Japan considers toughening rules on driver's license conversions

Japan Times

22-05-2025

Two recent high-profile traffic accidents involving foreign nationals have prompted the National Police Agency to consider revising the rules on converting a foreign driver's license into a Japanese one.
The agency revealed the plan Wednesday during a Liberal Democratic Party committee meeting on foreign residents amid concerns that the system for converting a license is too easy. The same day, LDP policy chief Itsunori Onodera visited a driver's license center in Tokyo to see how the process works.
"We'll urge the government to make amendments" if there is a problem in the system of converting foreign driver's licenses, Onodera told reporters.
On Sunday, two Chinese men were arrested over an alleged hit-and-run that injured four elementary school boys in Saitama Prefecture. The police suspect that the driver was drunk.
In another case, a Peruvian man was arrested Monday after allegedly driving his car on the wrong side of the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Mie Prefecture and crashing into several cars before fleeing the scene.
It has been reported that drivers in those cases had had their foreign driver's licenses converted into local ones.
According to the NPA, foreign license conversions have been on the rise in recent years. Last year, there were 75,905 conversions, a significant leap from the 33,687 recorded in 2015.
The license conversion process is relatively straightforward. Foreign nationals residing in Japan who have a valid driver's license issued in their home country can apply to have it converted at a local driver's license center after passing some tests.
Aside from a valid license, other necessary documents include a Japanese translation of the license, and a passport. In addition, those seeking to convert their license need to show they have been in the country that issued the license for three months or longer after obtaining it.
Generally, applicants then take a test on Japan's traffic rules as well as a driving test, although some may be exempt from those tests depending on the driver's country of origin.
The traffic knowledge test asks a series of yes or no questions, such as whether drivers should drive on the right side of the road. Out of 10 questions, applicants need to answer seven or more questions correctly to pass. About 90% of applicants pass the test.
In contrast, the driving skills test has a pass rate of only 26%, according to the Foreign Drivers Support Association. Applicants need to score 70 points or more out of 100 to pass.
The current system also allows tourists to convert their license into a Japanese one using a temporary address, such as a hotel.
Vietnamese nationals make up the largest group of drivers with a converted license at 15,807, followed by Chinese nationals with 11,247, according to NPA figures cited by Sankei Shimbun.
'We will be attentive to ensure that the laws and regulations are applied properly to those whose application of the rules haven't been strict enough,' former digital minister Taro Kono said.
The NPA is considering making it mandatory to submit resident registration forms when applying for a license conversion and increasing the number of questions applicants need to answer for the traffic tests.
Information from Jiji added