Monday, January 03, 2011

Getting a Japanese License: Do You Have to Take the Test?

The driving test is the worst part of converting a foreign license. But, not every nationality has to take it. It all depends on whether Japan has concluded a treaty with your country that waives driving tests for each country's citizens. (So, if you're required to take a driving test to get your license converted in Japan, so would a Japanese person moving to your country.)

Anyway, here's the list of countries who do or don't have to take a driving test in Japan:

You don't have to take the driving test if you're converting a license from... (in fantastic alphabetical order!)
Australia, Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Finland, France
Germany, Greece
Iceland, Ireland, Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway
Portugal
Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland
United Kingdom

You do have to take a driving test if you are converting a license from...
Anywhere. Else.
But notably for our primarily English-speaking readers, this includes the USA, Jamaica, the Philippines, Singapore, and South Africa, as well as everywhere else in Africa, everywhere in South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the majority of nations in Asia and Oceania.

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