Japan’s stricter foreign licence conversion test sees written exam pass rate drop from 92.5% to 42.8% and practical test rate fall to 13.1% in first three months.
TOKYO: The pass rate for converting a foreign driver’s licence in Japan has fallen dramatically following the introduction of much stricter testing rules last October.
According to the National Police Agency, only 11,716 out of 27,354 applicants passed the written knowledge test between October and December, a pass rate of just 42.8%.
This figure represents a sharp decline from the 92.5% pass rate recorded throughout 2024 before the new regulations took effect.
The agency expanded the written test from 10 to 50 questions and now requires applicants to answer at least 90% correctly to pass.
Lawmakers had previously criticised the old test as being too easy, which prompted the implementation of the stricter rules.
The subsequent practical driving skills test, taken by those who pass the written section, has also been toughened with more rigorous checks on rules for pedestrian crosswalks and railway crossings.
Only 3,041 out of 23,245 applicants passed the driving test in the same three-month period, resulting in a pass rate of 13.1%.
This practical test pass rate also fell significantly from the 30.4% rate recorded in 2024.
Holders of overseas licences can obtain a Japanese licence if they are certified as having the requisite knowledge and skills to drive in the country.
