“Can I drive a rental car in Okinawa with a Hong Kong or Macau driving licence? And where do I get an International Driving Permit?” Visitors from Hong Kong and Macau ask us this often. Both places drive on the left just like Japan, so many drivers will feel at home on the road, but if your documents are incomplete we cannot hand over the car on the day.
Based on the official guidance of the Hong Kong Transport Department and the Macao Transport Bureau, this article covers how to apply for an International Driving Permit (counter, online, documents, fees), how long you can drive in Japan, what to show at the UMUI Rent a Car counter, and the key points of Japanese traffic rules. Use it as a pre-trip checklist.
The short answer: an International Driving Permit and your passport
Three things to bring from Hong Kong or Macau
In the format materials on International Driving Permits published by Japan’s National Police Agency (as of June 2026), the permits issued by Hong Kong (issuing authority: the Transport Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) and Macau (the Transport Bureau) are both listed as 1949 Geneva Convention format, valid for driving in Japan. In other words, unlike visitors from Taiwan, you do not need a Japanese translation. An International Driving Permit is what you need.
At the UMUI Rent a Car counter we check your International Driving Permit and your passport. Please also bring the original driving licence on which your permit is based.
| 1 | International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva Convention format; issued by the Transport Department in Hong Kong and by the Transport Bureau in Macau) |
|---|---|
| 2 | Your Hong Kong or Macau driving licence (original) |
| 3 | Passport (with an entry stamp showing your date of arrival in Japan) |
UMUI’s own guidance does not list item 2, but the Hong Kong Transport Department notes that some countries may require you to carry your physical licence together with the permit. To be safe, bring it along.
A mainland China licence is treated differently
Although Hong Kong and Macau are part of China, their licences are treated very differently from mainland China licences in Japan. Visitors holding a mainland China driving licence cannot drive in Japan, because there is no International Driving Permit or translation system that Japan accepts for it. The permits from Hong Kong and Macau are issued by their own governments under the convention and are handled separately from mainland licences.
| Hong Kong, Macau | International Driving Permit (Geneva format) + your local licence + passport |
|---|---|
| Mainland China | No permit or translation system that Japan accepts, so visitors cannot drive |
| Taiwan | Not an International Driving Permit: a Taiwanese licence + a Japanese translation (日文譯本) |
For a country-by-country list, see our blog post “Which Driver’s License You Need to Rent a Car in Japan (by Country and Region)”.
How long you can drive in Japan: one year from entry
According to JAF, with an International Driving Permit in the Geneva Convention format you can drive in Japan for up to one year from the date you enter Japan. The permit itself is valid for one year from issue, so for a trip of a few days to a week, what really matters is checking that your permit has not expired. Formats under other conventions, such as the Vienna Convention, are not valid in Japan, but as noted above the permits from Hong Kong and Macau are in the Geneva format.
Hong Kong: how to get an International Driving Permit
Who can apply, and how long is it valid?
According to the Transport Department, you can apply if you hold a Hong Kong identity card and a Hong Kong full driving licence that is still valid or expired no more than three years ago. Holders of a probationary driving licence are not eligible.
The permit is issued under the Geneva Convention of 1949 and is valid for one year from the date of issue, and you can use it as many times as you like during that period. You can also apply for a new one at any time, even before the current one expires.
Four ways to apply: counter, kiosk, online, post
The Transport Department accepts applications in four ways. If you are short of time, the counter or the kiosk, both of which issue the permit on the same day, is the most convenient.
| Counter | Apply at a counter of a Licensing Office. Book online or by phone (3763 8080), or take a same-day queue ticket on site. Issued on the same day |
|---|---|
| Self-service kiosk | For iAM Smart+ users only. Available at the Hong Kong and Kowloon Licensing Offices (since 13 January 2025). Appointment required; same-day collection |
| Online | Apply through GovHK with iAM Smart+ (or a personal digital certificate). If your documents are in order, it is generally sent by registered mail within 10 working days of receipt |
| By post | Send to the Kwun Tong Licensing Office. Registered mail is encouraged, and the permit is generally mailed back within 10 working days |
For online or postal applications, it is wise to submit two to three weeks before your trip. The Transport Department also advises calling 2804 2600 if you have not received your permit four weeks after applying.
Documents and fee
The fee is HK$80 (per the Transport Department; it may change). The documents you need vary slightly by method.
| Counter, post | Form TD51, Hong Kong identity card (original or copy), two identical recent photos, proof of address (original or copy) |
|---|---|
| Online | A photo file (JPG, 5MB or less, 50mm x 40mm) and a file of your proof of address |
| Kiosk | A mobile device that can log in to iAM Smart+, and proof of address. No photo needed, as one is taken at the kiosk |
At the counter you can pay by cash, FPS or EPS; online and at the kiosk, by credit card, FPS or PPS and others. Please always check the Transport Department’s website for the latest fees and procedures.
Macau: how to get an International Driving Permit
Who can apply, and where
In Macau, the Transport Bureau issues the International Driving Permit. According to the Macao SAR Government, online applications are open to holders of a Macao resident identity card who have a “One Account” (一戶通), and your Macao driving licence must have at least 30 days of validity left. If it has fewer than 30 days left, or if your personal details have changed, you need to apply in person.
| Online | Apply through the One Account website or app. Completed with facial recognition and online payment |
|---|---|
| In person | Transport Bureau (Estrada de D. Maria II, 33), the Macao Government Services Centre, or the Government Services Centre in Islands. Advance booking required. Monday to Friday, 9:00-18:00 |
| By an agent | Possible (power of attorney form 091/DLC required) |
Documents, fee and processing time
When applying in person you need the application form (043/DLC) and one recent colour photo (1.5 inch). For online applications you use the ID photo in “My photos” of One Account, or a photo taken through the mobile app (taken within the past 12 months).
