I’m currently in Japan on a working holiday visa. I have an international license but I read that you should get a Japanese license if you’re not here on a 90 day temporary visitors visa. So I got all the documents I needed to apply for my license conversion and the last thing I needed to do was make a reservation… I’ve been calling all day and it just says the line is busy and hangs up on me… I’ve heard a lot of people say don’t just show up. But if they don’t answer their phone I’m not sure what else I’m suppose to do.
Anyone else experienced this?
(I’ve called the actual building and they told me they’re booked out until August and I had to make a reservation with that particular number.. Im worried the longer I wait the longer it’ll be before I can even get a reservation)
UPDATE:
I went into the driver license centre and got my license the same day. I don’t think this would work for everyone, but I guess I got lucky.
by b4invu
7 comments
How long are you here for?
I think an international driver’s license (which is basically an authorized translation of your license) would have sufficed. Even people on a longer visa can manage with that for a full year. I don’t know if you can get that now that you’re already here though. It depends on the country.
You’re on a WHV, unless you plan on staying long term it’s not worth the trouble unless you’re one of those who can easily convert without taking the tests because the IDP is valid for one year
I’m doing something similar. Converting my license to local from SOFA status (I gave up SOFA status and you are able to take a cancelled SOFA drivers license and convert it to a Japanese one) so now I have no valid drivers license until their next available appointment. To get one my wife, Japanese, spent most of the day on the phone trying to get them to answer. When they finally picked up (Yokohama office btw) they stated the next available appointment was about 3 months in the future.
Whaaaat.
She asked if we can just show up and wait. They said no, there is no way to get in earlier for a license appointment. So here I am riding my bicycle and taking public transport for the next 3 months. I live far from my work so its an hour and a half at least each way. Good times. Legs getting strong, also unexpected benefit is I sleep pretty good on the long train ride.
Cheers.
Just showing up didn’t work in Nagano. My wife called the day before and asked if I can just come and queue up. They said it’s ok. Then next day I want and apparently I needed a reservation. Luckily the lady booked a time for me there and I didn’t have to go through that ridiculous phone booking process.
In general you can drive with your international permit (in conjunction with your home license) for 1 year from the date of your arrival in Japan.
So unless you’re planning to stay more than 1 year, it’s probably not worth converting.
In Gunma, there is only one day to call and make your appointment for the following month. Is that a rule at the DMV you’re going to? And if so is that possibly why they aren’t helping you now?