Japan licence Malta

Driving in Malta with a Japan license

Short answer: to drive in Malta with a Japan license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your Japan license.

Bring an IDP

Yes — to drive in Malta on an Japan licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your Japan licence. Malta accepts foreign licences, but an IDP is needed because Japan licences are not in the local alphabet.

Convention basisMalta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskAn IDP helps non-EU and non-Latin-script drivers at Maltese desks.

CarryCarry BOTH your Japan national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified June 2026Source: Geneva 1949 / Vienna 1968

Get my IDP for Malta Full Malta guide

Japanese drivers should carry an International Driving Permit (1949 Convention) with their licence when driving abroad. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.

Driving rules in Malta

Drive on the left.
Seatbelts mandatory; phone use banned.
0.05% alcohol limit.
Narrow roads and aggressive local driving.

Common questions

Can I drive in Malta with a Japan license?

to drive in Malta with a Japan license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your Japan license. Malta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my Japan driver's license valid in Malta?

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Malta?

Can I rent a car in Malta with a Japan license?

An IDP helps non-EU and non-Latin-script drivers at Maltese desks.

What IDP format does Malta accept?

Malta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Malta?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing Japan license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1949 Geneva / 1968 Vienna format Malta uses — carried alongside your Japan license.

Do I still carry my Japan license?

Carry BOTH your Japan national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.