「外そと免めん切替きりかえ」 観光かんこう客きゃくなどの短期たんき滞在たいざい者しゃには認みとめない方針ほうしん 警察庁けいさつちょう

The National Police Agency has decided, in principle, to verify addresses using a copy of the resident record when processing the procedure for converting a foreign drivers license to a Japanese one gaimen kirikae, and will not allow short-term visitors such as tourists from overseas to do so.

After soliciting opinions through a public comment process starting on the 11th, they want to revise the system from this October.

Gaikoku menkyo kirikae is a system that allows people with foreign drivers licenses to obtain a Japanese drivers license if they are recognized as having the necessary knowledge and skills to drive in Japan. According to the National Police Agency, more than 68,000 foreigners obtained a Japanese drivers license through this system last year, marking a record high.

Regarding this system, in the previous Diet session, there were a series of concerns such as, If temporary places of stay like hotels are recognized as residences for tourists without a residence certificate in Japan, wouldnt this affect law enforcement, for example in the event of an accident? and Arent the questions for confirming knowledge too easy, leading to insufficient understanding of Japans traffic rules? As a result, the National Police Agency has been considering a review.

As a result, the National Police Agency has decided that, in principle, applicants addresses for conversion of foreign drivers licenses will be verified using a copy of their residence certificate, regardless of nationality, and that short-term visitors such as tourists will not be eligible.

When the National Police Agency investigated the foreign license conversion system in 15 countries and regions, it found that none of them allowed tourists to use it as Japan does. Therefore, they state that when tourists drive in Japan, they should obtain an international driving permit based on the Geneva Convention, rather than using the foreign license conversion system.

Also, regarding the knowledge test to check understanding of Japanese traffic rules during the procedure, the number of questions will be increased from the current 10 to 50, and a correct answer rate of over 90% will be required. The skills test, which is conducted while driving a car, will also have stricter grading criteria.

The National Police Agency has begun soliciting opinions through a public comment process from the 11th, and intends to revise the system starting October 1st of this year.

To drive a car in Japan as a foreign national, there are three ways: - Obtain an international driving permit based on the Geneva Convention - Attach a Japanese translation issued by a consular office, etc., to a drivers license obtained overseas - Obtain a Japanese drivers license by either attending a Japanese driving school or converting a foreign drivers license to a Japanese one through the foreign license conversion procedure

An international driving permit based on the Geneva Convention can be obtained in about 100 countries and regions that are parties to the convention, but it cannot be obtained in countries that are not parties to the convention, such as China and Vietnam.

Additionally, the method of attaching a Japanese translation to a drivers license obtained in a foreign country is only applicable to countries and regions that have a licensing system similar to Japan: Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan.

On the other hand, gaimen kirikae is a system that allows people with a foreign drivers license to obtain a Japanese drivers license if they are recognized as having the necessary knowledge and skills at a Japanese testing center.

This system was introduced in 1933 and has been used, for example, when Japanese people who obtained a drivers license abroad return to Japan and switch to a Japanese license.

In recent years, with the increase in foreigners visiting Japan, more short-term visitors such as tourists have started using the foreign license conversion system. According to the National Police Agency, last year, of all the people who obtained a Japanese drivers license through foreign license conversion, foreigners accounted for 68,623 people, or 94% of the total, marking a record high.