How to translate a driver's license in Okinawa (for a French national)?
I will go soon to Okinawa, Japan, and am planning to rent a car there.
I have a French driving license. Since France and Japan did not sign the same international conventions, an international driving license delivered in France cannot be used in Japan. What I need is an official translation of my license by the JAF (Japanese Automobile Federation).
My questions:
- The JAF website lists branches all over Japan, but not overseas. It also states that it accepts mail applications only from Japanese addresses. Is there any way I can apply from outside Japan (Japanese embassy,...) before my trip? I am currently in Busan, South Korea.
- If I have to do the translation in Okinawa, what is people's experience with the process? How fast and easily should I expect to get the translation?
Best Answer
Note: as requested in a comment, here is how I solved the problem in my particular case. It is a workaround that hopefully will help others.
France and South Korea have an agreement and a French driver license can be exchanged for a Korean driver license. All you need is to go to a regional driver's license examination office, do a medical checkup (eyesight) and (depending on the country where the driver license was issued) sit through a written examination. See the official website of the Korean road traffic authority for details (in particular, eligible countries, processing fee, and required documents). It took me about an hour to do the whole process. When leaving South Korea, you can return the Korean driver license in exchange of your original license (though, in my own case, when I went to get my French license back, the employee let me keep the Korean one too). I guess this is possible to do this in other countries.
Now, Japan and South follow the same international convention about international driver licenses, and an international driver license issued in South Korea is valid for one year in Japan. It can be issued in a few minutes in the regional driver's license examination office, or a police station with a traffic affairs service. It got mine in 15 minutes.
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Where can I translate my driving Licence in Japan?
Japanese translation of a foreign driver's license can be obtained at JAF Branch Offices issuing Japanese translation of driver's license located across the country. Applications via mail are also accepted when the applicant cannot visit the office.Can I drive in Japan with a French license?
Unfortunately, any international driving permit (IDP) issued by France is not valid to drive in Japan. But with a driver's license issued from France and a Japanese translation from JAF, or the Embassy of France in Japan it is valid to drive in Japan.Which countries driving license can be exchanged in Japan?
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Taiwan.Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Atypeek Dgn, Kindel Media, Kindel Media, Ethan Wilkinson