Getting a Moped License for Foreign Staff | What Host Organizations Need to Know About Pass Rates and Choosing a Route (2026)

A guide to choosing between the 2 routes to a moped license, based on the languages offered in the prefecture where the person will work

Newspaper scholarship students, technical intern trainees, specified skilled workers: more and more organizations are hosting foreign staff who need a moped license to commute or make deliveries. When they can get the license directly affects when they can start work and how stable their daily life becomes.

Since the rule change in October 2025, this decision can no longer be left to the individual. Choosing the wrong route can delay the license significantly.

This article sets out the numbers and steps that staff at host organizations need to make this decision.

👉 If you are looking for an article for the learners themselves, please refer them to How Foreign Residents Get a Moped License: Languages, Documents, and Fees in All 47 Prefectures. It explains the required documents, fees, and what happens on test day for the person taking the test.

*The content of this article is as of September 2026. Rules, languages, and fees may change. Before starting the procedure, always check with the police or driver's license center of the prefecture where the test will be taken.

Is there a driving skills test for a moped license?

First, a common misunderstanding. There is no practical driving test for a moped license. This is true both for a new license at a driver's license center and for license conversion (gaimen kirikae).

License conversion usually requires a driving skills test (an on-road test) in addition to the knowledge test. However, when applying for a moped license, the driving skills test is not required. The moped training course is not required either.

👉 The idea of avoiding license conversion because its driving skills test is strict does not apply to mopeds. If only a moped license is needed, compare pass rates, languages, and the steps in the procedure.

How many ways can foreign residents get a moped license?

👉 The deciding question is whether the person can take the written test in their native language in the prefecture where they will work. If they can, a new license with the higher pass rate is the better choice. If they cannot, license conversion, which offers 20 languages and requires neither a driving skills test nor the moped training course, is more realistic.

What languages is the moped written test available in?

This is the most often overlooked point, and the one where misunderstandings arise most easily.

Since June 2024, 20 languages have been introduced nationwide, but this applies to the written tests for Class 1 licenses, Class 2 licenses, and provisional licenses, and to the knowledge test for license conversion. The languages for the moped written test are decided by each prefecture and are handled differently. (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Written Tests Available in Foreign Languages)

Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, updated May 11, 2026)

These 5 languages are available on weekdays at the Fuchu, Samezu, and Koto test centers. The other 15 of the 20 languages are offered only on set days (Fuchu on Tuesdays, Samezu on Wednesdays, and Koto on Thursdays), but this applies to the written tests for Class 1, Class 2, and provisional licenses and the license conversion knowledge test. These 15 languages cannot be chosen for the moped written test.

👉 In Tokyo, staff whose native language is Vietnamese, Nepali, or Myanmar can take the moped written test in their native language.

👉 We have put together a list of the languages in all 47 prefectures in a separate article. For prefectures whose official pages do not say, we confirmed the information by calling the driver's license center. You can check there which category your staff's prefecture falls into.

What is different in neighboring prefectures?

In Kanagawa and Chiba, the moped written test is available in English only. Even within the Tokyo area, the available languages change from one prefecture to the next.

For example, if a Myanmar speaker is assigned to a workplace in Kanagawa, they cannot take the moped written test in their native language. In this case, if the person has a license from their home country, getting a moped license through license conversion, which offers 20 languages, becomes a good option. Since there is no driving skills test or moped training course, the only Japanese-language hurdle is the 50-question knowledge test.

Many areas are also expanding their languages, and some prefectures now offer the moped test in 20 languages. Do not rely on last year's information. Always check the website of the prefectural police where the test will be taken.

What procedures are needed to get a moped license through license conversion?

License conversion has steps that a new license at a license center does not. There is a document check before the knowledge test.

The document check also requires an appointment

With license conversion, booking a test is not the end. First you book the document check, and only after passing it do you move on to the knowledge test. This means two stages of booking.

Some prefectures let applicants take the knowledge test on the same day they pass the document check, while in others the knowledge test is on a separate day. If it is on a separate day, it takes that many more days to get the license. When working backward from the start date, always check which way the prefecture handles it.

What happens if there is a problem with the documents?

In practice, this is where things get stuck most often. If there is a problem with the documents, the application is not accepted on the spot, and you have to book again from the start. The applicant cannot even move on to the knowledge test.

The main required documents are as follows.

• Foreign driver's license (valid)

• Japanese translation of the driver's license — made by ZIPLUS, JAF (Japan Automobile Federation), or similar

• Copy of the certificate of residence (juminhyo) — showing nationality, status of residence, expiration date of the period of stay, residence card number, and so on

• Residence card and passport — an old passport may be needed to confirm that the person stayed in the country for 3 months or more after getting the license

• 1 photo — 3 cm high × 2.4 cm wide, taken within 6 months

👉 Please have the host organization check the documents once before sending the person. The translation and the old passport that proves the length of stay are especially easy to miss if left to the individual. One problem with the documents can mean a delay of several weeks to several months.

