Translation
If you have a driver's license issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, or Monaco, you can drive a car in Japan in accordance with Japanese laws by carrying a “translation of your driver's license into Japanese” issued by the Association for the Support of Foreign Drivers in Japan (ALADDIN) or your embassy or consulate in Japan, along with your original driver's license.
Our association (ALADDIN) can help you with this translation. If you're planning to drive in Japan, feel free to ask us for help.
When driving in Japan using a translated document
- When driving a car or other vehicle in Japan, you must always carry a Japanese translation of your driver's license along with the original license.
- You can drive a car, etc. with this translation for one year from the date of entry into Japan. (If you leave Japan and re-enter, it will be valid for one year from the date of re-entry.)
However, if a person registered in the Basic Resident Register leaves Japan and returns within three months of departure, the conditions will differ. For details, please contact the license center that has jurisdiction over your area. - You can drive a car, etc. with this translation for one year from the date of entry into Japan. (If you leave Japan and re-enter, it will be valid for one year from the date of re-entry.)
However, if a person registered in the Basic Resident Register leaves Japan and returns within three months of departure, the conditions will differ. For details, please contact the license center that has jurisdiction over your area. - While driving, you may be asked by a police officer to show your passport in order to confirm the number of days that have passed since your date of entry.
- If one year has passed since the date of entry into Japan, you will not be able to drive a car or other vehicle in Japan even if you attach the same translation.
- If you are staying in Japan for a long period of time and plan to drive, we recommend that you obtain a Japanese driver's license.
- You can apply to switch to a Japanese driver's license using the Japanese translation mentioned above. For details, please contact the license center that oversees your area.
Flow from application to issuance
Please present your application form and driver's license at our association office.
[Application for Issuance of Foreign Driver's License Translation]
We have forms available at our association. You can fill them out on the spot when you visit us.
[Foreign driver's license]
We will return your original driver's license immediately after making a copy. If you are unable to bring your original driver's license, a copy is acceptable, but please prepare a clear, color copy of both the front and back of your driver's license so that the information on it can be read clearly.
Payment of issuance fees
The translation fee is 5,000 yen per letter.
Emergency issuance (within one hour) is available for an additional fee of 5,000 yen per document.
(Please note that emergency issuance may not be available during busy periods. We appreciate your understanding in such cases.)
You can choose to pay by cash or credit card.
Please note that we cannot accept cancellations after the application has been completed.
Translation creation
After confirming the application details and submitted documents, our association will prepare a Japanese translation.
Delivery of translated documents
Translations can generally be delivered by the next business day.
However, depending on how busy it is, it might take a bit longer.
If you are in a hurry, please feel free to consult us.
Important notes
- We do not translate international driver's licenses.
- If you renew your driver's license or there are changes to the information on it (such as a change of address), you will need to obtain a new translation.
- Depending on the driver's license, it may not be possible to issue a translated document using ALADDIN.
- Applications can only be accepted at the counter.
- There may be errors in the translated text we have provided, so please check the translated text immediately upon receipt. We may not be able to respond to any complaints made at a later date.
- Please note that ALADDIN cannot be held responsible for any compensation related to changes in itineraries in the event that the translated text cannot be obtained.
CONTACT
If you have any questions or concerns,
please feel free to contact us using the inquiry form.
