Foreigners Flocking to Japan’s License Centers

The reason why some people stay up all night to obtain a Japanese driver’s license.

“I’ve been lining up since 10 p.m. last night. A friend advised me to go early, so thanks to that, I’ll be the first one in.”

On a chilly, rainy morning in Tokyo’s Fuchu Driving License Test Center, foreign nationals were forming a long line in front of the entrance at 5 a.m. Leading the group was a man from Sri Lanka, followed by Chinese, Indonesian, and perhaps 30 others. Some had even brought camping chairs to take naps. On another day, the Samezu Driving License Test Center in Shinagawa had 60 to 70 people lined up before opening.

Why are so many foreigners willing to camp out all night to obtain a Japanese driver’s license?

“Their goal is to switch from their home country’s license to a Japanese license. This foreign license switch program has led to a surge of foreigners flocking to test centers across Japan. For example, at Kanagawa Police Driving License Center and Kadoma Driving License Test Center in Osaka, reservations for the written test are reportedly booked four months in advance,” said Kumiko Kato, an automotive journalist.

The foreign license switch consists of both a written test and a skills test. Since last summer, the requirements have been gradually relaxed, and the languages available at test centers in Tokyo have increased from five to 24. This policy is aimed at increasing the number of foreign workers, but it also has its challenges.

“First, the written test is too easy. It consists of only 10 multiple-choice questions, and you only need to get 7 right to pass. Can this cover the necessary knowledge, including traffic laws and driving manners? Perhaps because of the ease of the test, a video challenge among Chinese youth to get a Japanese license as quickly as possible went viral last summer.

Moreover, even Kurds who are subject to deportation but are on provisional release can switch their licenses. They can apply for the switch by obtaining a temporary residence certificate at a hotel, even without having a registered address in Japan. In response to the surge in foreign applicants, Fuchu Test Center introduced a reservation system on November 1, but there are still other improvements to be made,” Kato noted.

In fact, traffic accidents involving foreigners have been on the rise. Among them, accidents caused by Chinese nationals are particularly noticeable. Last year, there were 1,571 accidents involving Chinese nationals, the highest since the pandemic began. In September of this year, an 18-year-old Chinese man caused a fatal accident in Saitama Prefecture, driving drunk at over 100 km/h and crashing head-on into a Japanese man in his 50s.

Additionally, more foreigners are using Japanese licenses as a stepping stone.

“For example, China is not a member of international traffic treaties like the Geneva Convention, and few countries accept Chinese licenses. But if they switch to a Japanese license, they can get an international driving permit in Japan, which is valid in about 100 countries,” Kato explained.

The rapid changes in the times may be prompting a reevaluation of the system.

It seems that the information is being shared within foreign communities from various countries, and some individuals have even gone as far as to camp out overnight with heavy gear.