Foreign licence conversion (gaimen kirikae)
外免切替 · gaimen kirikae
Definition
Gaimen kirikae is the procedure for exchanging a valid foreign driving licence for a Japanese one without going through driving school from scratch. Since 1 October 2025 most applicants must pass a 50-question knowledge test at 90%, and be a registered resident.
On the test
Common question: What test do I take to convert a foreign licence? — A single knowledge test of 50 true/false questions, needing 45 correct (90%) — the same scale as karimen, not the 95-question honmen test. A driving test may also apply.
The law behind it
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police 2025 reform notice sets the conversion knowledge test at 50 questions and a 90% pass mark, up from the old 10 questions at 70%.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police — 2025 reform notice (conversion knowledge test 50Q/90%) (official source)
Related guide
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