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北海道警察本部TEL.011-251-0110

〒060-8520 札幌市中央区北2条西7丁目

Driver’s license

You can take the following procedure concerning driver’s license at the public safety commission(Driver’s License Examination Hall, etc.) whose jurisdiction has over your address.

Conversion of foreign driver’s license to Japanese driver’s license (Following is the explanation in the case where you apply at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall.)

 If you obtain a valid foreign driver’s license, you may be exempted from a part of the examination to obtain the Japanese license (This is called “Conversion of foreign driver’s license to Japanese driver’slicense.”) In this case, you must take fitness screening (vision test, etc.) and may need to take knowledge and skill test, according to which country or area you are from. Conditions may be attached to the license, if the licensee is physically disabled, etc.

Requirement for conversion

  1. Your address is in Sapporo Area, Hokkaido Prefectural Public Safety Commission.
  2. You can prove that you have stayed in the country more than three months after your driver’s license of the said country was issued.
  3. Your foreign driver’s license is not expired.

Notice for procedure

  1. You must make an appointment for the procedure.
  2. We correspond to an applicant only in Japanese language.
  3. You can not convert your driver’s license to Class 2 License, which is for transportation of passengers.
  4. Necessary documents and materials for conversion vary according to the country where your driver’s license was issued. Please inquire at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall beforehand (Japanese language only.)
  5. We do not send a driver’s license by mail.

Items required for conversion

  1. Application Form for a Driver’s License (Available at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall)
  2. Valid foreign driver’s license
  3. Japanese translation of the foreign driver’s license (issued by Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), foreign administrative agency or consulate, etc.)
  4. Jumin-hyo(Certificate of residence, issued within six months), indicating Honseki (Registered domicile)or nationality, etc.
    ※You can not apply for Japanese driver’s license with your residence card. If you are not applicable to Residential Basic Book Act, contact Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall (Japanese language only.)
  5. A photograph for an application form (3.0cm length x 2.4cm width, taken within six months)
  6. Passports (Old passports (if any) are necessary for confirmation of periods of your stay)
    ※Any other document which proves the period of your stay (Please inquire at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall (Japanese language only.))
  7. Seal (Signature is also acceptable.)
  8. Expired Japanese driver’s license, if any
  9. Examination fee and issuance fee

Opening days

 You must make an appointment for this procedure on Monday to Friday (We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, National holidays, Substitute holidays and days from December 29 to January 3.)

Reissuance of driver’s license
(Following is the explanation in the case where you apply at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall.)

If your driver’s license is lost, defaced or damaged, you may apply for reissuance of the driver’s license

Items required for application

  1. Application Form for Reissuance of a Driver’s License (Available at Examination Hall)
  2. A photograph for an application form (3.0cm length x 2.4cm width, taken within six months)
    ※A photograph may be taken at the Examination Hall (subject to fee)
  3. Seal (Signature is also acceptable.)
  4. Reissuance fee
  5. Document of identification (Passport, Residence card, Health insurance card, Employee I.D., etc.)
  6. Defaced or damaged license, if any

Opening days

 You can apply for this procedure from Monday to Friday (We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, Nationalholidays, Substitute holidays and days from December 29 to January 3.)

Issuance on the same date

 License may be issued on the same date for application from 8:45 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. It takes 2 to 3 hours from application to issuance.
※You can apply for reissuance of the driver’s license at a local police station (except for the police stations in Sapporo city,) however it can not be issued on the same date.

Filing to change information included on driver’s license
(Following is the explanation in the case where you apply at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall.)

You need to file the change of registered domicile, nationality, name, address or other information of the driver’s license. New information will be included in the “remarks” part on the back of the driver’s license

Items required for application

  1. Driver’s License
  2. Filing Form for changing information of a Driver’s License (Available at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall)
    ● Change of registered domicile (nationality, etc.) or name
      Jumin-hyo(Certificate of residence, issued within six months), indicating Honseki (Registered domicile) or nationality, etc.
    ● Change of address
      Any document indicating the new address (Jumin-hyo, Residence card, Health insurance card, Receipt of utility charges, Postal mail to the licensee, etc.)
    ● This procedure is free of charge

Procedure to change information

 You may file the change from 8:45 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Monday to Friday (We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, National holidays, Substitute holidays and days from December 29 to January 3.)
※ You can file it at a local police station.

