Use of an IDP is a common courtesy that most countries extend to temporary foreign visitors, allowing them to drive relatively hassle-free during their short visits. However, most countries naturally want long-term foreign residents to enter their own national licensing systems after some time. Now, it would be quite unfair to make licensed drivers go through the entire initial training and testing process again just to join a new national licensing system, especially in a foreign language. So, the Japanese government has created a painless/painful process (depending on who you talk to) that allows you to "convert or transfer" your home country's license over to an official Japanese one. The whole idea of the thing is based on the fact that you already have a license and driving experience in your home country, and therefore should be an easy write-in candidate for a Japanese license. BTW, rest easy because home country license is a separate legal entity that is not affected by this "conversion".
Here's the process in short...
First, you must show documented proof that you have had a valid license from your home country for at least three months. VERY IMPORTANT: DON'T RENEW YOUR LICENSE THREE MONTHS BEFORE COMING TO JAPAN. If you do renew it within the final three months before coming, it will make your license look like you've been driving for less than three months in your home country. The impact to this is that you'll also have to bring an official copy of your driving record to Japan and somehow translate it into Japanese because the company here in Japan (JAL) who you must pay to translate your home country's license into Japanese DOES NOT translate driving records, only driver's licenses.
Second, you will take two exams. The first is a short 10-20 question written exam on driving rules here in Japan. The test is pretty simple - an ape with an IQ below plant life could pass it. However, the challenging part is reading the often times bad English translation of the questions. Before you get your knickers in a bunch, relax because I have never heard of anyone failing it. But, if you do so happen to fail it email me so I can tell people I know someone. The second exam is the eye test. Unlike English-speaking countries, Japan doesn't use the alphabet or numbers. They simply use the letter "C" facing different directions and you must say: right, left, up or down. I had a brain fart when I took it the test because I said, "backwards C...upwards C...downward C." I think the person conducting the test thought I was mentally handicapped. If you are from one of the following 22 countries - Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or United Kingdom - you only have to take the eye exam and not the written exam to be issued your Japanese driver's license.
Third, if you're not lucky be from one of the above countries you will also be required to take a driving test. The specifics for this test will be outlined later on.
...onto The Paperwork (2 of 4)
This page was last modified on Friday, April 09, 2010 11:14:40 AM