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INFORMATION FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE (運転免許についてのご案内(目次))

International Driving Permit

更新日:

2024年02月08日

You can apply for an International Driving Permit at the Driver’s License Center or at a police station.

Only those whose residential address on their driver’s license is in Kanagawa Prefecture can apply for the procedure. Those whose residential address on their driver’s license is not in Kanagawa Prefecture need to update the information on their driver’s license (For more details about the procedure to update the information on your driver’s license, please refer to this page:"Changing Information on Your Driver’s License").

* An International Driving Permit is valid for one year from the issuance date, and it cannot be renewed. In addition, if your Japanese driver’s license expires, your International Driving Permit will become invalid. Therefore, if there is a possibility that your Japanese driver’s license will expire while you are abroad, you need to renew your Japanese driver’s license before your renewal period by applying for the procedure called “special exception for renewal (特例の更新手続き: tokureino koushin tetsuduki)”. You can find the information on the procedure of the special exception for renewal on “Renewing Your Driver’s License”

* If you wish to apply for an International Driving Permit and the renewal of your Japanese driver’s license at the same time, please refer to the information on the renewal of a driver’s license as well:“Renewing Your Driver’s License”

Where and when to apply

Driver’s License Center (Futamatagawa):

  • Address: 1-1-1 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama City (a 20-minute walk from Soutetsu Line, Futamatagawa Station)
  • TEL: 045-365-3111 (Pilot Number)
  • Office hours:
    Mon-Fri    8:30 AM - 11:00 AM   1:00 PM – 3:30 PM:
    Sun   8:30 AM - 10:30 AM:
    Sunday application is available by appointment only.
    (The office is closed on Saturdays, National Holidays, and Year-End and New-Year Holiday)
    * If you need to update the information on your driver’s license (e.g., your address), you must file the application on a weekday.

Police Stations

* The Yokohama-suijo Police Station does not handle procedures related to driver’s licenses.

  • Office hours:
    Mon-Fri    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM   1:00 PM - 4:00 PM:
  • (The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, and Year-End and New-Year Holiday)

Requirements

  • An application form for an International Driving Permit (The form is available at the Driver’s License Center and a police station)
  • A valid Japanese driver’s license (Only those whose residential address on their driver’s license is in Kanagawa Prefecture can apply for the procedure).
    If you belong to the United States Forces Japan, please bring your US Forces ID with you.
  • One photograph taken within the last 6 months (4.5 in height × 3.5 cm in width). The photos should show a close up of your face with your head uncovered and with a solid color background. The photo you bring will be the photo on your driver’s license. Please bring a sharp photo.
    We only accept photographs printed on photographic paper. This is because we need to place an embossment on the photograph and paper other than photographic paper can get ripped.
  • A document that shows you are going abroad, such as a passport, receipt of passport application, seaman’s book, and e-Ticket. If you have an e-Ticket, please bring a physical copy of the e-Ticket. You cannot apply for the procedure without a physical copy.
  • Any previously issued international driving permit, if you have one. You must return the previously issued permit, or your application may not be accepted.

Application Fee

2,350 yen

Where to collect a newly issued permit

At the Driver’s License Center:

The permit will be issued on the same day that you apply for it.

At a police station:

You can collect the permit at the police station, or it may be sent by mail. *It takes about 2 weeks for the permit to be issued (The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, and Year-End and New-Years Holiday).

*If you wish your international driver’s permit to be sent by mail, it will cost 1,000 yen for shipping (Not all police stations provide a mailing service).

Procedure

  1. Filling out an application form
  2. Application
  3. Driver’s License Center:The permit will be issued on the same day that you apply for it.

    Police Station:The permit will be issued at a later date (It takes about 2 weeks for the permit to be issued).
    You can collect the permit at the police station (the office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, and Year-End and New-Years Holiday), or it may be sent by mail.

Note:

You must apply for an International Driving Permit in person. If you are already in a foreign country, your relatives might be accepted as your proxy. For more information, please contact the Drive’s License Center.

*As a general rule, the International Driving Permit is valid only in the countries (or territories) affiliated with the Convention on Road Traffic, September 19, 1949 (Geneva Convention).

* You can take a photo necessary for your application at one of the instant photo booths in the Driver's License Center (photo fee: 700 yen).

* Please use public transportation to get to the Driver’s License Center, because parking spaces are limited. Parking your car outside of the parking area is illegal.

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Driver's License Division, Driver's License Headquarters, Traffic Department,
Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters
Tel. 045-365-3111 (Pilot Number)