Japanese driving licences are issued by prefectural police headquarters and carry a standardised format. China and Japan do not have a bilateral driving licence mutual recognition agreement, meaning Japanese licence holders must follow the standard foreign licence conversion process to drive legally in mainland China.
The documentation process for Japanese licence holders typically requires the original Japanese driving licence, a certified Chinese translation (provided by a certified translator or official translation service), a valid Chinese residence permit, passport, and photographs. Japanese licences include Japanese-language text and the standard Japanese licence photograph and IC chip format; Chinese Vehicle Administration Office staff are generally familiar with the document.
One step that Japanese licence holders typically find useful is obtaining an official Japanese-language certificate of driving record (運転記録証明書, Unten Kiroku Shōmeisho) from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) or the relevant prefectural police authority, which documents the licence's validity and driving history. Some Chinese VMOs request such documentation.
The theory examination must be sat in the standard foreign applicant process — 100 questions from the Chinese traffic rules question bank. The examination is available in English; Japanese language is not typically an option. Japanese road rules differ from Chinese rules in several areas: lane direction (Japan drives on the left; China drives on the right), intersection priority, and various signage conventions are all different. Thorough preparation is essential regardless of years of driving experience in Japan.
Once the licence is obtained, a standard Chinese Category C licence for passenger cars is issued. Japanese nationals with motorcycle endorsements on their Japanese licence can additionally apply for a Chinese motorcycle licence, subject to separate Chinese category rules.