Do I need the written test for a license conversion in Japan?

It depends on where your license was issued. A license from one of 29 countries and regions on the exemption list (for the United States, only 7 states) skips both the written knowledge test and the practical driving test. A license from the US state of Indiana skips only the practical test: you take the written test. A license from anywhere else means both tests: the 50-statement written test (pass at 45) and then the practical test. List as published on the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department page (updated September 7, 2026; checked October 23, 2026).

The list (works without JavaScript)

Exempt from both tests

Issued inWritten testPractical test
AustraliaNot requiredNot required
AustriaNot requiredNot required
BelgiumNot requiredNot required
CanadaNot requiredNot required
Czech RepublicNot requiredNot required
DenmarkNot requiredNot required
FinlandNot requiredNot required
FranceNot requiredNot required
GermanyNot requiredNot required
GreeceNot requiredNot required
HungaryNot requiredNot required
IcelandNot requiredNot required
IrelandNot requiredNot required
ItalyNot requiredNot required
LuxembourgNot requiredNot required
MonacoNot requiredNot required
NetherlandsNot requiredNot required
New ZealandNot requiredNot required
NorwayNot requiredNot required
PolandNot requiredNot required
PortugalNot requiredNot required
SloveniaNot requiredNot required
South KoreaNot requiredNot required
SpainNot requiredNot required
SwedenNot requiredNot required
SwitzerlandNot requiredNot required
TaiwanNot requiredNot required
United KingdomNot requiredNot required
United States: ColoradoNot requiredNot required
United States: HawaiiNot requiredNot required
United States: MarylandNot requiredNot required
United States: OhioNot requiredNot required
United States: OregonNot requiredNot required
United States: VirginiaNot requiredNot required
United States: Washington (state)Not requiredNot required

Written test required, practical test exempt

Issued inWritten testPractical test
United States: IndianaRequiredNot required

Everyone else

A license issued anywhere not listed above (including the other US states and Washington, D.C.) means both tests: first the written knowledge test (50 true/false statements, 30 minutes, pass at 45), then, only after passing it, the practical driving test.

Things to know

  • The count of 29 treats the United States as one entry. The 28 others are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.
  • The list can change. The National Police Agency does not publish its own list (it is sent to the police separately), and we found no country added in 2025–2026. Prefectural pages such as Fukuoka Prefectural Police show the same list.
  • The license center that handles your application decides. Being exempt from the tests does not change the other conditions, for example the residence certificate (住民票) required since October 1, 2025, and the rule that you must have stayed in the issuing country for at least 3 months after getting the license (National Police Agency).
  • We sell practice material only. We cannot check your documents, apply or book a test for you.
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Last checked: . Rules and procedures can change; the license center that handles your application decides.

Sources