The fee is MOP 300 plus stamp duty of 10% of the fee (MOP 30) (per the Macao SAR Government; it may change). Processing times are as follows.
| In-person application and collection | 1 working day, if all documents are submitted before 4:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Online application, collected at the Transport Bureau machine | 2 working days |
| Collected at a Government Services Centre etc. | 3 working days (for both in-person and online applications) |
You will receive an SMS when the permit is ready. To collect it, bring your original ID and the receipt. Processing time depends on where you collect, so we suggest starting one to two weeks before your trip.
Check the validity period on the permit itself
We could not confirm the validity period of the Macau permit on the Macao government’s application page, so this article does not state one. When you receive your permit, check the expiry date printed on it against your travel dates. The Macao government also notes that when driving abroad, the vehicle category on your Macao licence must match the category on the International Driving Permit.
If anything about the procedure is unclear, please contact the Transport Bureau (tel. +853 8866 6363).
On the day: what to bring to UMUI Rent a Car
Documents to bring to the counter
The UMUI Rent a Car official page (International Driving Licenses) says that to drive with an International Driving Permit you need the following two items. Every person who will drive needs their own set.
| Document 1 | International Driving Permit (issued under the Geneva Convention by a Geneva Convention member country) |
|---|---|
| Document 2 | Passport (with an entry stamp showing your date of arrival in Japan) |
| Please bring too | Your Hong Kong or Macau driving licence (original) |
We check the originals at the counter. Photocopies and photos on a smartphone cannot be accepted. If you have any concern about the entry stamp in your passport, please ask UMUI Rent a Car before you book.
What you can do before booking
The UMUI Rent a Car booking site is available in Japanese, English, Korean and Traditional Chinese. When booking, confirm how many people will drive and check that each of them has an International Driving Permit and their local licence. The Naha Airport store offers a free shuttle from the airport and is open 8:00-20:00 every day of the year. Completing online check-in beforehand makes the counter procedure smoother.
Cars are returned at our stores. After returning a car at the Naha Airport store, we give you a free ride to the airport.
When you cannot drive
If you drive without meeting the requirements, it counts as unlicensed driving in Japan. The penalty is severe: imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, and in an accident you may not be able to receive insurance or coverage. Please check before you leave that none of the following applies to you.
- You did not bring an International Driving Permit (only your local licence, or only a copy)
- Your permit is not in the 1949 Geneva Convention format
- Your permit has expired
- More than one year has passed since you entered Japan
- You are trying to drive on a mainland China licence
- You are planning to swap drivers with a companion who has no International Driving Permit
Same as Hong Kong and Macau, or different? Traffic rules in Japan
Driving on the left is the same, but take it slowly at first
Japan drives on the left (JAF). Hong Kong and Macau also drive on the left, so your sense of lane position carries over, and it should be easier than for visitors from elsewhere. Still, the positions of the turn signal and wiper levers vary by car model. Before setting off, take a moment in the car park to check where the levers, lights and mirrors are.
Pedestrians generally keep to the right (JAF). In town, slow down especially when passing people on foot or on bicycles.
Stop signs, railway crossings and crosswalks
The Japanese “止まれ” (stop) sign is a red inverted triangle. When you see one, always stop before the stop line. You must also stop before a railway crossing. And when pedestrians are crossing at a crosswalk, drivers must give way to them (JAF).
Seat belts, child seats, mobile phones, drinking and speed
In Japan the driver and passengers must all wear seat belts. Children under six must ride in a child seat. Using a mobile phone while driving, or being distracted by the car navigation screen, is prohibited, so set up your navigation before you start.
Drunk driving is prohibited and strictly punished. On days when you plan to drink, the safest choice is not to drive. Speed limits are shown on signs and road markings; where none is posted, ordinary cars are limited to 60 km/h on ordinary roads and 100 km/h on expressways (JAF).
Driving in Naha city
Central Naha has many pedestrians, local buses and tourist cars, and there are busy times in the morning and evening. In lively areas such as Kokusai-dori, finding parking can take time, so it helps to look up the car park for your destination beforehand. If you are nervous about your first drive in Japan, you can get used to the car on a route near the airport before heading north or south.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for an International Driving Permit after I arrive in Japan?
No. The Hong Kong permit is issued by the Hong Kong Transport Department and the Macau permit by the Transport Bureau. Both are issued on the basis of your local driving licence, so be sure to get it in Hong Kong or Macau before you leave.
Do family members or friends who will take turns driving also need documents?
Yes. Everyone who will drive needs their own International Driving Permit, local licence and passport. Anyone without the documents cannot take over the driving.
A family member holds a mainland China licence. Can they drive?
Visitors with a mainland China driving licence cannot drive in Japan. That person should not drive; please have someone who holds an International Driving Permit do the driving.
My permit will expire in the middle of my trip. What should I do?
Once it expires, you can no longer drive in Japan from that point. In Hong Kong you can apply for a new permit even before the current one expires, so renew early to match your travel dates.
Once your documents are in order, your Okinawa trip becomes far more free. There are many places you can reach only by car, such as coastal drives and Churaumi Aquarium in the north. If anything about preparing your licence is unclear, feel free to contact UMUI Rent a Car, even before you book. Our booking site is also available in Traditional Chinese.
* Information in this article is as of October 2026. Rules and fees may change, so please check the latest information from Japan’s National Police Agency, JAF, the Hong Kong Transport Department and the Macao Transport Bureau. The validity period of the Macau International Driving Permit is not stated here because we could not confirm it in the official application guidance.
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photographers are credited in each photo caption.
