To get a forklift license in Japan, you take a course at a registered training school and pass its tests, and the table below answers common questions about the course type, length, cost, and language.
| Your question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| I will drive a forklift at work. Which license do I need? | It depends on the maximum load. A forklift of 1 ton or more requires the skill training course, and a smaller one requires at least special education. See the license types |
| I have no license at all. How long is the course? | The standard course is 35 hours, over about 4.5 to 5 days. A regular (futsuu) or larger Japanese car license shortens it to 31 hours, and some courses for foreigners add extra hours. See the course types |
| How much will it cost me? | On the school pages checked for this article, full courses of 31 hours or more cost about ¥38,500 to ¥69,000. Shorter courses for experienced operators cost less. See the cost table |
| My Japanese is not strong. Can I still take it? | Yes. Some schools hold the written test in English and other languages, and some offer courses with an interpreter in English. See language support |
| What do I do first? | Check the forklift at your workplace, then choose a course and a school. See the steps |
After reading this article, you can choose the right course, compare costs, and find a school that supports your language, but if you sign up without checking the course type first, you may book a longer and more expensive course than you need or a school where every class is in Japanese.
The first section explains which type of forklift license you need for your job.
Which type of forklift license in Japan do you need?
The type of forklift license in Japan you need depends on the maximum load of the forklift. A forklift that can lift 1 ton or more requires the skill training course, and a smaller forklift requires at least special education.
An English forklift training textbook on the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) explains the two levels below. Here, special education (tokubetsu kyōiku) means workplace safety training, not school education. Check the maximum load on the forklift’s nameplate or ask your employer.
| Maximum load | Required training |
|---|---|
| 1 ton or more | Skill training course (ginō kōshū) |
| Less than 1 ton | At least special education (tokubetsu kyōiku). People who finished the skill training course can also drive |
The MHLW textbook states that an employer must place a person who has finished the skill training course to operate a forklift with a capacity of 1 ton or more.[1] If you are not sure which forklift you will drive, ask your employer before you book a course.
What people call a forklift license in Japan is the certificate of completion that the school issues when you finish the course. The textbook also states that people who operate forklifts must carry the appropriate certificate, so keep the completion certificate with you at work. For the overall Japanese safety rules for forklifts, see the overview of forklift safety laws in Japan (in Japanese).
[1] Source: MHLW, forklift operator training textbook (English)
Course types and hours for a forklift license in Japan
A course for a forklift license in Japan takes 11 to 35 hours under the official rules, and some schools add hours to their courses for foreigners. The hours depend on whether you hold a Japanese car license or have experience with small forklifts.
NKC (a registered training school in Kanagawa) lists four course types on its English page. Find the row that matches you before you apply.
| Course | Who it is for | Hours (theory + practice) |
|---|---|---|
| A | Holders of a large special vehicle license (ōgata tokushu), or holders of a regular, medium, or large car license with special education and over 3 months of experience on forklifts under 1 ton | 11 (7 + 4) |
| B | Holders of forklift special education with over 6 months of experience on forklifts under 1 ton | 15 (11 + 4) |
| C | Holders of a regular (futsuu), medium, or large Japanese car license | 31 (7 + 24) |
| D | People who hold none of the above | 35 (11 + 24) |
Course names differ by school, so compare the conditions in the middle column, not the letters. Courses A and B usually need proof of experience, such as a certificate from your company.[1] If you hold no Japanese driver’s license and have no forklift experience, Course D (35 hours) is the course for you.
The 35-hour course is set by Japanese rules. The Hyogo Labour Bureau lists the content as 11 hours of theory and 24 hours of practice.[2]
- Theory: travel devices (4 hours), cargo-handling devices (4 hours), mechanics for driving (2 hours), related laws (1 hour)
- Practice: driving (20 hours), cargo handling (4 hours)
NKC holds a theory test and offers it in 11 languages.[1] Some schools add hours for foreigners. The foreigner course at Yumura Driving School, for example, has 16 hours of theory and 24 hours of practice.[3]
[1] Source: NKC, Forklift course for foreigners
[2] Source: Hyogo Labour Bureau, press release (in Japanese)
[3] Source: Yumura Driving School, Forklift Course for Foreigners
How much does a forklift license in Japan cost?
A forklift license in Japan costs about ¥38,500 to ¥69,000 for full courses of 31 hours or more on the school pages checked for this article, and shorter courses for experienced operators cost less.
The table below shows fees as listed on each school’s page, checked on October 31, 2026. The schools are in Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Aichi, and schools in other regions may charge different fees, so check the latest page of a school near you before you apply.
| School and course | Fee (tax included) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NKC, Course D | ¥49,000 | 11 + 24 hours; about 4.5 days; foreigner fee with textbook |
| NKC, Course C | ¥46,000 | 7 + 24 hours; about 4 days; foreigner fee with textbook |
| NKC, Course A (experienced operators) | ¥22,000 | 7 + 4 hours; about 1.5 days; foreigner fee with textbook |
| Yumura Driving School, foreigner course (no license) | ¥58,300 | 16 + 24 hours; interpreter not included |
| Yumura Driving School, foreigner course (with a regular license) | ¥52,800 | 10.5 + 24 hours; interpreter not included |
| Aichi Labor Standards Association, foreign-language course | ¥69,000 | 35 hours (2 days of theory, 3 days of practice); textbook included; schedule for April 2026 to March 2027 |
| Hamanako Driving School (no license) | ¥40,700 | 11 + 24 hours; 5 days |
| Hamanako Driving School (with a regular license) | From ¥38,500 | 7 + 24 hours; 4 days |
The foreign-language course in the table has the highest fee, but the school provides an interpreter for your language, so you do not need to arrange one. Yumura Driving School asks students in its foreigner course to bring their own interpreter, and the interpreter fee is extra.[1]
Some employers may cover the fee for their workers, so ask your employer before you pay by yourself.
