Reciprocal Partial Exemption of the Examination for the Driver License between Japan and Colorado（April 24, 2023）
On April 24, 2023, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of Japan and the State of Colorado for the reciprocal partial exemption of the examination for the driver license was signed. As a result of this, the respective driving license authorities will exempt the applicant from taking the knowledge test and the actual demonstration (skill examinations) in accordance with their respective laws and regulations.
- If a valid Japanese driver license holder wants to obtain a Colorado driver license
- If a valid Colorado driver license holder wants to obtain a Japanese driver license
The applicant will not be exempt from submitting the necessary documents for application, vision test, payment of the application fee, etc.
Process to obtain a driver license
- To obtain a Colorado driver license
- Schedule an appointment with the DMV website or call 303-205-2335 (open 8a.m. – 5p.m.)
- Obtain a”Certificate of Japanese Driver’s License”
- Collect documents required by DMV
- At the DMV:
- To obtain a Japanese driver license
- Presentation of a valid Class A, B, C or R Colorado driver license and its Japanese translation. The original Colorado driver license will be returned to the applicant.
Note: The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) also offers a Japanese translation service for drivers licenses with a fee; non-members are also welcome for a translation service. Please see the link below for more information: https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/drive-in-japan/about-dltas - Documentation proving that the applicant has held a driver license in the United States for a total of at least three months after obtaining the license. Note: In accordance with Japanese law, partial exemption from the driver license test is available to those who have stayed in a foreign county for a total of three months or more after obtaining a foreign driver license, so a passport or other document that proves the period of stay in the country where the driver license was obtained is required.
- Identification documents and proof of residence required by each prefectural driver license center
- Photo to be attached to application documents
- Application fee
- 【Helpful References】
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Conversion of Foreign Driver License to a Japanese One
https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/traffic_safety/drivers_licenses/index.html - JAF: Traffic rules in Japan
Although the applicant will be exempted from the knowledge test and the actual demonstration (skill examinations), please make sure that you understand Japanese laws, regulations, and traffic rules and drive safely. For more information about Japanese traffic rules, please refer to the following websites:
https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/traffic-rules
The procedures, documents and requirements to obtain a Colorado Class R driver license are as follows. Please refer to the website of Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at https://dmv.colorado.gov/ and contact the DMV directly if you have any questions.
Prior to the DMV appointment:
If you make an appointment through their website, choose your preferred DMV Office and select “CO-RCSA SB251” for new residents that are not U.S. citizens.
This certificate will be issued by the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver
For the detail and to schedule an appointment call: 303-534-1151
a) A valid Japanese driver license
This includes a standard, semi-mid-sized, mid-sized, large, class 2 standard, class 2 mid-sized, or class 2 large license
The original, unaltered license will be returned to the applicant
b) A “Certificate of Japanese Driver’s License” issued by the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver
This certificate must be issued within 3 months at the time of your appointment with the DMV
c) Identification documents (proof of name, age, and identity)
This will be your Japanese passport
d) Proof of Legal Status in the US
1. From the link, scroll down the page until you find “Forms”
2. Choose “Temporary legal resident checklist”
e) Proof of Residency in Colorado
For a full list of acceptable documents from c) to e), click here for the DMV website
*All documents must be unaltered certified originals, certified amended originals, or true copies certified by the issuing agency.
a) Submit the documents you collected on your scheduled date and time
b) Take the Vision Test
c) Pay the fee to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles
The documents to obtain a Japanese driver license are as follows. Its coverage is limited to a Class 1 driver license which is equivalent to a Colorado driver license (Class A, B, C or R) in accordance with Japanese law. Please contact the Driver License Examination Center or the Driver License Center of each prefecture for details such as required documents, fees, and hours of operation.