The National Police Agency of Japan announced on October 10 that tourists will no longer be able to convert foreign driver’s licenses to Japanese ones using short-term visas starting October 1, 2025. According to the new law, all applicants for license conversion must provide residency proof, effectively barring tourists from applying while on a short stay.

In the past year, 68,623 foreigners obtained Japanese licenses through the "外免切換 (Gaimei Kikan)" process, a significant increase from 28,886 in 2015. The majority of applicants came from Vietnam, China, and South Korea, totaling 16,681, 15,251, and 4,901 respectively. Originally intended for long-term residents, the system has been exploited by many tourists, raising safety concerns.

The National Police Agency reported that foreign driver accident incidents reached a decade-high of 7,286 in 2024, raising alarms in the Diet. Concerns have been expressed that some foreign drivers do not adequately understand Japanese traffic rules, prompting the agency to increase the number of questions on the knowledge test from 10 to 50, with a passing standard raised to 90%.

Exceptions will be made for two groups: Japanese nationals with foreign residency and diplomatic personnel. The goal of this reform is to enhance road safety for all users.