Required Documents for Driving in Japan

Every person who will drive the rental vehicle must present valid original documents that legally authorize them to drive in Japan.

Please check your documents before travelling. A driving licence that is valid in your home country is not automatically valid in Japan. If the required documents are missing, expired or not accepted under Japanese law, we cannot release the vehicle and the reservation may be treated according to the applicable cancellation policy.

Required

Passport

Please present your original passport. We may need to confirm your identity and your date of entry into Japan.

Photographs, screenshots and photocopies are not accepted as substitutes for the original document.

Required

Original Domestic Driving Licence

You must bring your original, valid driving licence issued by your country or region.

An International Driving Permit does not replace your domestic driving licence. In most cases, both documents must be presented together.

International Driving Permit — IDP

Japan accepts only International Driving Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.

The document is commonly called an International Driving Licence, or IDL, but its official name is an International Driving Permit (IDP).

To be accepted in Japan, your IDP must:

Be issued by an authorized organization in a country or region that is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Clearly state that it was issued under the Convention on Road Traffic of 19 September 1949.
Be an original physical document, not a digital permit, photograph, screenshot or photocopy.
Be valid on the date you drive the rental vehicle.
Include the correct vehicle category required for the rental vehicle.
Be presented together with your original, valid domestic driving licence.

Vienna Convention permits are not valid in Japan. International permits issued only under the 1968 Vienna Convention cannot be used to drive in Japan.

An IDP is generally valid for no more than one year from its date of issue. However, your legal driving period in Japan is limited to the shorter of: the IDP validity period or the period permitted under Japanese law after your entry into Japan.

Special entry and re-entry rules may apply to residents of Japan. Leaving Japan briefly does not necessarily restart the one-year driving period.

Licences Requiring an Official Japanese Translation

Holders of driving licences issued by the following countries or region may drive in Japan using their original licence together with an authorized Japanese translation:

Belgium
France
Germany
Monaco
Switzerland
Taiwan

The translation must be issued by an organization legally authorized under Japanese law. An unofficial translation, self-made translation or ordinary translation service is not accepted.

You must present:

Your original, valid domestic driving licence;
The original authorized Japanese translation; and
Your original passport.

A translation does not extend the validity of an expired driving licence.

U.S. Military and Other SOFA-Status Drivers

Drivers covered by the Status of Forces Agreement must present all documents required to prove that they are legally authorized to drive in Japan.

If you will drive using a SOFA licence, please bring:

Your original, valid USFJ Form 4EJ Operator’s Permit, commonly called a SOFA licence;
Your original, valid U.S. state, territory or District of Columbia driving licence, or the original qualifying licence used to support your SOFA permit;
Your valid military or SOFA identification; and
Any additional orders or documents required for your particular status.

A military ID or SOFA status alone is not a driving licence. The driver must hold a valid permit authorizing the operation of a vehicle in Japan.

Restrictions imposed by your command, installation or SOFA permit remain applicable when driving a rental vehicle. An on-base-only permit cannot be used for ordinary off-base driving.

Japanese Driving Licence Holders

If you hold a valid Japanese driving licence, please present the original licence at vehicle pick-up.

Foreign residents may also be asked to present a valid residence card or other identification so that we can verify the rental agreement information.

Document Checklist

Before arriving for pick-up, please confirm that:

Every person who may drive is registered as an authorized driver.
Every driver will be present with their original documents.
All driving licences and permits are valid for the entire rental period.
Your IDP was issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention and includes the correct vehicle category.
The name and personal information on your documents are consistent.
You have an authorized Japanese translation if your licence requires one.

Important Notice

Sunrise Rent a Car cannot determine whether a traveller is legally eligible to drive based only on nationality. Eligibility depends on the issuing country or region, document type, convention, validity dates, entry history and the driver’s individual status in Japan.

Documents are checked again when the vehicle is collected. Sending a photo in advance does not guarantee final acceptance.

Japanese laws, official interpretations and document requirements may change. Government agencies, police authorities, military commands and airport or local authorities may also revise their rules. Although we make reasonable efforts to keep this page accurate, it may not immediately reflect every update.

When in doubt, confirm your eligibility before travelling with the relevant licensing authority, the National Police Agency of Japan, the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), or your military command or installation licensing office.

Last reviewed: August 31, 2026