News Chinese drivers seek easy path to international driver's licenses in Japan

[thomas]

Sora24 (not our most quoted news source ) reported how to dodge the (sometimes strict) regulations for obtaining an international driver's license.

Obtaining a Japanese driver's license from scratch can be challenging and time-consuming. However, the process is significantly less complex for individuals holding valid driver's licenses from other countries. Recently, some Chinese tourists have been exploiting this system to upgrade their Chinese licenses to Japanese ones. This trend can be attributed to the fact that countries recognise a Japanese driver's license as part of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. By obtaining a Japanese license, Chinese drivers can bypass the need for individual bilateral agreements with each country and enjoy the convenience of using an International Driving Permit (IDP). While Chinese licenses are valid in some countries for a limited period, the IDP offers a more streamlined and globally recognised solution for international driving.

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Chinese drivers flocking to Japan for quick and easy route to international licenses

Come for the food, stay for the ability to drive in 100 countries.

soranews24.com

Unseen Japan confirmed that you DON'T need a Japanese residence card to get a Japanese driver's license!

How Are Foreign Tourists Getting Japanese Driver's Licenses? - Unseen Japan

Think you need a residence card to get a Japanese driver's license? Turns out you don't - you just need a piece of paper from a hotel.

unseen-japan.com

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Another war story. Maybe it was a standard joke the Army played on Navy guys. When I went to the base military police to get my license for driving in Japan , they put me in a big 12 ton Army truck. I had driven truck before so I figured I could do it. The first turn did me in , it had no power steering. They then swapped me to a crew cab pickup and I passed.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

You mean all this time I could have renewed my Japanese driver's license even though I didn't live there?

 

[thomas]

You'd need a 一時帰国証明書 from your hotel (I've never heard of this before), which seems to work for Chinese tourists. Perhaps temporary leave permits can also be procured when staying with friends or family. I wonder how long it will take for them to close that loophole.

Typically, when obtaining a driver's license, you have to submit a copy of your residence certificate (住民票; juuminhyou). This is an official document issued by your city hall verifying your address in Japan. Chinese tourists, however, are asking the hotels where they stay to issue them a Temporary Leave Permit (一時帰国証明書; ichiji kikoku shoumeisho). This document states the bearer resides at the specified location in Japan. Some hotels, such as the Business in Grandeur in Fuchuu, Tokyo, will gladly fill these forms out for guests for free. The procedure appears designed to accommodate Japanese citizens who are currently living abroad. However, multiple Chinese citizens interviewed by FNN say they've used it to obtain a Japanese driver's license. The procedure merely involves passing a 10-question written exam in Mandarin and 23 other languages. Test takers must get seven out of ten questions right. Many tourists are trying to obtain a driver's license, and travellers generally must leave Japan and return on a second visa to take the test. FNN recorded footage of tourists waiting all night to submit applications before a driver's license office.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

That makes no sense. How can a non-citizen, non-resident person 一時帰国 (temporarily return to Japan)? Whoever figured out that it could be done deserves a medal of sorts, but this loophole needs to be closed so that it can only be used for its intended purpose.

 

[mdchachi]

That makes no sense. How can a non-citizen, non-resident person 一時帰国 (temporarily return to Japan)? Whoever figured out that it could be done deserves a medal of sorts, but this loophole needs to be closed so that it can only be used for its intended purpose.

Yes, I don't understand it either.

My Japanese license is just a long-expired souvenir in my desk drawer now.

 

[Petaris]

My wife just keeps renewing hers when we visit Japan. I think she uses her mom's house as her address for that purpose.

 

[salyavin]

Yea my wife renewed hers when we visit too but she is Japanese. I never thought I could. I think most of the Chinese tourists mentioned had not even resided in Japan before either which makes this whole thing very strange. I too have concerns about this 一時帰国証明書 loophole being abused more than this and it should be closed. I certainly understand why Chinese tourists want it of course as stated in the summary above, I have certain privileges they do not with regards to IDP but I still think this loophole should be closed.