How to Get an International Driving Permit for Riding in Japan

Japan is one of the best countries in the world to ride in, and one of the strictest about paperwork. If you arrive without the right permit, you will not be allowed to ride, and no tour or rental company can change that. The good news is that for most visitors the fix is cheap and takes an afternoon. This guide covers what Japan accepts and exactly how to get it in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, continental Europe and Australia.

What Japan actually requires

Japan is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, not the 1968 Vienna Convention. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) states that an IDP issued under the 1949 convention lets you drive in Japan, and that permits issued under other treaties, including the 1968 Vienna Convention, are not valid. The permit is good for a maximum of one year from the day you enter Japan.

The IDP is only a translation of your home licence, so it is never enough alone. You need to carry your original licence and your passport as well. Rental shops and police both check that the licence class matches the vehicle.

Motorcycle categories and engine sizes

Japan sorts motorcycles by engine size: small (up to 125cc), ordinary or medium (126cc to 400cc) and large (over 400cc). Most touring bikes are in the large class. A foreign visitor’s IDP is issued from their home licence, so:

• You need a full motorcycle licence at home, not a learner permit or a car-only licence.
• The motorcycle category (category A) needs to appear on the IDP. Rental companies commonly refuse a permit that shows only the car categories.
• If your home licence has tiers, such as a restricted licence in Europe or Australia, a shop may only let you ride the engine sizes your home licence allows. If you hold a restricted licence, check with the company before you book a bike over 400cc.

If you are not sure whether your licence is enough for the bike you want, ask us before you book.

Which route is yours?

United States

The US State Department authorises two organisations to issue IDPs: the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Anything else claiming to sell an “international driver’s licence” is a scam. This includes the sites that offer a PDF or a 10-minute digital permit.

What you need

• A valid US driver’s licence that includes motorcycle privileges. A temporary paper licence is not enough.
• Two passport-style photos, following US passport photo rules. AAA does not accept scans or photocopies.
• The application form from AAA, signed.
• The fee: AAA’s published permit fee is $20, plus any tax and shipping.

How to apply

1. At a AAA branch. Not every branch handles IDPs, so call first. Bring your licence, the form, two photos and the fee.
2. By mail to AAA. Send the signed form, two signed photos, a photocopy of the front and back of your licence and the fee to your nearest AAA office that handles IDPs. Allow extra time for postage each way.
3. Online with AATA. AATA takes the application online with a photo and a copy of your licence, then posts the permit. Check AATA’s current fee and shipping charges before you start, since the total can differ from AAA’s.

AAA will not issue a permit more than six months before the date you want it to start. The permit is valid for one year, cannot be renewed, and you need a new one for each trip that requires it. Apply one to two months before you fly.

United Kingdom

UK permits are no longer issued by the AA or RAC. The UK government says you can get an IDP in person from certain shops with a PayPoint terminal, for £5.50. You must live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, hold a full UK driving licence and be 18 or over. The government’s country list shows Japan needs the 1949 permit, which is valid for 12 months. The 1968 permit, which lasts three years, is not accepted in Japan, so make sure the shop gives you the right one.

• Bring your photocard driving licence. Check with the shop what else it needs, such as a passport-style photo.
• Do not apply for an IDP if you are moving to Japan. That is a different process.

Check the permit before you leave the shop. It should say “1949” and list the motorcycle category that matches your licence. It is also wise to keep a clear photo of the licence and permit on your phone as a backup.

Ireland and the rest of Europe

Most European countries issue the 1949 permit through their national motoring club or licensing authority. Prices and rules differ, so start with your own country’s official issuer.

• Ireland: AA Ireland issues IDPs. At the time of writing the standard fee was €10, with an express service at €15. You need a copy of your full Irish licence, two signed passport-size photos and the fee. The AA does not take cash. The permit is valid for one year.
• Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland and others: use the national issuer, such as the ANWB in the Netherlands or the DGT in Spain. Some offices issue a 1968-format permit by default, and Japan refuses that one. Ask for the 1949 version by name and check the cover.

Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Monaco: no IDP, get a translation

These countries do not issue Geneva-format permits, so an IDP from them does not work in Japan. JAF lists Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan as the countries whose licence holders can drive in Japan with a Japanese translation attached to their licence.

• JAF accepts translation requests online only, not at the counter or by post. JAF says the average turnaround for these six countries is two to three business days.
• Rental companies mention a fee of about ¥3,000, but JAF’s page does not state one, so confirm the current price when you apply.
• Some embassies and consulates also issue translations. Check with the Japanese embassy in your country.
• The translation is valid for one year from the date you enter Japan. You must carry it with your original licence at all times.
• Your motorcycle entitlements follow your home licence, so make sure it covers the engine size you plan to ride.

Rules for other countries change from time to time. Check JAF’s “Driving in Japan with a foreign licence” page before you go to see whether your country has been added.

Australia

In Australia, IDPs are issued by the state and territory motoring clubs on behalf of the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), such as NRMA, RACV, RACQ and RAA. There are two ways to apply.

1. In person at a motoring club branch. Show your Australian licence and you normally receive the permit on the spot. Call ahead, as not every branch offers it. Note that NRMA Insurance stopped issuing IDPs on 1 April 2025, so use an NRMA retail branch or Service NSW.
2. Online through the Australian Automobile Association. Typically takes 3 to 8 business days, and you pay for postage. You will need a passport-style photo.

Fees vary by club and have risen over the years: guides have quoted about A$42 to A$51 plus postage. Check your club’s current price. The permit is valid for 12 months. Make sure you are applying for the permit that covers Japan, and that the motorcycle category appears on it. Be careful with the “instant digital IDP” websites. They are not valid in Japan.

Checklist before you leave home

1. The permit cover says 1949 (not 1968).
2. The motorcycle category is listed.
3. The permit is valid for your entire trip, ideally with a month or more to spare. Some shops decline permits with only a few weeks left.
4. Your home licence is a full licence, is not expired, and covers the engine size you plan to ride.
5. You have your original licence, IDP and passport in your hand luggage, with photos of each on your phone as a backup.

Common mistakes

• Arriving with a 1968-format IDP. This is the most frequent problem for Europeans. It is refused in Japan.
• German, French, Swiss or Belgian riders bringing an IDP. It does not work. You need the Japanese translation instead.
• Leaving the home licence at the hotel. The IDP is not a licence. Riding with it alone is treated as riding without a valid licence. See what happens if you are stopped by the police in Japan.
• Applying too early or too late. A permit lasts one year, and US permits cannot be issued more than six months ahead. Applying a few weeks before travel is ideal.
• Buying from a lookalike website. Only your country’s official issuers count.
• Assuming the insurance will cover you anyway. Without a valid permit, rental insurance does not pay out, even for a minor crash. See what to do after a motorcycle accident in Japan.

Ready to ride?

Once your permit is sorted, the rest is the fun part. If you are riding on your own, our guide to renting a motorcycle in Japan covers choosing a shop, insurance, tolls and the road rules. Our guided motorcycle tours cover Japan’s best roads, from the Japan Alps to the Seto Inland Sea. If you are unsure whether your paperwork is enough for a particular tour, or just want to talk it through, get in touch. You can also browse the motorcycle tours.

Sources

• JAF: Driving in Japan with a foreign licence
• AAA: International Driving Permit
• USA.gov: International driver’s license for US citizens
• GOV.UK: Get an international driving permit
• GOV.UK: Check if you need an IDP
• AA Ireland: International Driving Permits
• Australian Automobile Association: International Driving Permits

Frequently asked questions