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Taiwanese license in Japan (gaimen kirikae): no written test

Written test: no. Practical driving test: no. A Taiwanese license is on the list of 29 countries and regions (the page of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), updated September 7, 2026) whose license holders skip both tests. You still need your documents and a Japanese translation of the license, and the license center decides in your case. Checked October 25, 2026.

Do you need the tests?

CheckTaiwanese license
Written knowledge test (50 true/false statements, 30 minutes, pass at 45)Not required
Practical driving testNot required

What the police pages say: Knowledge check and skill check both exempt (29 countries/regions).

Sources: MPD: how to convert a foreign license (page) (page date: updated September 7, 2026 (page states the date); checked October 25, 2026); Kanagawa Police: gaimen kirikae (page date: updated February 6, 2026; checked October 25, 2026); Osaka Police: gaimen kirikae (page date: no update date found in page text; checked October 25, 2026)

Translating your license into Japanese

Every applicant, including those from exempt countries, submits a Japanese translation of the license. Who may make it, for Taiwan:

  • Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (for Taiwanese licenses)
  • JAF
  • ZIPLUS (Taiwan listed)
  • ALADDIN (Taiwan listed)

Per MPD, the Japanese translation (submitted) must be made by: the embassy of the issuing country in Japan (Taiwan: Taiwan-Japan Relations Association), JAF, ADAC (German licenses), ZIPLUS (listed countries only) or ALADDIN (listed countries only). All applicants, including exempt countries, need it. Taiwan is also one of the six designated places where a translated license lets you drive in Japan for up to one year from entry (NPA/JAF); that is separate from conversion.

Sources: MPD: hitsuyo shorui (kyotsu) (JA PDF, incl. translators list) (page date: file dated December 18, 2025 (PDF metadata; no date printed); checked October 25, 2026); NPA: foreign license holders (page date: no date shown on page; checked October 25, 2026); JAF: guide to Japanese translation (PDF) (page date: 2026.7; checked October 25, 2026)

Documents for Taiwanese licenses

Tokyo MPD list of documents by country (Reiwa 8 August / 08/2026): If the passport lacks immigration stamps from Taiwan: Certificate of Entry and Exit Dates issued by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan.

The license center that handles your application decides which documents it needs. We do not check, prepare or submit documents for you.

Sources: MPD: kokubetsu hitsuyo shorui ichiran (JA PDF) (page date: Reiwa 8 (2026) August (list header); checked October 25, 2026); MPD: List of Required Documents by Country (EN PDF) (page date: 08/2026 (list header); PDF created September 1, 2026; checked October 25, 2026)

Next steps

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Sources

Last checked: . Rules and procedures can change; the license center that handles your application decides.