Home › Countries › Thailand

Thai license in Japan (gaimen kirikae): written test and documents

Written test: yes. Practical driving test: yes. A Thai license is not on the exemption list on the page of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), updated September 7, 2026, so converting it in Japan means the written knowledge test (50 true/false statements, 30 minutes, pass at 45) and then the practical driving test. Checked October 25, 2026.

Do you need the tests?

CheckThai license
Written knowledge test (50 true/false statements, 30 minutes, pass at 45)Required
Practical driving testRequired

What the police pages say: Not on the exempt list: knowledge check (50 true/false questions) and skill check both required. Skill check must be passed while the foreign license is valid (Kanagawa, Osaka).

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 Thailand:

  • Embassy of the issuing country in Japan
  • JAF

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. Thailand is NOT in the MPD ZIPLUS or ALADDIN lists; official routes shown are the Thai embassy or JAF. JAF PDF 2026.7 names Thailand (with Korea, Myanmar, etc.) as needing an image of the residence card or juminhyo and ~2-3 weeks to issue; the JAF site FAQ also names Thailand for the 2-3 weeks. The JAF site document list does not name Thailand. This indicates JAF handles Thai licenses.

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); JAF: guide to Japanese translation (PDF) (page date: 2026.7; checked October 25, 2026); JAF: translation application site guide (page date: mentions fee change of July 1, 2026; checked October 25, 2026)

Documents for Thai licenses

Tokyo MPD list of documents by country (Reiwa 8 August / 08/2026): Driving License Certificate obtained from the issuing authority.

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

Practice the written test (free)

We are an independent study tool. We do not help with applications, bookings or documents.

Other countries

All countries · United States · Philippines · Vietnam · Nepal · India · China · Brazil · Indonesia · Sri Lanka · Myanmar · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · South Korea · Taiwan

Sources

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