It wont be easy for me to get my actual driving record from home. I have heard that some use their University transcript.
In short, I got my licence in 2019 and graduated in 2018 so that is how my University transcript is dated. I moved to Japan in August.
My IDP expires next August but I just wanted to plan ahead of time.
Are there any other documents I can use?
4 comments
Ummm.
Your residence card.
So you need to prove you were in the country where you got your overseas license for at least three months after you got the license, right? I think most people use their passport and the stamps or lack of stamps for proof.
Bring anything that proves you were in the country until you came to Japan. Rental agreement, old job pay stubs. Pretty much anything that looks official and has dates and maybe duration. Then be willing to explain what you give them in Japanese. Make and bring copies.
Also, you can most likely start the process and just check with them if whatever document is good. If they take one and mark the checkbox, then you’re good.
I’m seeing in the comments that others had a more stressful time with this than I did… but I just emailed the MVD in my home state and they sent me a PDF with dates and numbers on it. I totally could have faked it.
The testing center in Fuchu, Tokyo, didn’t care at all.
Good luck and I hope it goes as smooth for you as it did for me. 🙂