Emergency Check: These documents are required at the car rental counter
At the counter, everything comes down to three things:
- your passport
- your original national driver's license
- your official Japanese driver's license translation (JAF translation or recognized alternative)
If one of the three is missing, the handover can be refused – even if you've been driving for years or have an international driver's license with you. In Japan, formally correct documents decide, not your subjective driving experience.
Important for Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Monaco
For these countries, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is often not sufficient in Japan. Here you need an official JAF translation of your driver's license – i.e., a Japanese driver's license translation in JAF format.
What exactly the JAF translation is
The JAF translation is a standardized Japanese driver's license translation of your national driver's license. It makes your data (name, date of birth, classes, validity) readable and verifiable for police, landlords, and insurance companies in Japan.
For driver's licenses from Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan: You may only drive if you carry the original driver's license and a Japanese translation from JAF or an equivalent body.
Who needs a Japanese driver's license translation – and when an IDP is sufficient
A JAF translation is particularly important in practice for:
- driver's licenses from Germany
- driver's licenses from Switzerland
- driver's licenses from France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan
For these countries: The international driver's license is not accepted in Japan in place of the JAF translation – it does not replace the Japanese driver's license translation. For other countries of origin, an IDP may be sufficient; here you should check the official regulations for your country.
Online instead of over the counter: "Translate Japanese driver's license" via web
Since 2025, going directly to a JAF office in Japan is no longer an option. JAF only accepts online applications. Therefore, an online solution for translating your Japanese driver's license is particularly suitable if you:
- want to fix your JAF translation in advance but only want to print it in Japan
- are arriving from Germany, Switzerland, France, or Belgium
- want a digital, plannable process without Japanese forms
How an online Japanese driver's license translation works
The typical process for a modern JAF translation service looks like this:
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Enter data and upload photos
You enter your driver's license data exactly as on the document and upload clear photos of the front and back. Make sure all four corners are visible. Be careful not to photograph with 0.5x zoom. -
Provide travel dates
You indicate when you arrive in Japan and when you pick up your vehicle. This allows processing (standard vs. express) to be aligned with your schedule. -
Apply for JAF translation
We, DriveDocs Japan, submit the application to the Japan Automobile Federation on your behalf. Your official Japanese driver's license translation will be created there. -
Receive print code or translation by mail
Upon completion, you will receive a code for printing at a convenience store (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart). Alternatively, we will send you your original translation by mail. -
For printing at 7-Eleven: Print at a convenience store in Japan
At a multifunction printer, you enter the code, pay a few yen (approx. 40 yen), and take your JAF Translation with you immediately. The entire process takes about 2 minutes. We will also send you printing instructions.
Standard vs. Express: Which processing time suits you?
Your schedule determines whether standard is sufficient or if you need express. A JAF Translation can often be applied for online around the clock, but processing and printing still require some lead time.
- Standard, if you still have 1–2 weeks until departure or vehicle pickup
- Express, if your flight is in a few days or you pick up the car immediately after landing
Find details here in our blog article.
Common mistakes when translating Japanese driver's licenses
Most problems at the counter arise from small details:
- reliance on an international driver's license, even though your country requires a JAF translation
- use of a translation that does not come from JAF or an accepted body
- blurred or cropped photos during application
- only an image of the translation on a smartphone, but no printed paper document – you absolutely need the original
Legal context: Why the JAF Translation is part of your driving authorization
For certain countries, Japanese road traffic law explicitly stipulates that the national driver's license may only be used for traffic in conjunction with a Japanese translation (e.g., from JAF).
In case of checks or accidents, you must be able to prove that you are allowed to drive. The Japanese driver's license translation is not an optional extra here, but part of your official document package.
Further details can be found here in the blog article.
Japanese driver's license translation in practice: The process in brief
- Check if your country requires a JAF translation (Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Monaco)
- Prepare driver's license photos and travel dates
- Apply for a driver's license translation for Japan
Do you want to convince yourself that DriveDocs Japan are the cheapest providers on the market? We have put together a price comparison for you here.
Treat your Japanese driver's license translation like your passport
The JAF Translation is not a cosmetic extra, but your ticket to a relaxed road trip in Japan. If you apply for it in good time, save it properly, and print it out before your first drive, the moment at the car rental counter will just be a formality – and you can concentrate on the road.
Translate your driver's license now
