Official Translation of Japanese Driving Licence

2025/11/13

If you wish to exchange your Japanese driving licence for a GB driving licence at the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), your Japanese licence must be accompanied by an official translation, which is available from the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh.

Please contact the DVLA if you have any queries about exchanging your driving licence. 

Application and collection

Application

In order to obtain an official translation of Japanese driving licence for the purpose of exchanging Japanese driving licecence for GB driving licence, please make application either in person or by post.
It will take 5 working days to process the application from the date when we receive the documents.

In person
Please make an appointment in advance online.
Requried documents are as follows:
1. One completed application form
2. Original valid Japanese full driving licence
3. Applicant's original valid passport

By post
Please send us the following documents by post. We will contact you by email on receipt of the documents. 
1. One completed application form

2. Photocopy of front and back of valid full Japanese driving licence
3. Photocopy of applicant's valid passport (ID page only)
 

Our postal address: Consular Section, Consulate General of Japan, 2 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7HW

 

Collection


Collection must be made in person. Please make an appointment in advance online.


Please bring the following documents to your collection appointment :

  1. Original valid full Japanese driving licence (postal applications only)
  2. Applicant's original valid passport
  3. Certificate fee of £11.00 (as of 1 April 2025) Cash only

If you arrange for someone to collect the translation on your behalf, they must bring the following additional documents:

  1. Photo ID of the authorised person (e.g. passport, GB driving licence)
  2. Authorisation letter signed by the applicant
[Attention]
Please be aware that the validity of the translation may lapse if not collected from the Consulate and submitted to the DVLA within a reasonable time frame (within 6 months).
Please also be aware that we will dispose of the issued translation if it is not collected from the Consulate within 270 days.
 

For further enquiries, please contact the Consular Section.
Tel: 0131 225 4777 (Please listen to the automated guidance in English, and then select option 2)
Email: ryoji@ed.mofa.go.jp 

Returning of your Japanese driving licence

Your Japanese driving licence may be returned to us from the DVLA by way of the Embassy of Japan in London.
When your Japanese driving licence has been returned to us from the DVLA, we will contact you by email.

[Collection from the Consulate in person]
Please make an appointment online by selecting “Other certificates” category. Please bring your valid passport for identification.

[If you would prefer to receive your licence by post]
Please send us the following items to receive it by post:
  1. Stamped self-addressed Special Delivery envelope
  2. Photocopy of ID page of your valid passport
  3. Letter requesting the postal return of your Japanese driving licence
     

Important information

  1. The Consulate cannot be held responsible if the Japanese driving licence submitted to the DVLA is not returned to us.
  2. Please send us the above items to receive your Japanese driving licence from us as soon as possible. Should you not wish for your licence to be returned, please inform us.
  3. Please note that we will not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the posting of your documents or driving licence.
  4. Fees are subject to review and are liable to change as of 1st of April every year.

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