Name
- English
- Driver’s License（Japanes changeover）
- Japanese
- 運転免許証（日本国切替）
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Summary
The certificate showing that you are allowed to drive a car (this information is for a Japanese driver's license specifically).
Use
Carry this when you are driving, can also be used as a form of photo ID
A way of acquisition
To obtain a Japanese Drivers Licence as a holder of a drivers licence in another country: a condition of application is that you have a valid international drivers licence and have been in Japan for at least 3 months after date of issue.
Apply at the Driver's License Center of your prefectural police.
As a general rule, it is necessary to take and pass the technical/knowledge test. You will need to bring:
- Application form
- International driver’s license
- Japanese translation of the International driver's license
- ”Photo for your application“
- "Resident's Card” with nationality
- Passport
- If you had a Japanese driver's license in the past, please bring it
Fee
4,600yen for standard car vehicle class
Notes
A reservation in advance is required and documents may differ depending on the country your drivers licenece is from, make an enquiry to check.
Practical exams may be exempted depending on the country your drivers licence is from.
Japanese translation of a drivers licence is only valid if translated by a designated institution (see ”Driver’s license”)
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