Aichi License Conversion: Reservations Fill in 1 Minute
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Aichi's online reservations open at 7:30 AM and fill within 60 seconds. Two centers: Hirabari (Nagoya) and Higashi-Mikawa (Toyokawa). Photo size 4.5×3.5cm (different!). Pass rate dropped from 94% to 35%.
Information current as of March 2026 based on the Aichi Prefectural Police gaimen kirikae page, the English PDF guide, and the Nagoya International Center guide.
Aichi has 331,000+ foreign residents — the 3rd most in Japan — with massive Brazilian, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese communities, especially in the Toyota-city manufacturing belt. Car ownership is 1.248 per household, and outside central Nagoya, driving is essential. The biggest challenge: getting an appointment at all.
The reservation battle: 7:30 AM, gone in 60 seconds
Aichi uses online-only reservations through the Aichi Electronic Application System. New slots are released every morning at 7:30 AM for dates 2 weeks ahead. According to the Chunichi Shimbun, popular slots fill within 1 minute.
How to compete:
- Go to the Aichi reservation system
- Be logged in and ready at 7:29 AM
- Refresh at exactly 7:30 and click immediately
- If you miss it, try again the next morning — every day new slots appear
- Have your information pre-filled (name, contact, license type) to save seconds
Exempt-country applicants: Dedicated Thursday afternoon slots are available (12:45–13:30 and 13:30–14:45). These may be slightly less competitive than the general slots.
Two centers
| Hirabari (平針) | Higashi-Mikawa (東三河) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Nagoya (天白区) | Toyokawa (豊川市) |
| Address | 名古屋市天白区平針南3-605 | 豊川市金屋西町2-7 |
| Phone | 052-800-1352 | 0533-85-7181 |
| Hours | 8:45–11:45, 12:45–14:45 | Same |
| Access | Subway Tokushige Stn ~23 min walk; bus from Hirabari Stn | Meitetsu Suwa-machi Stn ~15 min walk |
| Parking | ¥500/day | Free |
Most applicants in the Nagoya area use Hirabari. If you're in eastern Aichi (Toyohashi, Toyokawa area), Higashi-Mikawa may have shorter waits.
What to bring — note the differences
- Valid foreign driver's license
- Foreign license record/history certificate (免許取得年月日・更新記録等の証明書) from your issuing authority — Aichi-specific requirement. Not all prefectures ask for this.
- Japanese translation from JAF (Aichi branch: 052-872-3685), ZIPLUS (050-1731-8335), or embassy/consulate
- All passports (current + old)
- Residence card
- Juminhyo — original, with nationality, no My Number
- Photo: 4.5cm × 3.5cm (passport size) — different from most prefectures which use 3cm × 2.4cm! Bring the wrong size and you'll be turned away.
- If names differ between license and passport: official proof (marriage certificate, etc.)
- Some documents may need Apostille or authentication from your country's foreign ministry
The written test
50 questions, 90% to pass. Aichi's pass rate dropped from 94% to 34.9%.
Languages (20+): English, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Mongolian, Arabic, Indonesian, Ukrainian, Korean, Thai, Nepali, Urdu, Khmer, Sinhala, Tagalog, Hindi, Persian, Myanmar, Turkish.
Aichi notably includes Turkish — reflecting the local population. Request your language when submitting the application.
The driving test
Standard nationwide criteria. S-curve, crank, hill start, railroad crossing, intersections. 70/100 to pass.
For detailed preparation, see our Osaka driving test guide.
Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | ~¥2,550 |
| Vehicle usage fee | ~¥800 |
| License issuance | ~¥2,050–2,350 |
| Total (first-attempt pass) | ~¥5,400–5,700 |
Hirabari parking: ¥500/day. Higashi-Mikawa: free.
Useful Japanese
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| I'm here for foreign license conversion | 外免切替の手続きに来ました | Gaimen kirikae no tetsuzuki ni kimashita |
| I have an online reservation | ネット予約をしています | Netto yoyaku o shite imasu |
| I'd like the test in Vietnamese | ベトナム語で試験を受けたいです | Betonamugo de shiken o uketai desu |
| My photo is passport size — is that correct? | 写真はパスポートサイズですが大丈夫ですか？ | Shashin wa pasupōto saizu desu ga daijōbu desu ka? |
| Where is the parking lot? | 駐車場はどこですか？ | Chūshajō wa doko desu ka? |
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- Osaka License Conversion: Why Pass Rates Hit 30%
- Gifu License Conversion: The 5-Month Wait
- Mie License Conversion: 87 Tested, 3 Passed
Need help in Aichi? Post on LO-PAL for free — a local helper can monitor the reservation system at 7:30 AM, prepare your documents (including the correct photo size), or accompany you to Hirabari or Higashi-Mikawa.
Written by
Founder, LO-PAL
Former Medical Coordinator for Foreign Patients (Ministry of Health programme) and legal affairs professional. Built LO-PAL from firsthand experience navigating life abroad.
Written with partial AI assistance
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