{"id":822,"date":"2026-02-25T15:03:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jdmrentaljapan.com\/international-drivers-license\/?p=822"},"modified":"2026-07-06T15:46:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:46:51","slug":"malta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samuraicampers.com\/international-drivers-license\/malta\/","title":{"rendered":"Malta"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><b>Malta Licence Holders Driving in Japan<\/b><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A driving licence issued in Malta is not enough on its own to drive in Japan. Maltese drivers must also carry a valid International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because Japan follows the 1949 Geneva Convention for foreign drivers, the permit must match that convention\u2019s required format. A Malta-issued IDP can be accepted when it is official, physical, valid, and issued by a recognized Maltese authority.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Maltese Drivers Need<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before driving or renting a vehicle in Japan, Malta licence holders should have:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Original Malta driving licence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valid 1949 Geneva Convention IDP<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passport showing date of arrival in Japan<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan checks the licence issuing country, not only the driver\u2019s nationality.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Malta IDP Acceptance Rules<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan may accept a Maltese IDP only when it is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A physical booklet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issued by an authorized Maltese body<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matched to the correct vehicle category<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used by a driver aged 18 or older<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Card-style, digital, online, or unofficial \u201cinternational licences\u201d should not be treated as valid documents for Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Validity Limit in Japan<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if the Malta IDP shows its own expiry date, Japan generally limits foreign driving eligibility to one year from IDP issue date or one year from arrival in Japan, whichever ends first.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Malta IDP Issuing Authority<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recognized issuing body listed for Malta is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/touringclubmalta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Touring Club Malta<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-823 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/jdmrentaljapan.com\/international-drivers-license\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/malta-01.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samuraicampers.com\/international-drivers-license\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/malta-01.webp 600w, https:\/\/samuraicampers.com\/international-drivers-license\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/malta-01-180x300.webp 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>EU Licence Notice<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malta is part of the EU and EEA, but Japan does not accept an EU or EEA driving licence alone. For Japan, Maltese drivers still need the correct 1949 Geneva Convention IDP.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Fake Licence Warning<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not rely on online \u201cinternational driver\u2019s licence\u201d sellers. Japan requires an official International Driving Permit, not a digital certificate or unofficial translation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Final Note<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malta licence holders can drive in Japan when they carry both their original Malta licence and a valid 1949 Geneva Convention IDP in the correct format.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Malta Licence Holders Driving in Japan A driving licence issued in Malta is not enough on its own to drive 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