[1] Source: Yumura Driving School, Forklift Course for Foreigners
Other sources: NKC, Aichi Labor Standards Association, schedule for April 2026 to March 2027 (in Japanese), Hamanako Driving School
Can you take a forklift license in Japan course in English?
You can take a course for a forklift license in Japan with English support at some schools, but many schools teach in Japanese. Language support falls into three levels.
| Level of support | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-language course | A Japanese instructor teaches, and an interpreter provided by the school translates into your language | Aichi Labor Standards Association (English, Chinese, Indonesian, Portuguese, and Vietnamese) |
| Test in your language | Classes are in Japanese; the written test is offered in English and other languages | NKC (11 languages for the theory test) |
| Japanese with your own interpreter | Classes are in Japanese; you bring an interpreter | Yumura Driving School |
Magio Work License School, which has campuses across Japan, states that its classes and tests are generally in Japanese.[1] Ask the school about the language of the classes and the test before you book. The Aichi Labor Standards Association, for example, takes bookings by phone and asks you to call with a person who understands Japanese.[2]
If you study before the course, use free MHLW materials. MHLW publishes a forklift safety manga in 14 language versions, including English, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.[3] For the role of the person who guides a forklift at work, see what a forklift signal person does (in Japanese).
[1] Source: Magio Work License School, information for foreign residents
[2] Source: Aichi Labor Standards Association, schedule for April 2026 to March 2027 (in Japanese)
[3] Source: MHLW, safety and health manga for workers (in Japanese), forklift edition in English (PDF)
Table sources: Aichi Labor Standards Association, foreign-language courses, NKC, Yumura Driving School
Steps to get a forklift license in Japan
Getting a forklift license in Japan takes five steps, from checking the forklift to receiving the certificate. Follow the steps in order to avoid booking the wrong course.
- Check the maximum load of the forklift you will drive, and ask your employer whether you need the skill training course or special education.
- Choose a course type based on the Japanese licenses you hold and your forklift experience.
- Choose a school that supports your language, and check the fee and the schedule.
- Prepare the documents. Yumura Driving School, for example, asks for an ID such as a residence card or passport, the application form, and a form about your Japanese ability, at least one week before the course.
- Attend all hours, pass the tests, and keep the completion certificate with you at work.
Schools such as Hamanako Driving School accept applicants aged 18 or older.[1] If you will also guide other forklifts at work, see whether a forklift signal person needs a license (in Japanese).
[1] Source: Hamanako Driving School, forklift course
Step 4 source: Yumura Driving School, Forklift Course for Foreigners
Frequently asked questions about a forklift license in Japan
The questions below cover who can get a forklift license in Japan, how long it takes, the cost, and the language of the test.
Can a foreigner get a forklift license in Japan?
Yes, a foreigner can get a forklift license in Japan by taking a course at a registered training school. Some schools run courses for foreigners, such as the foreigner course of Yumura Driving School, and the Aichi Labor Standards Association runs 35-hour courses with interpreters in English and four other languages in fiscal 2026 (April 2026 to March 2027).
Do I need a Japanese driver’s license to get a forklift license in Japan?
No, you can get a forklift license in Japan without a Japanese driver’s license by taking the 35-hour course. A regular (futsuu) or larger Japanese car license shortens the course to 31 hours.
How long does it take to get a forklift license in Japan?
The forklift license in Japan takes 11 to 35 hours of training under the official rules, and some courses for foreigners are longer. The 35-hour course usually takes about 4.5 to 5 days, depending on the school.
How much is a forklift license in Japan?
A forklift license in Japan costs about ¥38,500 to ¥69,000 for full courses of 31 hours or more on the school pages checked on October 31, 2026. Shorter courses for experienced operators cost less, for example ¥22,000 to ¥24,000 at NKC, a training school in Kanagawa.
Can I take the forklift license test in Japan in English?
Yes, some schools offer the tests for a forklift license in Japan in English. NKC, a training school in Kanagawa, offers the theory test in 11 languages including English, and the Aichi Labor Standards Association runs 35-hour courses with interpreters in English and four other languages in fiscal 2026 (April 2026 to March 2027).
Do I need a forklift license in Japan for a forklift under 1 ton?
Yes, for a forklift under 1 ton you need at least special education, and the skill training course for a forklift license in Japan also allows you to drive it. Special education alone does not allow you to drive forklifts of 1 ton or more.
Summary of how to get a forklift license in Japan
To get a forklift license in Japan, check the forklift, choose the right course, and choose a school that supports your language.
- A forklift of 1 ton or more requires the skill training course; a smaller one requires at least special education.
- The course takes 11 to 35 hours under the official rules; some courses for foreigners are longer.
- Full courses of 31 hours or more cost about ¥38,500 to ¥69,000 on school pages.
- Some schools hold the written test in English and other languages.
- Keep the completion certificate with you at work.
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