“Can I drive a rental car in Okinawa with my Thai, Filipino or Singaporean license?” Guests visiting Okinawa from Southeast Asia ask us this often. The short answer is that it depends heavily on your country. On top of that, International Driving Permits come in formats that are valid in Japan and formats that are not, and if your documents do not match, we cannot hand over the car on the day.
This article covers six countries (Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia) based on materials from Japan’s National Police Agency. It also explains who issues the permit in each country, what to watch for when you apply, and what to bring to the UMUI Rent a Car counter. Please check it before you book. For the bigger picture across countries and regions, see our license guide by country and region as well.
The short answer: only the Geneva Convention format is valid in Japan
Quick table for the six countries
The only International Driving Permit (IDP) you can drive with in Japan is one in the format based on the 1949 Geneva Convention. Japan’s National Police Agency publishes a document (as of June 2026) listing the IDP formats each country and region issues, and marks each one as valid (VALID) or invalid (INVALID) for driving in Japan. Here is what it says for the six countries.
| Singapore | Issues the Geneva format only (valid in Japan). Issuer: Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS) |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | Issues the Geneva format only (valid in Japan). Issuer: Road Transport Department (RTD / JPJ) |
| Thailand | Issues both the Geneva format (valid in Japan) and the Vienna format (invalid in Japan). Issuer: Department of Land Transport and Provincial Land Transport Offices |
| Philippines | Issues both the Geneva format (valid in Japan) and the Vienna format (invalid in Japan). Issuer: Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) |
| Vietnam | Issues the Vienna format only (invalid in Japan). You cannot drive in Japan |
| Indonesia | Not found in the National Police Agency document, so we could not confirm whether a permit valid in Japan exists |
This matches the table in our earlier article, Which license you need to rent a car in Japan (by country and region). Note that the National Police Agency document says it compiles answers from each country’s government and may not reflect the latest format. Before you apply, it is a good idea to ask the issuing authority once more whether the permit is in a format valid in Japan.
How to tell the formats apart
The format of an IDP is set by the convention it is based on. The booklets differ between the Geneva Convention (1949) and the Vienna Convention (1968), and a Vienna-format permit cannot be used to drive in Japan. The cover or first page of your booklet states which convention (1949 or 1968) it is based on.
Thailand and the Philippines issue both formats. At the counter, the safest approach is to say when you apply, “I will use it in Japan, so please issue the 1949 Geneva Convention format”. Singapore and Malaysia issue only the Geneva format. Vietnam issues only the Vienna format, so as explained below, you cannot drive in Japan.
Country by country: issuing authority and how to apply
The application counter, fees and required documents are set by each issuing authority and can change. Below we list the issuing authorities confirmed in the National Police Agency document, plus what we could confirm on official websites. Please check the latest guidance from each authority before you leave for fees and processing times.
Singapore: apply through the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS)
Singapore’s IDP is issued by the Automobile Association of Singapore. According to the AAS website, you can apply if you hold a Singapore driving licence, and foreign nationals also need an Employment Pass or FIN card (the page states a requirement of at least 6 months’ validity). Holders of foreign licences cannot obtain an IDP in Singapore.
You can apply at the counter (three AA outlets) or online. The AAS page says counter applicants can collect the permit in about an hour (up to about 2 hours at busy times), while online applications take about 10 working days plus delivery. The application fee is S$20, and online applications add a S$7 courier fee (as stated on the official website in October 2026). The permit is valid for one year from the date of issue and cannot be renewed. If you are short on time, the site recommends the counter.
Malaysia: Road Transport Department (RTD / JPJ)
In the National Police Agency document, Malaysia’s IDP issuer is the Road Transport Department (JPJ), and the format is the Geneva format. We could not confirm the application steps, fees or required documents on an official website this time, so we do not state them here. Please check the latest information at a JPJ counter or on the JPJ website.
Malaysia drives on the left like Japan, so many drivers will find the road feel familiar. However, the domestic license card and the IDP are separate documents. Before you leave, check that an IDP is actually in the paperwork you are bringing to Japan.
Thailand: Department of Land Transport and provincial offices
Thailand’s IDP is issued by the Department of Land Transport and the Provincial Land Transport Offices. Because Thailand issues both the Geneva and Vienna formats, be sure to check which format you received. If you end up with the Vienna format, you cannot drive in Japan.
Required documents, fees and processing time may differ by office. We could not confirm them on an official website this time, so we give no specific figures. At your nearest land transport office, say “I am going to Japan and need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format” and confirm the details.
Philippines: Automobile Association Philippines (AAP)
The Philippines’ IDP is issued by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP). As with Thailand, both the Geneva and Vienna formats are issued, so you must specify the format when you apply. Please check fees, required documents and processing time in AAP’s official guidance (we could not confirm the official site this time, so we give no specific figures).
An IDP is not something to buy from a third party calling itself an agent. Rather than rushing to an unreliable provider just before departure, apply through an official counter.
