Kumamoto — foreign license conversion

Licence centre

• 熊本県運転免許センター Kumamoto Driver License Center

  Phone: 096-233-0116 · Kumamoto

  License test section. Have your foreign license and passport ready when calling. If you fail the knowledge/skills check, book again to retake.

Document checklist

• Valid original foreign license
• Copy of front/back of the license
• Certified Japanese translation of the license
• Current and old passports if any
• Recent 住民票 (no My Number, with nationality/residence)
• Residence Card
• Photo 3×2.4 cm taken within 6 months
• Blue or black pen
• Fees and extra documents depending on issuing country
• 住民票 issued within 6 months (needed even if you already hold a valid Japanese license)
• 2 photos per license type (can be taken at the center for a fee)
• Fees are cash only
• Any documents named when you booked (certificates, proof of your stay abroad)
• Your Japanese license and international driving permit, if you have them
• Glasses if you need them; your own interpreter if needed
• Driving test: no sandals; long sleeves and long trousers for motorcycle tests

Exam languages

• Arabic
• English
• Spanish
• Persian
• Korean
• Chinese
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Thai
• Filipino
• Vietnamese
• Indonesian
• Khmer
• Nepali
• Burmese
• Mongolian
• Ukrainian
• Sinhala
• Urdu
• Hindi

Not available (examples)

• French

Official source

• Official page
• Exam languages

Last checked: 2026-10

Procedures, fees, booking and test languages can change. Always confirm with the official page or the licence centre before you go.

All 47 prefectures

• Foreign licence conversion by prefecture