 Geneva party; no translation arrangement | IDP and translation both invalid |
| Other non-signatory countries | Japanese license via conversion (gaimen kirikae) | Outside both recognition routes | License conversion guide → |
These countries did not join the 1949 Geneva Convention and are not on Japan's Article 107-2 translation list, so there is no document that makes their home licenses valid for driving in Japan. The only route is gaimen kirikae — converting the foreign license into a Japanese one at a license center, which is a residency-based process.
In practice this means short-term tourists from these countries cannot legally drive in Japan. If this is your situation, plan around Japan's excellent trains and buses, or have a companion with a valid license or translation do the driving.
License from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan?
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Start Application →Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is an International Driving Permit (IDP) valid in Japan for German licenses?
A: No. Japan does not accept IDPs presented with a German license, because Germany belongs to the 1968 Vienna Convention system rather than the 1949 Geneva Convention that Japan recognizes. German license holders drive in Japan with their original license plus an official Japanese translation under Article 107-2 of Japan's Road Traffic Act.
Q: Which countries need an official translation instead of an IDP to drive in Japan?
A: Six jurisdictions: Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan. Drivers from these places must carry their original license together with an official Japanese translation. An IDP is not valid for them in Japan. Apply for a translation →
Q: Can Americans drive in Japan with an IDP?
A: Yes. The United States is a 1949 Geneva Convention country, so US license holders drive in Japan with a 1949-format IDP (issued by AAA in the US) carried together with their US license. The same applies to the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the other Geneva Convention countries listed on this page.
Q: How long is a driving license translation valid in Japan?
A: An official translation lets you drive in Japan for up to one year from your date of entry, as long as your original license remains valid. It does not expire on a fixed calendar date — the one-year clock starts when you land in Japan.
Q: Can Chinese or Vietnamese license holders drive in Japan with an IDP?
A: No. China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brazil are not parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention and have no translation arrangement with Japan, so neither an IDP nor a translation makes their licenses valid there. Holders must obtain a Japanese license through the license conversion process (gaimen kirikae) before driving.
About This Reference
This table mirrors the country classification used by the JDLTC eligibility checker and is maintained by JDLTC (Japan Driver's License Translation Center), operated by Camjyo Inc. in Fukuoka, Japan, together with VAN TRIP JAPAN. Last verified: July 2026. If your country is not listed, check with your embassy or Japan's National Police Agency before planning to drive.