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Tier-1 vs. Tier-2 Country: The Test Difference

Japan license conversion countries fall into two tiers that decide how much testing you face at the licensing center.1 Tier-1 license holders finish with documents and an eye test, while Tier-2 holders must also pass a knowledge test and a notoriously strict practical test. Which tier your issuing country sits in shapes your timeline by months.

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the National Police Agency site and your prefectural licensing center.

Overview​

外国免許切替 (gaimen kirikae, "foreign-license conversion") is legally an application for a Japanese license with partial exemption from the driving examination, not a fresh license application.2 The National Police Agency describes the mechanism plainly: your knowledge or skill is confirmed, and if no impediment to driving is found, part of the examination (the written test and the driving proficiency test) is waived.3

The confirmation tests have their own names. The 知識確認 (chishiki kakunin, "knowledge confirmation test") is the paper test, and the 技能確認 (gino kakunin, "skill confirmation test") is the practical test, and both differ in length, pass mark, and course tasks from the standard licensing tests.3 Tier placement decides whether you sit neither, one, or both.

This article covers the tier split only. It does not cover the full document checklist or the from-scratch licensing path.

Tier-1 Countries: Paper-Test-Only Conversion​

Tier-1 is the test-exempt tier. Holders of licenses from 29 recognized countries and regions skip both the knowledge confirmation and the skill confirmation and finish with document screening plus an aptitude test.1

One naming note matters. The working label for this tier is "paper-test-only," but the primary source exempts all 29 jurisdictions from both tests. The single genuinely paper-test-only case is the US state of Indiana, where the skill test is waived but the knowledge test still applies.1

Who Counts as Tier-1​

The exempt roster rests on bilateral license-recognition agreements, so it changes when agreements change (as of 2026-09-07; confirm current figures with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department).1 The 29 jurisdictions are Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Austria, the Netherlands, Canada, South Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Taiwan, plus 7 US states.1

US treatment is state by state, not country-wide. Fully exempt states are Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Washington (as of 2026-09-07).1

Indiana is the partial case: skill confirmation waived, knowledge confirmation still required (as of 2026-09-07).1 Every other US state license requires both tests.

Secondary sources disagree on the US count, with some listing 4 or 5 states instead of 7. The table below follows the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department list with its update date, and applicants confirm their own state's status with their prefectural center before applying.

The Tier-1 Country Table (Date-Stamped)​

The table below carries the currency signal for every row. All Tier-1 placements are current as of the MPD page update date given in the As of column; confirm current placement with your prefectural licensing center, since the roster shifts with bilateral agreements.1

Country / RegionTest treatmentAs ofNotes
IcelandExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
IrelandExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
United KingdomExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Listed as イギリス
ItalyExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
AustraliaExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
AustriaExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
NetherlandsExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
CanadaExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
South KoreaExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Listed as 韓国
GreeceExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
SwitzerlandExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
SwedenExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
SpainExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
SloveniaExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
Czech RepublicExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Listed as チェコ
DenmarkExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
GermanyExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
New ZealandExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
NorwayExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
HungaryExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
FinlandExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
FranceExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
BelgiumExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
PolandExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
PortugalExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
MonacoExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
LuxembourgExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
TaiwanExempt knowledge + skill12026-09-071Documents + aptitude only
US: Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland, WashingtonExempt knowledge + skill, these states only12026-09-071State of issue decides, not nationality
US: IndianaSkill exempt; knowledge still required12026-09-071The sole paper-test-only case

Exempt holders still need the full document set. Bring the foreign license itself (an international permit alone is not accepted), an official Japanese translation, passports proving the stay rule, the 住民票 (juminhyo, "certificate of residence"), and a photo.3 Every applicant also takes the aptitude screening for vision and color distinction.4

In Tokyo, 29-jurisdiction holders may additionally use the Koto test center, while Fuchu and Samezu handle licenses from anywhere.2

Tier-2 Countries: Paper Test Plus Practical Test​

Tier-2 is everyone else. Licenses from Brazil, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, India, most other countries, and all non-listed US states require both the knowledge confirmation and the skill confirmation.12

The Tier-2 Test Path​

Eligibility comes first and applies to both tiers. Your foreign license must be valid, you must prove a cumulative 3+ months stay in the issuing country after the license grant with passports carrying entry and exit stamps, and you apply in person at the 運転免許試験場 (unten menkyo shikenjo, "prefectural licensing center") holding jurisdiction over your registered address.3

The knowledge confirmation is now a 50-question test with 45 correct required to pass (as of 2026-04-24; confirm current figures with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department).5 Illustration questions were abolished in the same reform, and the test runs once in the afternoon (as of 2026-04-24).5 Before October 2025 it was 10 questions with 7 correct to pass (as of 2026-05-16).4

The skill confirmation runs on a closed course at the licensing center, not on public roads. Since the reform it includes added pedestrian-crossing passage tasks with stricter assessment criteria (as of 2026-04-24).5 Tokyo notes the skill test is by appointment and cannot be taken on the reception day, so each attempt costs a booking cycle.2

Counter fees are prefectural. In Tokyo the ordinary-car application is ¥2,500 and license issuance is ¥2,350 (as of 2026-09-07).1 The JAF translation, which every applicant needs, takes 2 to 3 business days for Swiss, German, French, Belgian, Monaco, and Taiwanese licenses and 5 to 10 business days for everywhere else (as of 2026; confirm current turnaround with JAF).6

Confirm the current translation fee with JAF before budgeting, since secondary sources report conflicting figures.

