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Q
Please tell me how to switch a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one.
A
A driver can switch a foreign driver’s license to only a Japanese Category 1 license
  1. Reception days
    Monday to Friday (except National holidays, weekends and between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3)
  2. Reception hours
    ※　Reservation required
  3. Location for application
    Akashi Driver’s License Examination Office (Room No.7 for Foreign Driver’s License Screening)
  4. List of necessities for application
    (1) A photo (3cm height×2.4 cm width, taken in the last 6 months, no hats, facing forward, from the shoulders up, no background, both eyes opened)
    (2) A valid foreign driver’s license
    (3) A Japanese translation of the above-mentioned foreign driver’s license
    • a. A translation by the embassy or consulate(for a Taiwanese driver’s license, a translation by the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association)
    • b. A translation by JAF (Japanese Automobile Federation)
    • c. A translation by ZIPLUS, Inc.(They are capable of translating following countries’ driver’s license; Taiwan, the United States, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Philippines)
    • d. A translation by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e.V.)
    (4) A Japanese Driver’s License (only a driver who has valid license or held one before)
    (5) A Certificate of residence which stated your nationality or domicile of origin
    • My Number Card’s personal number is not required.
    (６) Passport
    • a. Things which can prove you have stayed in the foreign country over three months in total after you obtained a foreign country’s driver’s license. (Depending on the date of obtaining the license, you might need previous passports, so please bring all of your passports if you have more than one.)
    • b. In case you do not have required previous passports or emigration and immigration record in the passport, please get a certificate of immigration’s record.
    (７) When you need additional materials.(Example)
    • a. When you have a foreign license without issued or expiry date, or the date of obtaining the initial license is unclear.
      　Driving record
    • b. When you have a Philippine driver’s license.
      　“Official Receipt”, “Red Ribbon” and “Apostille”
    • c. When you have a Brazilian driver’s license
      　Certidao de Prontuario
    • d. When you have a Canadian or Australian driver’s license
      　Depending on the states, driving records are required.
    • e. When you have a Nepali driver’s license
      　A Certificate of Embassy or Driving records
    • f. When you have a Chinese driver’s license
      　居民身分証
    • g. When you have a Pakistani driver’s license
      　A Certificate of Embassy or a Driver’s License Certificate
    • h. When you have a Syrian driver’s license
      　A Certificate of Embassy
    ※１ Required documents are vary depending on issuing country, so please contact us in advance.
    ※２ As a result of screening, additional documents might be required or your document will be rejected.
    ※３ We will designate the date and time of driving skill test after you pass questioning,document screening, aptitude test and knowledge test.
    ※４ If you are non-Japanese speaker, please be accompanied with an interpreter.
  5. Fee
    Examination Fee Mopeds
    Light-duty special vehicles    		 1,500yen
    Regular vehicles 2,550yen
    Large vehicles
    Medium vehicles
    Semi-Medium vehicles    		 4,100yen
    Large motorcycles
    Regular motorcycle    		 2,600yen
    Issuing Fee 　 2,050yen
    ※ Please purchase Examination fee and Issuing fee separately. (Due to differences in payment destinations)
    For example, when you switch your foreign driver’s license to a Japanese moped driver’s license,
    【Examination fee】 【Issuing fee】
    \1,500 in total. \2,050 in total.
  6. Reference
    Driver’s License Examination Office:(078)-912-1628　weekdays only, from 13:00 to 16:00
  7. ※　Number of wrong calls are increasing. Please make sure to dial the correct number.
※ Notes
  • Renewal fee must be paid with Hyogo Prefectural revenue stamp.
  • Police Association（Higashinada and Hyogo branch）, Regional Traffic Safety Association and Association of Japan Vehicle Administration sell revenue until 5:00 p.m.
  • Driver’s License Renewal Center and Police Association at Driver’s License Examination Office sell revenue until 4:00 p.m.
Hyogo Prefectural revenue agency(External link)
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