How to Convert a Nepali Driving Licence in Japan: Gaimen Kirikae Guide
Step-by-step guide for Nepali licence holders converting to a Japanese driving licence via Gaimen Kirikae. Documents, tests and tips for Japan residents.
By Nepalese Events Australia Editorial Team
Published: 2026-10-19T18:59:24.000000Z
Category: Guides
If you hold a valid Nepali driving licence and plan to drive in Japan, you may be able to convert it to a Japanese licence through the Gaimen Kirikae (foreign licence conversion) process. This guide explains the requirements, documents and practical test for Nepali students, workers and residents in Japan.
Who can apply for Gaimen Kirikae?
You can apply if you:
- Hold a valid Nepali driving licence
- Can prove you stayed in Nepal for at least three months after the licence was issued
- Hold a valid Japanese residence card
- Are at least 18 years old
The three-month stay requirement is important. Japanese driving centres need evidence that you actually drove in Nepal or held the licence there, not just obtained it quickly for conversion.
Required documents
- Valid Nepali driving licence (original and copy)
- Japanese residence card (Zairyu card)
- Passport showing Nepal entry/exit stamps
- Driver’s record or licence certificate from Nepal’s Department of Transport Management
- Translation of the Nepali licence (by JAF or an embassy-authorised translator)
- Recent passport-style photographs
- Application form from the local Japanese driving centre
The conversion process
- Document check: Submit your documents to the nearest driver’s licence centre.
- Knowledge test: Answer basic road-safety questions, usually available in English.
- Vision test: Standard eyesight and colour-vision check.
- Practical test: Drive on the centre’s test course. Many applicants fail on the first attempt because the course involves precise manoeuvres, so practice lessons are common.
Tips for Nepali applicants
- Bring a full driving record from Nepal, not just the physical licence card.
- Check that your passport stamps cover the three-month stay period.
- Book a few practice sessions at a Japanese driving school before the practical test.
- Apply at the licence centre for the prefecture where you live.
- Some prefectures require appointments; check ahead.
Why this guide matters
Many Nepali technical trainees, students and workers in Japan need to drive for work or daily life. Understanding the Gaimen Kirikae process saves time, money and repeated test attempts.
For more Japan guides, visit our Japan Nepali news section.
: Japanese driver’s licence centre procedures and community-experienced guides.
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