Japan tightens rules for foreign driving licence conversions after spike in crashes

Foreigners wanting to convert their licences will have to pass tougher tests and produce a Japanese residence certificate

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Cars travel from a bridge into the tunnel section entrance at Umihotaru, a man-made island designed as a parking area. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:32pm, 1 Oct 2025

The Japanese government introduced stricter rules governing the conversion of foreign driving licences on Wednesday, with non-residents no longer permitted to use the system following a recent spate of accidents involving foreign drivers.

Applicants are now required to submit a copy of their Japanese residence certificate, in contrast to the previous system that allowed short-term visitors to list hotels or other accommodations as their address.

The number of questions on the knowledge test, available in 20 languages, has been increased fivefold to 50, with examinees required to correctly answer at least 90 per cent.

The driving skills test has also been expanded to include assessments on how drivers negotiate pedestrian and railway crossings on test courses.

Japanese nationals living abroad can convert foreign licenses by submitting their family register certificates.

A screen capture from a dash cam video shows an SUV driven by a Chinese national hitting a group of 10 pupils in Saitama prefecture in May. Photo: Handout

Foreign nationals who have newly obtained Japanese licenses are not permitted to renew them if they no longer have a residence certificate.

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