If you're planning to convert a foreign driving licence in Japan, the numbers should give you pause. Since the National Police Agency tightened the rules in October 2025, the written test pass rate for foreign licence conversions has dropped from 92.5% to just 42.8%, and the practical test pass rate from 30.4% to 13.1%, as reported by Nippon.com.
What Changed?
The NPA made two fundamental changes to the gaimen kirikae (foreign licence conversion) process:
- Written test: Increased from 10 to 50 true/false questions, with a passing score of 45/50 (90%). The old 10-question test was widely considered too easy.
- Practical test: Introduced stricter grading criteria, particularly around Japanese-specific driving conventions like lane positioning, mirror checks and intersection behaviour.
The changes, detailed by The Japan Times, were prompted by a rising number of accidents involving drivers who had converted foreign licences with minimal testing.
New Speed Limit Changes Coming in September 2026
Adding another layer of complexity, Japan is lowering the default speed limit on narrow residential roads to 30 km/h from September 2026. This affects the roads most commonly used in practical driving tests and means candidates need to demonstrate even more careful speed management in built-up areas.
Electric Scooter Questions Added
The question bank now includes topics on Specified Small Motorised Bicycles — Japan's legal category for electric scooters that became road-legal in recent years. Expect questions on where they can be ridden, speed limits and helmet requirements.
How to Prepare
- Study the full 50-question format. The old strategy of memorising 10 common questions no longer works. You need broad coverage of Japanese traffic law.
- Learn Japanese driving conventions. Mirror-signal-mirror checks, the S-curve and crank course, and Japanese-style left turns are all heavily tested in the practical exam.
- Practise on real routes. SteerClear helps you practise real driving test routes with live scoring — essential when the pass rate is just 13%.
- Budget for multiple attempts. With a 13.1% practical pass rate, most candidates will need several tries. Each attempt costs around ¥4,000.
Japan's message is clear: converting a foreign licence is no longer a formality. The new standards are rigorous — but they're designed to ensure every driver on Japanese roads has genuinely earned the right to be there.