Hi, so I’m from Canada and I fall under the countries that do not need to take a test, but I needed to get a translation of my license and some other basic documents. I got everything I need, went to the Yamanashi Prefecture office, but they told me to call them to make an appointment, and that I can expect to arrange something for April or may next year. I think they were confused on what I was needing done, as I do not need to take a test, just supply the necessary documents to get a Japanese license. Is this standard proceedings? My Japanese wasn’t strong enought to fully understand everything they said. What’s your experience?
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From Canada as well. I had a similar experience. I had to book an appointment (several months in advance) to submit the documents because they will confirm the documents and give you your transfered license the same day. It took up most of my day for the whole process.
I’m from Canada as well. I brought all my documents to the Samezu driver licensing office in Tokyo, got in line, waited several hours and walked out with my Japanese license
I did it in Osaka. I didn’t need an appointment, but to get a license translated you need to arrive at least one hour early and stand in line. I don’t remember the exact number, but they only do a specific set number of people per day. I was an hour early and was almost at the cut off number.
Took pretty much the whole day. The interview is pretty heavy and it’s where they decide if you need to take a test or not. If you pass the interview you should be able to get your card same day. But there are specific things they look for in the interview to make sure that the interviewer feels comfortable passing you without a written/driving test.
Edit: look up interview questions and be prepared for it like a job interview. You will not be allowed to look up information on your phone during the interview. As an American, they were concerned about whether or not I had official driving instruction in a school setting with a proper instructor or not.
Here is a link for info on Yamanashi. You will most likely need to bring someone who can translate to help you with the interview.
https://www.yetijapan.com/files/Yamanashi%20Driving%20Guide%202020.pdf
In Tokyo, it’s basically same day when you’ve got all the docs ready.
I’d say it’s reasonable that you don’t have all the docs ready the first day, so maybe 2 visits to be on the safe side.
April/May next year is ridiculously far out… If you go that route, please make sure you’re still eligible to convert your license on that date.
P.S. I’m not sure if you can do the paperwork in a different prefecture than where you live ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Not from Canada but my country is also eligible to the exchange. I did it in Kanagawa prefecture, I called early july and had a slot for this week so only 2 months of wait but they told me I’m lucky because someone cancelled, otherwise the wait would have been 4-5 months. The process took almost 4 hours.
You indeed only need to give the documents, but they have many things to check before giving you the driving license.
You need to call the prefectural driving license test center.
In Yamanashi :
予約受付・問い合わせ先
山梨県警察本部交通部運転免許課試験担当
山梨県南アルプス市下高砂８２５（山梨県総合交通センター）
電話：０５５－２８５－０５３３
Source : https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/police/p_menkyo/siken/siken_qa.html#4
I think it depends which prefecture you’re in, a friend had to do an “interview” where they go through your documents and check everything is in order (they basically just ask a bunch of questions about driving like how you got your licence, how you learnt to drive etc.). I would take a friend who understands Japanese with you.
My wife had the same Canadian license predicament. We were told by everyone here that there is zero testing needed, but, after conversations with 3 different people working at the driving place here in Okayama, they all kept saying “she needs to take the knowledge and practice tests”. Eventually, we got her mom to call and reiterate that everyone’s telling us that we don’t need to test. This employee, not believing her, left her on hold for like 15 minutes came back and said “oh yea whaddya know you’re right. Just come in with these documents, etc”.
Anyways, with the translations, proof of living in Canada, etc, she walked out with a Japanese license after about 3 hours on the same day of her appointment.
My husband and I (both Canadian) got it done the same day we showed up with all the documents.
We had to go back a second time for mine because we had brought only one copy of the Juminho for the both of us so they could only process one license the first time, but that was on us for taking a chance with just one copy.