In Japan Without an IDP? What You Can Do From There

Quick answer: You cannot get an International Driving Permit (IDP) for a US license inside Japan, and a translation of your US license will not work there. What you can do is have a genuine IDP issued in the US and shipped to you in Japan, then drive once it is in your hands, not before.

This page is for visitors who are already in Japan, often after hearing at the rental counter that a US license alone is not enough. If you are still planning your trip, our complete guide to driving in Japan covers the rules before you go.

Why the rental counter turned you away

Japan's National Police Agency lists what a visitor can drive with: a Japanese license, an IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or a foreign license with an approved Japanese translation. The translation route is open only to licenses from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan. US licenses are not on that list, so a translation is not an option for you.

That leaves the IDP. The US State Department says short-term visitors driving in Japan must have one, and that a foreign driver's license alone is not valid for residents. A US license on its own does not let you drive in Japan.

Why you can't get one locally

• AAA says an IDP that goes with a US driver's license "can only be issued in the USA." Another country cannot issue one.

• The State Department says the US Embassy and US consulates do not issue IDPs.

• The State Department also warns that "IDPs issued via the Internet or by other organizations are not valid in Japan." A "digital IDP" or "international driver's license" sold online is not a real IDP. Only AAA and AATA are authorized by the State Department to issue them. Our post on how to avoid fake IDPs explains what to look out for.

Can an IDP mailed to you in Japan be used?

Japan's National Police Agency says yes for visitors. Its guide for holders of foreign licenses includes a chart for a person not registered as a resident who obtains an IDP "without leaving the country, such as by mail" after entering Japan. In that case you can drive from the day you have the permit until one year after the date you entered Japan. An IDP itself is valid for one year from the date it is issued, and in Japan you can use it for whichever period is shorter.

You should know that the State Department's Japan page is stricter. It says: "You must obtain an IDP prior to arriving in Japan." Japan's police are the ones who enforce Japan's traffic law, but a rental company can still set its own rules. Before you pay to have a permit shipped, ask your rental company whether it will accept an AAA or AATA permit that reaches you during your trip.

The rules are different if you live in Japan and are registered as a resident. The same police guide shows that a resident who returns after less than three months abroad does not start a new one-year period, so an IDP may not be usable. This post does not cover residents.

Your options from Japan

AAA online

AAA says people who are already overseas can apply online. It asks you to allow 5 business days for processing, plus return shipping. The fee is the $20 permit fee, a $10 passport photo fee and shipping.

AAA by mail

You can also mail an application from overseas to AAA's office in Heathrow, Florida. AAA asks you to allow 5 to 7 weeks for return mail, which is too slow for most trips.

AATA online

AATA, the other authorized issuer, takes applications online with a passport photo and images of your US license. Check its site for current fees, processing times and shipping to Japan.

Fast IDP (that's us)

Fast IDP is an independent service that is not affiliated with AAA, AATA or any government. You apply online, we take your application to AAA, and we ship the genuine AAA-issued booklet to you anywhere in the world. International delivery typically takes 2 to 5 business days on the fastest option. The all-in price for one IDP is from $64, which includes AAA's $20 permit fee and tax. You need a valid US driver's license to use our service. You can apply here.

To be clear about cost: going to a AAA branch in person is cheaper, at the $20 permit fee plus any sales tax and photos if you need them, and AAA suggests a branch if you need a permit within 7 business days. That only helps if you, or your trip, are back in the US.

While you wait

• Do not drive until the permit is in your hands. Japanese law holds all drivers liable for accidents, and Japanese compulsory insurance is mandatory for all drivers.

• Pick a delivery address you will still be at when the package arrives, such as a hotel later in your trip. Our post on where to have your IDP shipped while traveling has tips.

• Ask your rental company if you can push the pickup date back instead of cancelling.

• Plan to get around without a car for now. The State Department notes that most short-term visitors choose not to drive in Japan.

• When you do drive, carry both your IDP and your US driver's license. The IDP is a translation, not a license on its own.

For more on applying from abroad in any country, see how to get an IDP if you're already traveling outside the US. For Japan's rules in short, see Can I drive in Japan with a US driver's license? and our Japan page.

Sources, checked November 11, 2026: National Police Agency of Japan, How to Drive in Japan; National Police Agency of Japan, Traffic Bureau; US State Department, Japan travel information; AAA, International Driving Permit; USA.gov, International Driving Permits; AATA.