French Southern Territories
Summary
| Name | French Southern Territories |
|---|---|
| Note | A driver's license issued from French Southern Territories with a Japanese translation from JAF, or the Embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan it is valid to drive in Japan.Unfortunately, it has not been confirmed that French Southern Territories issues international driver's licenses that are valid in Japan, but if a regular organization in French Southern Territories issues an International Driving Permit (IDP) based on the Geneva Convention, it is valid in Japan.However, if you live in another country within EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), there are countries where you can issue international licenses that you can drive in Japan based on French Southern Territories driver's license. (Example: Luxembourg) |
I will explain if anybody who has the driver's license issued by French Southern Territories is allowed to drive in Japan.
Yes, with a driver's license issued from French Southern Territories and a Japanese translation from JAF or the Embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan, it is valid to drive in Japan.
To drive a vehicle legally in Japan, you will need a driver's license. The necessary documentation needed to issue a deriver's license does not depend on the driver's Nationality but depends on which country the driver's license is issued from and which country the driver resides in.
France has officially anounced that French Southern Territories will be affiliated under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Japan is only affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention, and French Southern Territories is also affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention.
However, French Southern Territories does not currently issue international driver's licenses in the format based on the Geneva Convention (1949).
Therefore, if French Southern Territories were to issue an international driver's license in the format based on the Geneva Convention (1949), it would be valid in Japan.
An international driving permit (IDP) which is not under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format is not valid in Japan.
Please confirm the international driving permit (IDP) is under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format.
The Specifics regrading the format under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
(1)Must be in a small booklet form, not a card type or paper type.
(2)French Southern Territories must recongnize the agent or agency that is issuing the international driving permit (IDP).
(3)The classfication must be from Ａ～Ｅ
(4)Must be 18 years old or older.
The validity of the international driving permit is 1 year from the date the permit has been issued, and also 1 year from the date of your arrival in Japan.
But with a driver's license issued from French Southern Territories and a Japanese translation from JAF, or the Embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan it is valid to drive in Japan.
Unfortunately, As of 2025 presently, the embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan does not issue the Japanese translation for travelers.
There is no official expiration date for the translation, but it must be paired with a valid driver’s license from your residential country and with in 1 year from the arrival date in Japan.
All Japanese translation from JAF is only possible to obtain in Japan, therefore if you would like to have a translation before you arrive in Japan, you will need a third party to obtain it for you.
Possible third party to obtain Japanese translation
（１）JAF Overseas Support
（２）The embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan
Unfortunately, As of 2025 presently, the embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan does not issue the Japanese translation for travelers.
French Southern Territories is affiliated with 1968 Vienna Convention. Japan is not affiliated with the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Any international driving permit (IDP) issued under the 1969 Vienna Convention is not valid to drive in Japan.
Japan is only affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention, therefore the international driving permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention is only valid to drive in Japan.
French Southern Territories is affiliated with 1949 Geneva Convention, but French Southern Territories do not issue an international driving permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format, so an international driving permit (IDP) issued by French Southern Territories is not valid to drive in Japan.
In the future, if French Southern Territories issue the international driving permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format, the international driving permit (IDP) will be valid to drive in Japan.
French Southern Territories is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), but Japan is not.
Therefore, any driver's license issued under EU or EEA is not valid to drive in Japan.
However, if you live in another country within EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), there are countries where you can issue international licenses that you can drive in Japan based on French Southern Territories driver's license. (Example: Luxembourg)
On the internet, you may come across a fake international driver's license that is presented as if it is valid to drive in Japan.
These fake international driver's license is not valid to drive in Japan.
For more information regarding fake international driver's license please click here.
Yes, with a driver's license issued from French Southern Territories and a Japanese translation from JAF or the Embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan, it is valid to drive in Japan.
To drive a vehicle legally in Japan, you will need a driver's license. The necessary documentation needed to issue a deriver's license does not depend on the driver's Nationality but depends on which country the driver's license is issued from and which country the driver resides in.
France has officially anounced that French Southern Territories will be affiliated under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Japan is only affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention, and French Southern Territories is also affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention.
However, French Southern Territories does not currently issue international driver's licenses in the format based on the Geneva Convention (1949).
Therefore, if French Southern Territories were to issue an international driver's license in the format based on the Geneva Convention (1949), it would be valid in Japan.
An international driving permit (IDP) which is not under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format is not valid in Japan.
Please confirm the international driving permit (IDP) is under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format.
The Specifics regrading the format under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
(1)Must be in a small booklet form, not a card type or paper type.
(2)French Southern Territories must recongnize the agent or agency that is issuing the international driving permit (IDP).
(3)The classfication must be from Ａ～Ｅ
(4)Must be 18 years old or older.
The validity of the international driving permit is 1 year from the date the permit has been issued, and also 1 year from the date of your arrival in Japan.
But with a driver's license issued from French Southern Territories and a Japanese translation from JAF, or the Embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan it is valid to drive in Japan.
Unfortunately, As of 2025 presently, the embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan does not issue the Japanese translation for travelers.
There is no official expiration date for the translation, but it must be paired with a valid driver’s license from your residential country and with in 1 year from the arrival date in Japan.
All Japanese translation from JAF is only possible to obtain in Japan, therefore if you would like to have a translation before you arrive in Japan, you will need a third party to obtain it for you.
Possible third party to obtain Japanese translation
（１）JAF Overseas Support
（２）The embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan
Unfortunately, As of 2025 presently, the embassy of French Southern Territories in Japan does not issue the Japanese translation for travelers.
French Southern Territories is affiliated with 1968 Vienna Convention. Japan is not affiliated with the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Any international driving permit (IDP) issued under the 1969 Vienna Convention is not valid to drive in Japan.
Japan is only affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention, therefore the international driving permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention is only valid to drive in Japan.
French Southern Territories is affiliated with 1949 Geneva Convention, but French Southern Territories do not issue an international driving permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format, so an international driving permit (IDP) issued by French Southern Territories is not valid to drive in Japan.
In the future, if French Southern Territories issue the international driving permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format, the international driving permit (IDP) will be valid to drive in Japan.
French Southern Territories is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), but Japan is not.
Therefore, any driver's license issued under EU or EEA is not valid to drive in Japan.
However, if you live in another country within EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), there are countries where you can issue international licenses that you can drive in Japan based on French Southern Territories driver's license. (Example: Luxembourg)
On the internet, you may come across a fake international driver's license that is presented as if it is valid to drive in Japan.
These fake international driver's license is not valid to drive in Japan.
For more information regarding fake international driver's license please click here.