Why Tier-2 Test Takers Fail​

The practical test punishes habits that pass as normal driving elsewhere. Examiners score Japanese observation routines: exaggerated head turns at intersections and blind spots, because a mirror glance alone does not count, plus mirror checks at precise moments and a full stop with no rolling at every stop sign.4 Signals must go on at least 30 meters before a turn and at least 3 seconds before a lane change (practitioner sources describe these thresholds; figures are inconsistently reported across guides).4

Two course maneuvers decide many runs. The S-curve is a winding path between curbs testing smooth steering, and the crank is a set of sharp right-angle turns through a narrow corridor, and curb contact in either draws heavy deductions or immediate failure.4 Lane positioning gets heavy scrutiny too: move close to the left curb for left turns and toward the center line for right turns.4

The evaluation starts before the engine. Walk around the vehicle, check underneath for obstructions, adjust mirrors physically once inside, and visually confirm behind the car before engaging gear, since skipping any step costs points immediately.4 Practitioner sources describe low first-time pass rates after the October 2025 tightening, but figures are inconsistently reported, so treat any exact percentage as illustrative rather than official.4

Drive closed-course routines, not home-country habits

Confident experienced drivers fail by driving well but generically. The test scores specific Japanese confirmation gestures, stopping points, and lane positions, so rehearse the course routines rather than relying on years behind the wheel.24

Passing Strategy: Pre-Test Lessons on the Test Route​

Book 1 to 2 private lessons at a Japanese driving school on a gaimen-kirikae-style closed course before the exam. This is the single preparation step practitioner guides and prefectural police converge on: Osaka points applicants to open-course sessions at the Kadoma test center and designated driving schools, asking them to study the rules and practice beforehand to pass first time.2

A lesson simulates the exact environment the examiner scores. Instructors drill the confirmation gestures, signal timing, S-curve and crank lines, and stopping points that cost points when skipped.4

One Tokyo school charges around ¥14,500 for a 100-minute session (as of 2026-05-16; confirm current figures with the school), presented here as a single-school example rather than a national band.4 The Chiba prefectural police are reported to recommend driving-school practice for first-time passes, though that recommendation reaches us secondhand through a practitioner guide.4

Time the lessons close to the test date. Practical slots in Tokyo run about 3 months out with booking opening roughly 60 days ahead (practitioner-reported waits from late 2025), so schedule lessons after securing the appointment and book the next slot immediately after any failure.4

Take lessons after booking, close to test day

Reserve the test slot first, then place 1 to 2 lessons in the final days before it. Course routines fade fast, and a lesson taken weeks early helps less than one taken while the appointment is fixed.24

Good to know​

The Tier List Changes With Bilateral Agreements​

The 29-jurisdiction roster moves when recognition agreements change; US state entries and microstates such as Monaco reflect bilateral arrangements rather than a fixed universal list.17 Never rely on a saved copy of the list. Check the current country table at your prefectural licensing center before gathering documents, since applying under the wrong tier assumption wastes a booking cycle.1

The October 2025 Reform Raised the Bar​

From October 1, 2025 the knowledge check grew from 10 questions to 50 with 45 to pass, the skill check gained pedestrian-crossing tasks with stricter criteria, and juminhyo-based residency proof became the rule, ending applications from short-stay visitors without registration (as of 2026-04-24).5 Study guides written before that date describe a far easier test. Discard any advice that still quotes the 10-question format.54

Your Licensing Center Sets Appointments and Languages​

Booking mechanics differ by prefecture: Tokyo takes web bookings while Osaka takes telephone-only bookings per practitioner reporting, and knowledge-check languages vary by center.12 Confirm place, hours, fees, and documents with the center holding jurisdiction over your address, since you cannot choose a less crowded prefecture.2 Translation, photos, juminhyo issuance, transport, lessons, and repeat skill tests can exceed the counter fees, so budget beyond the application and issuance amounts.4

See also​

References​

Footnotes​

  1. Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. "外国で取得した運転免許証を日本の運転免許証に切り替えるには" (updated 2026-09-07). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokugai05.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29 ↩30 ↩31 ↩32 ↩33 ↩34 ↩35 ↩36 ↩37 ↩38 ↩39 ↩40 ↩41 ↩42 ↩43 ↩44 ↩45 ↩46 ↩47 ↩48 ↩49 ↩50 ↩51 ↩52 ↩53 ↩54 ↩55 ↩56 ↩57 ↩58 ↩59 ↩60 ↩61 ↩62 ↩63 ↩64 ↩65 ↩66 ↩67 ↩68 ↩69 ↩70 ↩71 ↩72 ↩73

  2. gaimenkirikae.com. "Gaimen Kirikae: Converting a Foreign License in Japan" (content last verified 2026-08-17; cites NPA, Tokyo MPD, Osaka and Saitama prefectural police page by page). https://gaimenkirikae.com/en/guide/what-is-gaimen-kirikae/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  3. National Police Agency. "For Holders of Foreign Driver's Licenses" (English PDF, states as of 2026-04-01). https://www.npa.go.jp/english/bureau/traffic/r8_english.pdf.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. LegalClarity Team. "Foreign Driver's License to Japanese License: Gaimen Kirikae" (published 2026-05-16). https://legalclarity.org/foreign-drivers-license-to-japanese-license-gaimen-kirikae ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  5. Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. "令和7年10月1日施行・改正道路交通法施行規則について" (updated 2026-04-24). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/oshirase/low.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  6. Japan Automobile Federation. "Driving in Japan with a foreign driver's license" (translation categories and turnaround times). https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/drive-in-japan/switch-to-japanese-license ↩

  7. MenkyoQuest. "Which Countries Skip the Test? 29 Exempt Countries for License Conversion" (last updated 2026-07-01). https://www.menkyoquest.com/en/license-conversion/exempted-countries ↩