Driver's licenses

Information on the Belgian driving licence in Japan.

Can I drive in Japan with an international driver's license issued in Belgium?


No. Japan does not recognize international driver's licenses issued on the basis of the Convention of Vienna on Road Traffic of 8 November 1968.

However, there are two ways to drive in Japan:

  • holders of a Belgian national driving license, planning to stay in Japan for a period of less than one year, are allowed to drive in Japan with their license, provided that a Japanese translation is attached to it. A translation can be obtained at the Japan Automobile Federation
  • Belgian residents in Japan and Belgians planning to stay in Japan for more than one year have to apply for a Japanese driving license upon their arrival in Japan. You can find more details regarding this procedure on the website of Japan Automobile Federation
     

Applying for a new driving license and duplicata


When the validity period of a driving license expires, it can be renewed if all the conditions for issuing it are met. Furthermore, a duplicate of a still valid driving license can be requested, for example, when it is lost, stolen, damaged, or has become illegible. No duplicate is issued for a driving license in bank card format; this is a new driving license.

People living in Belgium and holding a foreign driving license cannot obtain a renewal or duplicate of their driving license. They must apply for a Belgian driving license.

Persons (Belgian or non-Belgian) residing in a member state of the European Economic Area must apply for a renewal of their driving license in their country of residence. They can receive a certificate from their municipality in Belgium where they last resided.

Belgians who do not reside in a member state of the European Economic Area and who are registered in the Belgian Embassy of that country can renew their Belgian driving license in the Belgian municipality where they were last registered.