Converting a Korean Driver's License to a Japanese One — Guide to the Foreign License Conversion (外免切替) Procedure

What is gaimen kirikae (外免切替)

The system by which a person holding a valid driver's license from Korea can convert it to a Japanese license with part of the tests waived is called 外免切替 (gaimen kirikae, foreign license conversion). An international driving permit has a short validity period and is only a stopgap for long-term residents — if you are going to keep living in Japan, conversion is ultimately the standard route.

⚠️ This article is based on Korean licenses. The conversion requirements, whether tests are waived, and which bodies' translations are accepted all differ by the country that issued the license. For licenses from other countries, check that country's criteria separately.

Basic requirements for conversion

• Holding a valid Korean license (an expired/invalidated license is not accepted)
• Proof that you stayed in the issuing country (Korea) for a cumulative total of 3 months or more after obtaining the license — verified with passport entry/exit records, etc.
• Submission of your 住民票 (juminhyo, residence record) — under the October 2025 revision, the residence record became mandatory at application, so you cannot convert on a short-term stay status such as tourism (confirmed 2026-07)

Required documents

• The original Korean driver's license
• A translation of the license — not just any translation will do; only translations issued by recognized bodies are valid. For Korean licenses, translations issued by the Korean Embassy/Consulates in Japan or by JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) are accepted
• Passport (for verifying your stay history — bring old passports too if they contain records)
• Residence card (在留カード) and residence record (住民票)
• ID photos (check the licensing center's guidance for the specifications)
• Fees

Flow of the procedure

1. Book an appointment at the driver's license center with jurisdiction over your area — in some regions bookings are backed up by weeks to months, making this effectively the biggest bottleneck. If you have a move or renewal coming up, secure the booking first
2. Document screening — verification of your stay history and translation
3. Aptitude test — eyesight, etc.
4. Waiver of the knowledge and skill tests — Korea is one of the countries Japan has designated as exempt (指定国), so both the written (knowledge confirmation) and driving (skill confirmation) tests are waived. You only need to pass the document screening and the aptitude test (confirmed 2026-07). * For people from non-designated countries, the October 2025 revision made the knowledge confirmation 50 questions with a 90%-or-higher pass mark and toughened the skill test — this does not apply to holders of Korean licenses
5. If you pass, the Japanese license is issued

Practical tips

• Because of booking congestion, "documents all ready but waiting several months" is common — leave slack in your schedule
• Prepare the translation before visiting the licensing center. Counting on same-day issuance at a JAF counter can throw off your plans
• Your Korean license is generally not confiscated after conversion, but follow the licensing center's guidance on handling
• Getting the license also has the real benefit of adding one more form of ID — in Japan, the driver's license is the most widely used form of identification

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can't I just keep driving on an international driving permit?

An international permit has a limited validity period, and there are restrictions on continued use by long-term residents with an address in Japan. For long-term stays, conversion is the safe option.

Q. Is it okay if I don't speak Japanese?

With a Korean license, the written and driving tests are waived, so there is no test-language burden — but document submission and counter guidance are in Japanese by default. If you are unsure, consider bringing an interpreter.

Q. My Korean license is about to expire — can I still convert?

The license must be valid at the time of conversion. If expiry is close, it is safer to first look into renewing it in Korea (such as the overseas-resident renewal system).

This article is a general guide to the procedure; the requirements, documents, and whether tests are waived differ by the issuing country of the license, the licensing center with jurisdiction, and the timing. Always check the latest official guidance from your local driver's license center.