Obtaining a Japanese Driver's License(August,2008 )

There are two ways foreign residents can get a driver’s license in Japan.

１　Switching from a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese license

◎Conditions:

(1)Applicant’s foreign driver’s license must be valid.

(2)Applicant must be able to prove that he/she stayed in the issuing country for at least 3 months total after obtaining their license.

 An aptitude test, traffic rules knowledge check and driving skill check are required to switch from a foreign driver’s license. These tests/checks are held at the Driving License Center. The traffic rules knowledge check is given in seven languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Persian and Spanish), but other tests/checks are held only in Japanese.

 A preliminary review is required before the above tests/checks (appointment necessary). Please call and confirm with the Miyazaki Prefecture Driver’s License Examination Center（Tel:0985-31-0110/Extension755-252; Open：Mon - Thurs, 10:00～12:00、1:00～4:00 *Closed on Holidays.）

◎Required Documents for Preliminary Review:

①Alien Registration Certificate

②Foreign Driver’s License（Including previous expired driver’s licenses）

*If your license does not show a date of issue or the date of issue is less than 3 months prior to your arrival in Japan - due to license renewal - you must provide documentation, with translation, showing the original date your license was issued.

③Passport（Old and new copies）  

④Translation of foreign driver’s license（Issued by either a foreign embassy or consular office in Japan, or the Japanese Automobile Foundation (JAF) (JAF Miyazaki Branch: Tel:0985-52-4511 http://www.jaf.or.jp/）

◎Additional Notice:

　If your license has been issued by one of the countries listed below, the traffic knowledge and driving-skill checks are not required: France, Spain, Germany, Portuguese, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Holland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Finland, United Kingdom, Australia, Deｎmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Canada, South Korea.

◎The Aptitude Test and Knowledge/Skill Checks

Time&Place: Miyazaki Prefecture Driver’s License Examination Center: Open Monday to Friday, Driver’s License Centers: (Miyakonojyo city): Monday & Thursday; (Nobeoka city): Tuesday & Friday *except holidays *8:30am～9:30am

Fees：Ordinary license test = \2400; Driver’s license processing fee = \1650

*Note that Miyakonojyo & Nobeoka Driver’s License Centers only accept applicants who have a license issued by one of the above 22 countries.

２　Obtaining a Japanese driver’s license

　Passing all aptitude, paper, and driving skills tests is necessary to obtain a Japanese driver’s license. Study at a driving school is common. Aptitude and skills tests are given in Japanese; paper tests can be taken in Japanese or English.

◎Questions: Miyazaki Prefecture Driver’s License Examination Center：(Miyazaki city)0985-31-0110/Extension755-252,

Driver’s License Center: (Miyakonojyo city)0986-24-0110/Extension533,

(Nobeoka city)0982-22-0110/Extension544　

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact the Miyazaki International Foundation: (Phone) 0985-32-8457, (Fax) 0985-32-8512, or (Email) miyainfo@mif.or.jp. Thank you.