Although having a driver’s license is not absolutely necessary if living in big metropolitan areas like Tokyo, it’s always nice to have the option to drive. Maybe you’ve been wanting to go visit an onsen but it’s quite mendokusai (a hassle) to get there if going by train or bus. Perhaps you are a proud cat daddy but your cat has a tendency to SCREAM BLOODY MURDER if going to the vet. You don’t want to meiwaku (inconvenience) everyone around you on the train and being able to drive could be a much easier option (yes – very specific example but if you know, you know). Maybe you just love driving and one of your bucket list items is to go on a cross country road trip from Sapporo to Kagoshima.
Regardless of your reason, we’re here to help.
Today, we’ll be walking you through the process of switching your foreign driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license. This process, known as “gaimen kirikae” (外免切替), can seem daunting at first, but with the right information and preparation, you’ll be on the road in no time.
1. Confirm Eligibility
Before starting the process, make sure you meet the following criteria:
- You are 18 years old or older and have a valid driver’s license from your home country
- You have resided in the country where your license was issued for at least three months after obtaining said license
- You have a legal status of residence in Japan (valid VISA)
- You possess a residence card (在留カード, zairyu card) in Japan
2. Gather Required Documents
You’ll need to prepare several documents for your application:
- Original driver’s license from your home country
- An official translation of your driver’s license. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) offers translation services for 4,000 JPY.
- Residence card and a paper copy
- Passport and a paper copy
- One passport-sized photo (3cm x 2.4cm)
- Application form (available at licensing center in English)
- Evidence of having resided in the country where your license was issued for at least three months. This can be utility bills, housing contract, salary pay stubs, etc. Basically, you will need to prove that you were physically in the country for at least three months from the date your license was issued. We recommend printing paper copies of this as well.
It’s best to double check your local prefecture’s government website for any additional required documents.
For example, here is a list of required documents per country from the Tokyo Metropolitan government.
3. Visiting the Driver’s License Center (Phase 1: Application)
The license switchover process can be separated primarily into 2 phases – Phase 1: Application and Phase 2: Exams. Since each phase can take up to half a day to complete, our recommendation is to split your visit into 2 visits.
For Phase 1, prepare all the required documents (IDs, paper copies, etc.) mentioned in Step #2, and take these documents with you to your nearest Driver’s License Center (must be within the prefecture where you live).
It’s a good idea to check online and make note of opening hours (For example, here is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s website). Some prefectures will allow reservations in advance while others will be first come, first serve. Usually, there will be a restriction on the number of applications the License Center can accept per day.
Given that most License Centers are out in the middle of nowhere, it’s advisable to check with the License Center in advance before making the trip. Weekends and holidays (particularly Golden Week, Year End, Obon) can be extremely crowded so we recommend making time on a weekday.
If you don’t know where to go once you arrive at the License Center, usually, there is a reception at the entrance and you can ask them where to go (Ex: “Gaimen kirikae no madoguchi wa doko desu ka?”).
If the license center doesn’t take reservations in advance, we recommend going at least an hour before opening time to ensure that you get your spot in line. Note: there may be a lot of waiting!
Once it’s your turn, the License Center staff will ask that you submit all of the required documents. They will ask you questions to ensure you are eligible to drive. Most staff there will be able to speak some English, but it’s best to assume that communication will mainly be in Japanese. If you meet all of the requirements (mentioned in Step #1), they will stamp your application and you can move onto the next step!
Depending on the country where you are from, you may be exempt from having to take exams.
Below are countries that are exempt:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Hawaii (USA), Maryland (USA), Virginia (USA), Washington (USA ), Ohio (USA), Oregon (USA), Colorado (USA), Indiana (USA)*.
Indiana (USA)* license holders are required to take the written exam but are exempt from the driving exam.
If you are a lucky soul from one of these countries, there will be some wait time for the staff to check your paper, then you will have to do some admin and the eye exam only. Then, skip down to Step #5!
If this is the case, you may be able to get your license issued in one visit (results may vary).
4. Visiting the Driver’s License Center (Phase 2: Exams)
Once your application has been approved, its time to take some exams.
In order to prepare for this phase, we recommend taking some time to familiarize yourself with Japanese traffic laws, road signs, etc. One good resource is “Rules of the Road” published by JAF, the Japan Automotive Foundation.
a. Written Exam
The written test consists of 10 true/false questions and can be provided in your local language. You need to answer at least 7 questions correctly to pass. The questions cover basic road rules and traffic signs in Japan.
b. Eye Exam
A simple vision test will be conducted to ensure your eyesight meets the required standards for driving in Japan. Vision requirements: 0.7 or above with both eyes and 0.3 or above with one eye If one eye doesn’t meet the minimum of 0.3, the other eye must be above 0.7 and you must have above 150 degree range of vision with the other eye.
c. Driving Exam
Once you pass the written and eye exam, its showtime!
You will get in a car (provided by the License Center) with a police officer and drive around a test course. The police officer will have a checklist and will be evaluating your performance from the moment the exam begins.
Adherence to rules is important in Japanese driving exams so be sure to follow the police officer’s instructions carefully. It’s a good idea to over emphasize checking your blind spots, signaling, stopping at stop signs, etc.
Check out this video (Youtuber Mellow in Japan) for a generic overview of the driving exam.
If you are not comfortable with driving on the left side of the road, it may be a good idea to book a session at a local driving school. Some driving schools offer drop in sessions where you can drive around a similar test course (the one I went to was around 20,000 JPY for a few hours). Also, if you are not confident in your Japanese, you can hire an interpreter to interpret for you during the driving exam.
In some cases, you may be put in a car group with other applicants. In my case, I was in a group with one other driver. Since the other driver went first, I was able to sit in the back seat and get an idea of the exam before driving myself.
My biggest advice here is to try to stay calm, exaggerate gestures, and drive defensively!
5. Getting your Japanese license
If you made it to this step, congratulations! Otsukare sama deshita.
Now that you have finished the application process and passed all of the necessary exams, you can sit back and relax while the License Center prepares your driver’s license. This may take another hour or so depending on how busy the place is.
Also, you will need to pay some fees. For example, in Tokyo, the cost is 2,550 JPY for an ordinary motor license plus a 2,050 JPY issuance fee.
And….thats it!
Switching your foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one can be a smooth process with the right preparation. Good luck, and happy driving!
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