Translation Holders - Exempt from Tests

Information for those who drive with an official translation of a foreign license

The expiry date of the translation of your driver's license is valid for one year from your arrival in Japan.

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 translation loses its validity. This is a national law for foreign driver's license conversion and is not within the power of OIST to bypass these procedures.

Japanese driver's license will not be issued until 2 working days before the translation loses its validity even if all the required processes have been completed before that.

Important

  • If you currently drive with an official translation of your driver's license, a Japanese driver's license will be issued 2 working days before your translation becomes invalid even if all the required process has been completed before that.
  • 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. 
  • 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 to see the details of the Driver's License Center Tour that will take you to the Driver's License Center.

 

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