IDP Holders - Exempt from Tests
Information for those who currently drive with a valid IDP
The expiry date of your IDP should be counted from the date you landed in Japan, or the issue date of your IDP, whichever the earlier.
Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center follows a national regulation regarding foreign driver's license conversion. Applicants are not allowed to begin the process until 1.5 months before their IDP expiration date. This is a national law for foreign driver's license conversion and is not within the power of OIST to bypass these procedures.
In addition, Japanese driver's license will not be issued until 2 working days before the expiry date of your IDP even if all the required processes have been completed before that.
Important
- If you plan to convert your driver's license to Japanese, come to the Resource Center as soon as possible to start preparing for the conversion process.
- You must make an appointment with Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center before going there. Please come to the Resource Center to make an appointment.
- You are required to take someone who can speak Japanese to the Driver's License Center with you for document screening process.
- The Resource Center provides a bus tour to go to the Driver's License Center with a translator on Wednesdays and Fridays. If you want to join the bus tour to the Driver's License Center, check the details here
Required documents for document screening
Click here to check required documents
Resource Center Driver's License Center Tour
We drive OISTers to the Driver's License Center on Wednesdays and Fridays!
Click here for more information on the Driver's License Center Tour.
Conversion fees * For those who are exempt from taking knowledge and practical driving tests
Click here to see the fees
Driver's License Center contact
Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver’s License Center
Address: 3-22 Toyosaki, Tomishiro-city, Okinawa
Tel. 098-851-1000 (ext. 553) Japanese only
Access info