Job Discussion Forums

[KarenMarie]

How dificult is it to get one?

What is involved?

[Gordon]

You have to get it before you come to Japan. It is very easy to get before you come here. In Canada, it took me 5 mins to get.

[denise]

You can also do it through the mail in the States. There's a company in Kentucky that issues them--just print out a form and mail it in with a couple of photocopies of relevant items (like your license and passport [although I don't remember if they need a copy of your passport]). If you just do a google search for "international driver's license" you'll see their site.

d

[guest of Japan]

International licenses can only be given through a government accredited body. To my knowlege AAA is the only service which is allowed to do that in the US. It is very cheap and easy to do. It cannot be done through mail. If you've already lived in Japan for more than a year it is worthless as it is not accepted.

[Dr.J]

Yep, it's pretty easy to get, but remember it only lasts for one year then you have to get a real Japanese license which can be tough, especially if you are from the US.

[buffy]

You can in fact get an IDP by mail from AAA in the US, but it is not valid in Japan. The reason...Japanese cannot get an IDP sent by mail, thus you must be able to prove you were in the country at the time it was issued.
And like was posted above, if you have been here for over a year, you must convert to a Japanese license which is an ordeal in itself.

[shmooj]

I got stopped speeding on an IDP - not a good idea. They had never seen one, didn't believe it was valid and I ended up having to drive back the next weekend (150km round trip) to the local police station with my passport to prove I'd got the IDP out of the country. Thank God the dates coincided or I'd have been up the proverbial creek.

IDPs are valid for a year but beware it is only the first year you are on a work visa. If the date of your first entry into Japan exceeds your IDP issue by a year and you have not been back to your country for 90 consecutive days in that time, you are driving illegally. I know this from experience. Believe me it wasn't fun. Avoid getting trapped in this situation.

The OP asked how to get one. If you get one sent through the post and your passport proves that you were not out of the country when it was issued you will be stuffed. Not worth it. Get the bus or get a Japanese license

[cangel]

If you are from Canada, you can get a Japanese license without taking a test. However, no such luxury exists for Americans.

[denise]

All this talk about whether it can or cannot be done through the mail is confusing me--is the international license that I got through the mail not valid? I got it when I was in the States--I did not mean to imply that I had it mailed to me in Japan.

My understanding of the international license is that all it really is is a translation of your license--not equivalent in any way to a Japanese license--but still acceptable for the first year. It is not valid unless accompanied by your own license. (And if it really is nothing more than a translation, why must it be government-issued?)

d

[Gordon]

Denise,
An IDP is not a translation of a regular license.
If you were in the States at the time the permit was issued, you are fine.

Cangel said

[GFunK]

So I renewed mine Yesterday
It took 2 minutes:
14 months ago it took 3 minutes:
Karen Marie!!!! I've been reading your posts, now I dig the reaching out for comradeship before you get here, but, pick up the yellow pages, duh.

[guest of Japan]

Denise,

Is your license called an "International Driving Permit"?

Does it contain a photograph of you with a stamp of the validating agency?

Did you sign it and give personal information that matches your passport?

Does it contain a signature of the empowered authority?

Does it have a serial number?

The answer to all of the above questions should be yes.

The intenational driving permit is not a translation although there are some stipulations written in a few different languages. It is outcome of an international convention on motor traffic dating back to 1949 by the UN. It should mention this on the cover. I hope this is helpful in determining the validity of yours.

[shmooj]

GFunK and Gordon,

please make sure you know what you are up to here. The IDP is only valid for your FIRST year in Japan. You cannot renew it after that and drive legally without returning to the country that issued your license for three consecutive months.

This law came into effect in June 2002 but nobody told the ex-pat community until some friends of friends of friends got seriously done for driving on IDPs.

Be very warned

[Gordon]

Shmooj,
I have a Japanese license now.

[Glenski]