Procedure for the license which lost the validity
(Following is the explanation in the case where you apply at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall.)

 Necessary procedure or document is different depending on the reason and the date of the loss of validity, so inquire at Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall (or Driver’s License Examination Hall whose jurisdiction has over your address.)

Inquire at

Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall
Akebono 5-jo 4-chome 1-1, Teine-ku, Sapporo-shi
Telephone 011-699-8654 (Japanese language only)

 Following is the explanation in the case where you apply for renewal at a Driver’s License Examination Hall in Hokkaido. You can apply for renewal of your driver’s license at the public safety commission (Driver’s License Examination Hall, etc.) whose jurisdiction has over your address. Inquire at the Driver’s License Examination Hall (Japanese language only.)

Renewal of driver’s license

  •  Validity of driver’s license is set on the final day in the one month period beginning on the driver’s third (,fourth or fifth) birthday after the issuance date. If you fail to renew the license, it ceases the validity. Driving with the ceased license will constitute the violation of Unlicensed Driving.
  •  Renew your driver’s license by one month before or after the birthday of the year of your driver’s license validity.
  •  You must pass the fitness screening (vision test, etc.) to renew the driver’s license.

 Licensees under 70 years of age at the last day of the license’s validity must undergo the training for renewal. Licensees of 70 years of age or older must undergo the training for the aged. Licensees of 75 years of age or older must undergo cognitive assessments in addition to the training for the aged.
 For more information, refer to the Notice of the training for the aged (a post card) or the Notice of the renewal of the driver’s license (a post card.)

Opening days

  •  Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall … Sunday to Friday (We are closed on Saturdays, National holidays, Substitute holidays and days from December 29 to January 3.)
  •  Driver’s License Examination Hall (Hakodate, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Obihiro and Kitami) … Monday to Friday and Sunday (first and third of a month)
     We are closed on Saturdays, other Sundays, National holidays, Substitute holidays and days from December 29 to January 3.
     We provide the training for renewal in the categories of drivers with exemplary records, drivers with satisfactory records, novice drivers and drivers with violations, and the training for the aged.
  •  Chuo, Atsubetsu License Renewal Centers for Drivers with Exemplary Records (in Chuo P.S. and Atsubetsu P.S.) … Monday to Friday (except for holidays)
     We provide the training for renewal in the categories of drivers with exemplary records and drivers with satisfactory records, and the training for the aged.
  •  Police Stations (except for the police stations in the cities of Driver’s License Examination Hall) … Monday to Friday (except for holidays)
     We provide the training for renewal in the categories of drivers with exemplary records and drivers with satisfactory records, and the training for the aged.
  •  Submit the application form and necessary documents at the window by 5 P.M.
    Renewed driver’s license will be issued after the day of application

Issuance on the same date

 At Sapporo Driver’s License Examination Hall, license may be issued on the same date for those who apply for renewal from 8:45 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., and undergo the training for renewal.
 At Chuo, Atsubetsu License Renewal Centers for Drivers with Exemplary Records, license may be issued on the same date for those who apply for renewal from 8:45 A.M. to 2:35 P.M. (3:35 P.M. for drivers with exemplary records) and undergo the training for renewal.
 Please inquire at Driver’s License Examination Hall for details.

Items required for renewal application

  1. Application Form for Renewal of a Driver’s License (Available at Examination Hall)
  2. Driver’s License
  3. Notice of the renewal of the driver’s license (You may apply for the renewal without the Notice)
  4. Seal (Signature is also acceptable.)
    ※Application at a police station requires your photograph (3.0cm length x 2.4cm width, taken within six months.)
     You do not need to bring a photograph for application at Driver’s License Examination Hall or License Renewal Center for Drivers with Exemplary Records

Fees

  • For licensees under 70 years of age, renewal fee and renewal training fee (in the categories of drivers with exemplary records, drivers with satisfactory records, drivers with violations or novice drivers)
  • For licensees of 70 years of age or older, renewal fee
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