Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Japan?Rule for all foreign drivers
You need a 1949 Geneva IDP. Drivers with licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan can instead carry an official Japanese translation from JAF. Either way you can drive for 1 year from entry.
- You need: A 1949 IDP, or an official Japanese translation from JAF for the countries listed
Source: Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rule for all foreign drivers
You need a 1949 Geneva IDP. Drivers with licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan can instead carry an official Japanese translation from JAF. Either way you can drive for 1 year from entry.
- You need: A 1949 IDP, or an official Japanese translation from JAF for the countries listed
Source: Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Japan
You need a 1949 Geneva IDP. Drivers with licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan can instead carry an official Japanese translation from JAF. Either way you can drive for 1 year from entry.
- You need: A 1949 IDP, or an official Japanese translation from JAF for the countries listed
- IDP format accepted: 1949
- How long a visitor can drive: 1 year from entry (or until the licence or IDP expires)
- Exception for licences from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland and Taiwan: Official Japanese translation from JAF instead of an IDP
Source: Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Which IDP version Japan accepts
Japan is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the 1968 Vienna Convention, so it recognises the 1949 IDP.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 7 August 1964) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Japan
Ask for the 1949 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1949 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
UK, US and Canadian licence holders need an IDP.
UK licence holdersIDP required. Version mentioned: 1949 IDP.You need a 1949 IDP plus your UK licence; usable for 1 year.Source: UK FCDO, updated 28 August 2026
US licence holdersIDP required.Get it before arriving.Source: US Department of State, updated 14 May 2025
Canadian licence holdersIDP required.Source: Government of Canada, updated 26 October 2026
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You’ll need the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) plus your UK driving licence and insurance documents with you in the car. … You can use an IDP for one year, regardless of its expiry date. … If you plan to stay longer than one year, see how to apply for a Japanese driving licence.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Japan, updated 28 August 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
You must obtain an IDP prior to arriving in Japan. … Foreign residents in Japan who use an unacceptable IDP (such as one issued while in Japan) may be fined or arrested.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Japan, updated 14 May 2025. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You must carry an international driving permit along with your Canadian licence, or a Japanese driver's licence.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Japan, updated 26 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Japan with a foreign licence?
You need a 1949 Geneva IDP. Drivers with licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan can instead carry an official Japanese translation from JAF. Either way you can drive for 1 year from entry. Source: Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).
How long can a visitor drive in Japan?
1 year from entry (or until the licence or IDP expires). Source: Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).
Can I drive in Japan with a 1968 IDP?
No. Japan is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so a 1968 IDP is not valid here. Japan recognises the 1949 IDP.
Can I drive in Japan with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Japan is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (acceded 7 August 1964), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Japan?
Yes. Version mentioned: 1949 IDP. You need a 1949 IDP plus your UK licence; usable for 1 year. Source: UK FCDO, updated 28 August 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Japan?
Yes. Get it before arriving. Source: US Department of State, updated 14 May 2025.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Japan?
Yes. Source: Government of Canada, updated 26 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Japan with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 28 August 2026): “You can use an IDP for one year, regardless of its expiry date. If you plan to stay longer than one year, see how to apply for a Japanese driving licence.”
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in South Korea?
- Do I need an IDP in Taiwan?
- Do I need an IDP in China?
- How to get citizenship of Japan
Sources and methodology
- Japan Automobile Federation (JAF): rules for foreign drivers in Japan (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Japan. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Japan. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Japan. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.