Blog → Getting a Japanese Driving Licence Translation
The JAF portal only opens from inside Japan. How to get the official translation as a PDF before you fly, so you can book the car you actually want.
Your translation, ready for your trip
For licences issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. Eligibility depends on the issuing country, not your nationality or current location.
The Easiest Way to Translate Your Driver's License for Japan
If you are a traveler from
France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan, you are probably aware that your standard International Driving Permit (IDP) is not valid in Japan. Instead, Japanese law dictates that you must carry an
official Japanese translation of your domestic license.
For years, the standard advice was to wait until you arrived in Japan and spend half a day finding and waiting at a JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) office. Today, there is a much better alternative.
The Traditional Way (JAF Office)
Historically, getting a translation meant:
1. Arriving in Japan (often tired from a long flight).
2. Navigating to a regional JAF office during strict weekday business hours.
3. Filling out paper forms in Japanese.
4. Waiting several hours (or even days during peak seasons) for the translation to be completed.
If you planned to pick up a rental car at the airport immediately after landing, this requirement would completely derail your itinerary.
The Modern Alternative: JDLTC Online Translation
The
Japan Driver's License Translation Center (JDLTC) provides a streamlined, 100% online process designed specifically for international travelers.
Why Choose Online Translation?
- Pre-Arrival Convenience: Apply from your home country weeks before your trip.
- PDF Before You Fly: You receive the official translation as a PDF by email, so you can book your rental car before your trip.
- Paper Original Delivered in Japan: You drive with JAF's paper original. We deliver it to your hotel in Japan, or contact your Japanese rental car agency in advance and deliver it directly to their office (+€10 / CHF 10 / NT$350), from the day after the translation is ready, so it can be waiting for you when you arrive.
- Multi-Lingual Support: The entire application process and customer support are available in English, French, and German.
How the Process Works
Getting your translation via JDLTC is incredibly simple:
1.
Submit Your Documents: Upload clear, high-quality photos or scans of the front and back of your driver's license through our
secure online form.
2.
Review & Processing: We check your documents and apply to JAF on your behalf; JAF issues the official translation.
3.
PDF, Then Paper in Japan: We email you the translation as a PDF so you can book your car, and deliver JAF's paper original, which you drive with, to your hotel or directly to your rental car agency in Japan (+€10 / CHF 10 / NT$350).
Don't Wait Until You Land
Driving in Japan is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the country. Ensure your paperwork is sorted long before you pack your bags.
👉 Apply for your translation online now🚐 Rent a campervan in Kyushu →
Your translation, ready for your trip
For licences issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. Eligibility depends on the issuing country, not your nationality or current location.
