International Driving PermitJapan
Traffic rules
Japan
1. International Driving Permit
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a document that translates the information on a national driving licence into a standardised format for use abroad. It can help authorities understand a foreign licence when driving in another country, but it does not replace the original driving licence. Drivers normally need to carry both documents together. Whether an IDP is required depends on the countries that issued the licence and where the person intends to drive, so requirements should be checked before travelling.
Which International Driving Permit convention is recognised in Japan?
Japan recognises qualifying permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. A 1968 Vienna Convention permit alone is not an alternative; specific foreign licences may instead be accepted with authorised Japanese translations.
🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • e-Gov — current enforced Road Traffic Act, revision metadata and full text
🔗 npa.go.jp • NPA — 2026 foreign driving licence and IDP guidance
