Home ／ Licence ／ Certified Japanese translation

How to Get a Certified Japanese Translation

This page is for holders of a Swiss, German, French, Belgian, Monegasque or Taiwanese driving licence. Please arrange this in advance so you're not told "you can't drive" on the day.

Who

Who needs this

A certified Japanese translation is only required if your driving licence was issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. If your licence was issued elsewhere, this page does not apply to you. That does not mean every licence can be used with an International Driving Permit (IDP): only an IDP issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention is valid in Japan, and licences from some countries and regions cannot be used to drive here even with an IDP. If you hold an original Japanese driving licence, you can drive on that. You can check which applies to you with our quick check.

Before you start

The most important thing

Two points you need to know so there's no trouble at check-in.

Only the original paper document is valid

A copy, a PDF, or a photo on your phone is not enough to drive on the day. If you don't have the original, we will have to turn you away at check-in.

The translation alone is not enough

When you drive, you must also bring the original driving licence from your home country and your passport. The translation by itself will not be accepted at check-in.

After you arrive

A. Getting it after you arrive in Japan

There are two ways to apply from inside Japan. Only one of them, ALADDIN, has a counter you can walk into.

The Japan Visitor Driver Support Association (ALADDIN): The only way to receive it in person over the counter. Covers all six countries and regions — Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan. 5,000 yen per copy. In-person application only. Normally issued by the next business day, and emergency issuance within 1 hour is available on request.
Address: 4F Shiba Kobayashi Bldg., 1-4-1 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo（東京都港区芝1丁目4番1号芝コバヤシビル4階）
Hours: Weekdays 10:00–15:00 (closed weekends, public holidays, New Year and certain other days)
Phone: 03-6436-7921
JAF (Japan Automobile Federation): Online application only (JAF stopped accepting in-person and postal applications on 31 March 2025). You can only apply from inside Japan. For Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan, it takes an average of 2–3 business days, and longer during busy periods. The fee is 6,000 yen (consumption-tax exempt). The finished translation is printed out at a convenience store via the ネットプリント (Net Print) service.
*Not fast enough if you want to drive on the day you land.

Before you travel

B. Getting it before you travel to Japan

If you'd rather have it ready before you travel, these are your options.

The body that issued your licence, or your country's embassy/consulate in Japan: You can have it prepared by the authority in your home country that issued your licence, or by your country's embassy or consulate in Japan.
For German licence holders (ADAC): Issued by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club, the German Automobile Club). There is no office in Japan, so you'll need to obtain it in Germany before you travel.
For Taiwanese licence holders: Issued by the Taipei-Japan Relations Association, or by Zipplus Inc.
Asking someone to apply for you: A friend or family member living in Japan can submit the JAF online application on your behalf.

Switzerland / Germany / France / Belgium / Monaco / Taiwan

Your International Driving Permit is not valid here

Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan — the six countries and regions this page is for — have no IDP alternative.

Being a 1949 Geneva Convention country is not enough

Some of these six also signed the 1949 Geneva Convention, but the International Driving Permit they actually issue is printed in the 1968 Vienna Convention format, and Japan only accepts the 1949 format. So even if you already have an IDP from home, it cannot be used here — the certified Japanese translation described above is the only valid route for these six.

If you're short on time

If you won't make it in time

If your documents won't be ready by your booking date, please contact us about cancelling or changing your date. Cancellations are free up to 7 days before departure, and from 6 days before departure a 100% cancellation fee applies.