ZIPLUS can prepare the Japanese translation of the driver's license

Of the required documents, the Japanese translation of the driver's license is the one most often missing, and the one the host organization can prepare in advance. If left to the individual, they may arrive on the day without knowing where to request it, and the process stops at the document check.

ZIPLUS Co., Ltd., which operates Drivey, also prepares this translation.

• One point of contact for studying and document preparation — there is no need to arrange learning materials and documents separately

• Requests for several people at once — when hosting 10 or 20 people at a time, this is more reliable than having each person arrange it separately

• You can start before arrival in Japan — by preparing the translation at the same time as starting to study, the person can go to the document check right after arriving

👉 Having to rebook because of a translation problem is the most avoidable delay in license conversion. Please contact us about group requests.

Which countries are exempt from the tests?

In license conversion, the knowledge test and driving skills test may be waived depending on the country where the license was obtained.

29 countries and regions exempt from both

Iceland / Ireland / United States (only Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Washington) / United Kingdom / Italy / Australia / Austria / Netherlands / Canada / South Korea / Greece / Switzerland / Sweden / Spain / Slovenia / Czech Republic / Denmark / Germany / New Zealand / Norway / Hungary / Finland / France / Belgium / Poland / Portugal / Monaco / Luxembourg / Taiwan

The main countries of origin for foreign staff are all excluded

Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, China, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are not on this list. Therefore, anyone who chooses license conversion must take the 50-question knowledge test.

Whether or not the country is exempt, there is a common condition: the person must have stayed in that country for a total of 3 months or more after getting the license there (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). Staff who came to Japan right after getting their license may not meet this condition and may be unable to apply.

What changed in the knowledge test in October 2025?

The number of questions, passing score, removal of illustration questions, and number of sessions are based on Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Revised Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act, effective October 1, 2025. The driving skills test was made stricter at the same time, with tasks such as passing through a crosswalk added. The pass rate is the National Police Agency's published result for October to December 2025. It fell from about 90% to about 40%. After the rule change, more people who failed applied to retake the test, so in some areas appointments are booked 1 to 3 months ahead.

👉 You can check what the knowledge test asks in our article on the test content, pass rate, and how to prepare. We have also published practice questions (with answers and explanations) that follow the actual question format. Since the points where people struggle differ by country of origin, knowing each person's weak points before they arrive speeds up preparation.

The driving skills test pass rate is 13.1%, but this figure is for conversion to a regular license and others. For conversion to a moped license, there is no driving skills test at all. However, if you plan to have your staff get a regular license as well, you need to factor this 13.1% into your plans.

What are the steps for a new license at a driver's license center?

The steps are aptitude test → written test → moped training course.

• The written test has 48 questions worth 50 points (46 text questions + 2 illustration questions), and 45 points or more (90%) is a pass

• The pass rate is 58.7%

• Each illustration question has 3 sub-questions about one picture, and 2 points are given only if all 3 are correct (Kanagawa Prefectural Police)

• There is no driving test. After passing, the person takes the moped training course (given in Japanese)

• In many areas, appointments are available within 1 month, and slots tend to be easier to get than for license conversion

This is not a test you can pass without studying

According to the National Police Agency's Driver's License Statistics (2025), 162,668 people took the moped written test in one year, and 95,495 passed. In other words, 67,173 people failed in one year.

The passing line is high at 90%, and most questions are text questions. Even when taking the test in their native language, people cannot pass unless they correctly understand Japan's traffic rules.

Which route should we choose?

1. Can the person take the moped written test in their native language in the prefecture where they will work? — If so, a new license (58.7%) is the stronger option

2. If not, does the person have a valid driver's license from their home country? — If so, get a moped license through license conversion (20 languages, no driving skills test, no moped training course)

3. Did the person stay in that country for 3 months or more after getting the license? — If not, they cannot apply for license conversion

4. Does that prefecture hold the document check and knowledge test on the same day or on separate days? — If separate, allow for the extra days

5. How many months is the wait for an appointment? — Compare it with the planned start date

6. If the person has no license from their home country and cannot take the test in their native language — decide whether they can take the test in English, or whether to continue studying until they can take it in Japanese

👉 The key question is not which route is easier, but whether the person can take the test in a language they understand.

Can studying start before arrival in Japan?

For host organizations, this is the point that makes the biggest difference.

Both the written test and the knowledge test ask about Japanese traffic rules. These can be studied before coming to Japan. If learning materials are handed out only after arrival, the time before starting work is spent studying, and assignment is delayed by that much.

In practice, some organizations have learners start studying 2 months before arrival and take the test right after arriving. With an online learning environment, learners can start while still in their home country, and host organizations can check their progress remotely on the corporate dashboard.