Where you cannot drive or we cannot confirm: Vietnam and Indonesia
Vietnam: Vienna format only, so you cannot drive in Japan
According to the National Police Agency document, the IDP Vietnam issues is in the Vienna Convention format only, and it is marked INVALID in Japan. With a Vietnamese license or IDP, you cannot drive a rental car in Japan. The countries and regions where a license plus a Japanese translation is accepted are limited to six (Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan), and Vietnam is not among them.
Indonesia: cannot be confirmed in the National Police Agency document
We could not find Indonesia in the National Police Agency’s IDP format document (as of June 2026). So in this article we cannot confirm whether an IDP valid in Japan exists. Because we cannot confirm it, we will not say either that you can drive or that you cannot.
If you are from Indonesia, please ask your license-issuing authority before you book whether they issue an IDP in the 1949 Geneva Convention format. You are also welcome to contact UMUI Rent a Car in advance about the documents you hold. Planning a trip without confirmation risks us being unable to hand over the car on the day.
How to plan your trip if you cannot drive
If someone traveling with you can drive, you can ask them to do the driving. Every person who drives, however, must hold documents that meet the requirements. If no one in your group can drive, you can combine local buses, taxis and sightseeing tours. Our Naha Airport store offers a free shuttle from the airport, so you could also plan some days with a rental car and some days without.
How long you can drive in Japan, and key points to remember
IDP validity and the “one year from entry” rule
An IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue. In Japan, you can drive until the earlier of one year from the day you enter Japan or the expiry of the IDP. For most visitors, it is enough to check that the IDP has not expired. An IDP is issued on the basis of your home license, so please bring your home license to Japan as well.
You cannot get an IDP in Japan
An IDP is obtained in the country that issued your license. You cannot get one after you arrive in Japan. In some countries, such as Singapore, you can collect it at the counter in a short time, but by mail or online it takes days. Start the process as soon as your travel dates are set.
Avoiding driving without a valid license
Driving with a license that does not meet the requirements counts as unlicensed driving in Japan. The penalty is severe: imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, and if you cause an accident you may not be able to receive insurance or compensation. Please check the following before you leave.
- Your IDP is in the Geneva Convention (1949) format, not the Vienna Convention format
- Your IDP has not expired (one year from the date of issue)
- One year has not passed since you entered Japan
- You have brought the original of your home license
In Japan you drive on the left, and the driver’s seat is on the right. Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia also drive on the left, but the Philippines and Vietnam drive on the right. If the opposite side is what you are used to, take care not to drift into the opposite lane when turning right or left. Always stop fully at the red inverted-triangle “stop” sign. Drunk driving is also punished for passengers and for anyone who lent the car.
What to bring to UMUI Rent a Car on the day
What to bring to the counter
According to the International Driving License page of UMUI Rent a Car, the following documents are required if you drive with an IDP. They are needed for every driver.
| International Driving Permit | In the format based on the Geneva Convention (Vienna format not accepted) |
|---|---|
| Passport | With an entry stamp showing your date of arrival in Japan |
| Your home driver’s license | Your IDP is issued based on your home license, so please bring the original as well, just in case |
We check the originals of your documents at the counter. Please note that we cannot accept copies or photos.
Every driver needs documents
If you plan to share the driving with family or friends, each person who drives must hold documents that meet the requirements. Anyone without the right documents cannot take a turn at the wheel.
What you can prepare before booking
The UMUI Rent a Car booking site is available in Japanese, English, Korean and Traditional Chinese. When you book, confirm how many people will drive and whether everyone has their license documents ready. 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 in advance makes the counter procedure smoother.
Frequently asked questions
I have a Thai International Driving Permit, but it might be the Vienna format. What should I do?
Check the cover or first page of the booklet to see which convention it is based on. A permit that says 1968 (Vienna Convention) cannot be used in Japan. If you have time before departure, get the 1949 Geneva Convention format again from the issuing authority.
Can a foreigner get a Singapore International Driving Permit?
The AAS website says you need a Singapore driving licence and an Employment Pass or FIN card. If you only hold a foreign license, you cannot obtain an IDP in Singapore. Please apply through the authority of the country that issued your license.
Can I drive with a copy of my IDP or an image on my smartphone?
No. The original is required both for driving and at the rental counter. It is fine to keep a copy in case you lose the original, but you cannot drive with a copy alone.
Once your license is in order, a trip to Okinawa becomes far more free. Coastal drives, the Churaumi Aquarium in the north and many other places are best reached by car. If anything about preparing your documents is unclear, please feel free to contact UMUI Rent a Car, even before you book.
* The information in this article is as of October 2026. Systems and fees may change, so please check the latest information with the National Police Agency of Japan’s IDP format document, JAF, and the license-issuing authorities of each country.
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons (CC0 / CC BY-SA 4.0). The photographer is listed in each photo’s caption.
