The conversion in outline
Conversion is a sequence of checks rather than a single test. Each stage has its own vocabulary, and knowing where you are in the sequence makes the instructions much easier to follow.
The broader licence process and road signs are covered in our guide to driving in Japan; this guide focuses on the conversion itself.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 外国免許切替 | gaikoku menkyo kirikae | Foreign licence conversion |
| 運転免許センター | unten menkyo sentā | Driving licence centre |
| 予約 | yoyaku | Appointment |
- Book an appointment with the licence centre if it requires one.
- Submit your documents and answer questions about your licence.
- Take the eyesight check.
- Take the knowledge check and practical check if they apply to you.
- Receive your Japanese licence, often on a later visit or the same day depending on the centre.
Booking and the first phone call
Many centres require an appointment, often by phone. The call is short, but you will need to say what you want and understand the date and the document list.
Ask them to repeat dates and times, and read them back to confirm.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 外国免許の切り替えの予約をしたいです。 | Gaikoku menkyo no kirikae no yoyaku o shitai desu. | I would like to book a foreign licence conversion. |
| 必要な書類を教えてください。 | Hitsuyō na shorui o oshiete kudasai. | Please tell me what documents I need. |
| 何時までに行けばいいですか。 | Nanji made ni ikeba ii desu ka. | By what time should I arrive? |
| どの国の免許ですか。 | Dono kuni no menkyo desu ka. | Which country is the licence from? |
| では、十日の午前九時ですね。 | De wa, tōka no gozen kuji desu ne. | So that is 9 a.m. on the tenth, right? |
The documents
The document check is where most delays happen. The list varies by centre, but the items below are commonly involved. Bring originals and ask whether copies are needed.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 翻訳文 | hon'yakubun | Translation |
| 住民票 | jūminhyō | Residence certificate |
| 証明写真 | shōmei shashin | ID photo |
| 古いパスポートも持ってきました。 | Furui pasupōto mo motte kimashita. | I brought my old passport too. |
| Document | Why it is checked |
|---|---|
| Your foreign licence | It is the licence being converted |
| An approved translation | It shows the licence details in Japanese |
| Passport, including old passports | It shows your stay in the issuing country |
| Residence certificate or residence card | It shows your address in Japan |
| Photo | It is used for the new licence and must meet the stated size |
The interview about your licence
Staff ask how you obtained your licence and how long you lived in that country. The questions are factual, and the best answers are short and consistent with your documents.
If you do not remember an exact date, say roughly when and point to the document that shows it.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いつ免許を取りましたか。 | Itsu menkyo o torimashita ka. | When did you get your licence? |
| 五年前に取りました。 | Gonen mae ni torimashita. | I got it five years ago. |
| その国に何か月住んでいましたか。 | Sono kuni ni nankagetsu sunde imashita ka. | How many months did you live in that country? |
| 教習所に通いましたか。 | Kyōshūjo ni kayoimashita ka. | Did you attend a driving school? |
| はっきり覚えていませんが、パスポートに書いてあります。 | Hakkiri oboete imasen ga, pasupōto ni kaite arimasu. | I do not remember exactly, but it is in my passport. |
Eyesight and knowledge checks
The eyesight check follows the same pattern as at an optician: cover one eye and say which way a gap in a ring is facing. The knowledge check, where it applies, is usually a short set of true-or-false questions about traffic rules.
Some centres offer the knowledge check in several languages, but the instructions around it are often in Japanese.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 適性検査 | tekisei kensa | Aptitude check, including eyesight |
| 知識確認 | chishiki kakunin | Knowledge check |
| 右です。 | Migi desu. | Right. (the direction of the gap) |
| ○×問題 | maru batsu mondai | True-or-false questions |
| 英語の問題はありますか。 | Eigo no mondai wa arimasu ka. | Is there a version in English? |
The practical driving check
If you take a driving check, it runs on a test course and the examiner gives instructions in Japanese. The set of instructions is small, and the checks focus on safety habits such as full stops and looking before turning.
Practise hearing each instruction and acting on it without translating. If you miss one, it is fine to ask the examiner to repeat.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 技能確認 | ginō kakunin | Practical driving check |
| 次の交差点を右に曲がってください。 | Tsugi no kōsaten o migi ni magatte kudasai. | Turn right at the next intersection. |
| 一時停止 | ichiji teishi | Stop sign, full stop |
| 安全確認 | anzen kakunin | Safety check, looking around |
| 進路変更 | shinro henkō | Changing lanes |
| 踏切 | fumikiri | Level crossing |
| すみません、もう一度お願いします。 | Sumimasen, mō ichido onegai shimasu. | Sorry, could you say that again? |
Preparing for the day
The conversion rewards preparation. Confirm the requirements for your licence's country, collect the documents in advance, and rehearse the interview answers so you can give them calmly.
Listening to instructions under pressure is the hardest part for many people. Asking your AI Sensei in Unihongo to give driving instructions at natural speed, and responding aloud each time, builds that reflex, and the pronunciation lab's pitch accent and long vowel drills help with words like kōsaten.
- Confirm whether your country is exempt from any checks.
- Book early; appointment slots can fill up.
- Bring every passport that covers your stay abroad.
- Write short answers to the interview questions.