• Before arrival — Learners start studying in their home country. Any place works with internet access and a device. The translation can be prepared at the same time

• Right after arrival — Learners can start the procedure having finished studying and with all documents ready

• Host organization — You can see each person's progress from before they arrive

👉 Simply stopping the practice of starting preparation after arrival brings the start of work forward by 1 to 2 months.

Drivey corporate plan

Drivey's corporate service is a corporate platform that completes driver's license written test preparation and safe driving education online, and makes progress and results visible. It is operated by ZIPLUS Co., Ltd., which also prepares Japanese translations of driver's licenses.

Covers both mopeds and license conversion

It covers the moped license course, license conversion course, provisional license course, regular license course, and Class 2 license. Since learners can start before the route is decided, studying does not stop even if you decide the route after checking the languages in the prefecture where the person will work.

6 languages

Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Myanmar. Each user can choose their language, so all employees get an equal chance to learn. Japanese with furigana is also available, so people taking the test in Japanese can study without getting stuck on kanji.

Track progress on the corporate dashboard

What learners study

• Videos — explain complex traffic rules and dangerous situations, including what text alone cannot convey

• Interactive Q&A — one question, one answer to confirm that knowledge sticks

• Review tests and mock tests — from traffic sign tests to timed mock tests, measuring skills in the same format as the real test

• Beyond getting the license — covers life-saving knowledge such as hazard prediction, traffic ethics, and manners

Pricing (tax included, monthly per license)

Corporate plans include the corporate dashboard. For the License Conversion Support Package, we provide a separate quote. Please also ask us about translation services.

👉 Features, pricing, and the setup process are described on the corporate service page. For quotes and demos, please use the contact form.

Setup process

1. Provisional account registration — We send you a URL for provisional registration by email

2. Full registration — Confirm your email address and set a password

3. Purchase licenses — Purchase licenses for the number of users from the dashboard

4. Assign to employees — Register each person's name and email address, and they receive an invitation email

If you would like to pay by invoice, we will provide details separately.

👉 You can see what the courses contain on the moped license course / license conversion course pages. For personal use, you can start with a free trial.

Frequently asked questions

Can technical intern trainees and specified skilled workers get a moped license?

Yes. There are no restrictions based on status of residence. What is needed is resident registration in that prefecture and meeting the eligibility requirement (age 16 or older). However, if you choose license conversion, the person must have stayed in their home country for a total of 3 months or more after getting the license there, so staff who came to Japan right after getting their license may not be eligible.

Can the moped training course be taken in the person's native language?

No. The moped training course is given in Japanese. When getting a new license at a driver's license center, the person must take this course after passing the written test. On the other hand, when getting a moped license through license conversion, the moped training course is not required. When supporting staff who are not confident in Japanese, this is a factor in the decision.

What is the minimum number of people for a group application?

Licenses are purchased individually, so there is no minimum number. You can use as many as you need. For large-scale deployments or special requests, please contact us through the contact form.

If someone fails the test, how much is the license delayed?

For a new license at a driver's license center, appointments are available within 1 month in many areas, so the wait until the retake is relatively short. For license conversion, however, the increase in retake applications after the rule change means that in some areas appointments are booked 1 to 3 months ahead. Failing license conversion once can push assignment plans back by a quarter.

Summary

• There is no driving test for a moped on either route. When getting a moped license through license conversion, neither the driving skills test nor the moped training course is required

• A new license at a license center has a written test pass rate of 58.7%, and appointments are easy to get. However, the test is available in 0 to 20 languages depending on the prefecture, and the moped training course, given in Japanese, is required

• A moped license through license conversion has a lower knowledge test pass rate of 42.8%, but the test is available in 20 languages. A license from the home country and a stay of 3 months or more after getting it are required

• License conversion also requires an appointment for the document check. Problems with documents lead to rejection and rebooking. ZIPLUS can prepare the translation

• The decision depends on the prefecture of assignment. Tokyo offers the moped test in 5 languages (English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Myanmar) on weekdays; Kanagawa and Chiba offer English only

• 67,173 people fail the moped written test each year. With a 90% passing line and mainly text questions, it cannot be passed without studying in advance

• Studying can start before arrival. Preparing from 2 months before arrival brings the start of work forward by 1 to 2 months

From 2026 onward, getting a moped license for foreign staff is something to design as part of the hosting system, not something to leave to the individual.

Sources: National Police Agency, Driver's License Statistics, 2025 edition (moped written test: 162,668 test takers, 95,495 passed, 58.7% pass rate) / National Police Agency results for license conversion, October to December 2025 (knowledge test 42.8%, driving skills test 13.1%; reported by Nikkei and NTV NEWS NNN) / Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Written Tests Available in Foreign Languages (updated May 11, 2026) / Fukuoka Prefectural Police: Conversion from a Foreign License (no practical test required when applying for a moped license)