The Driving License Centre would like to kindly thank everyone for their exceptional cooperation regarding the recent administration of driving licenses.

Responding to a contribution request from the International Exchange Newsletter 'Oi! Kochi', we would like to give our cooperation and provide a comprehensive explanation of the main points concerning the changing of a foreign country's driver's license to a Japanese license.

As you are likely aware, new revisions of the Road Traffic Act were put into effect on June 1^st 2002, which included a revision of the use of an International Driver's License within Japan. If you obtain one in your home country and use it to drive in Japan until its period of use lapses, you are unable to drive on a new one unless you return to your home country and reside there for more than 3 months before re-entering Japan.