The process is very simple. If you satisfy below conditions.
1) If your country license is valid and active (not expired) then you are eligible to convert it to japanese license.
2) Post issuing driving license in your country, you should be staying in your country for atleast 3 months. (license center checks your passport for stamping..so dont try to manipulate anything...)
If above 2 conditions are fulfilled then you need to follow below steps to get your japanese license.
1) get your country license translated from JAF (https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/drive-in-japan/foreign-nationals-license) cost would be around ¥3000
2)visit your designated license center in japan (EITHER KANAGAWA DRIVING CENTER OR SUMIZU DRIVING CENTER IN TOYKO) or visit their website to know about the documentation requirements. Usually below documents are required
- Your passport (along with old as well if you have)
- your country driving license
- translation of your driving license
- Residence card
- juminhyo (residence certificate)
- If license is from India then you need to show them validity of your license from https://parivahan.gov.in/rcdlstatus/?pur_cd=101 online as well as using printout
- recent photos
- some money
3) call driving license center and take appointment for submission of documents.
4) on designated day visit driving license center and submit all necessary documents. (Please make sure you are carrying ALL documents.) If any single document is not available then they will send you back.
5) After document verification, you need to appear for aptitude test and vision test.
Both the tests are very simple. Aptitude test is just a general knowledge if you are aware of basic traffic rules and signs. Vision test they just ask you the colour displayed on the screen. (In japan green signal is actually considered BLUE)
6) if you clear both tests then they will give you specific date and time on which you need to take driving practical test
7) before going for the test, I would recommend to take some lessons from driving school (preferably on test track itself) I recommend below school. (https://www.futamatagawa-ds.co.jp/foreign-drivers-license-exchange.html) If you give my registration number while registering your name you will get some discount... :)
8) Appear for driving test. ( I am not going to give any tips for driving here.. ) Only going to tell you that test is not at all difficult. So dont go with over confidence.
They have specific point system (every step is allotted some points.for e.g. turns/wait at signal/follow basic rules etc) where if you score more than 80 pts then you are PASS.. else they will give you another date for test.
Keep your mind cool and go and give test ... you will definitely PASS..
9) If you pass the test then you need to pay some fee (around ¥2500) and wait for an hour or so to get your license.
Enjoy riding and exploring Japan then !!!
IF YOU GET LICENSE THEN DONT FORGET ME !!!.. ONE ROAD TRIP WITH ME !!!
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