Gifu License Conversion: The 5-Month Wait to Plan For
Gifu's gaimen kirikae takes ~5 months from first call to license. Phone reservation only, ~4-month wait for appointment. Bring A4 copies of residence card. Written test in 20 languages.
Information current as of March 2026 based on the Gifu Prefectural Police gaimen kirikae page and the English guide.
Gifu has roughly 75,000 foreign residents and the 9th highest car ownership rate in Japan (1.506 per household). Many work in manufacturing along the Chūkyō industrial corridor. The biggest challenge in Gifu is the wait: the average time from first call to license issuance is approximately 5 months.
Where to go
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | 岐阜県警察本部 運転免許試験場 外国免許係 |
| Address | 〒502-0846 岐阜市三田洞東1-22-8 |
| Phone | 058-237-5719 (foreign license section, 9:00–17:00) |
| Assembly | 8:30 AM on exam day, 2F Foreign License Section |
| Bus | JR Gifu Station → Gifu Bus "Mitahorai-danchi" line → "Mitahorai Jidōsha Gakkō-guchi" stop (~40 min), then ~6 min walk |
| Parking | Free ~100 spaces + paid parking in front of center |
The 5-month timeline
Gifu's process is notably slow. Here's the realistic timeline:
- Call for reservation → appointment in ~4 months
- Document screening (書類審査) on appointment day
- Aptitude test + written/driving test → scheduled ~1 month after screening passes
- License issuance → same day if you pass
Total: ~5 months minimum. Start the process as soon as possible — don't wait until your international driving permit is about to expire.
How to book
Phone reservation only. Call 058-237-5719 (Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00). The call is in Japanese — the police note that many applicants don't speak Japanese, so having a Japanese speaker call for you is strongly recommended.
What to bring
- Valid foreign driver's license
- ID card from your home country (if separate from license)
- Residence card + A4 copies of front and back (Gifu-specific requirement)
- All passports (current + old) + copies
- Juminhyo — with nationality and residence card info fully listed. No fields omitted (省略なし).
- Japanese translation from JAF or embassy/consulate
- Photo: 1 sheet, 3cm × 2.4cm, within 6 months
Gifu-specific: If your residence card is renewed between booking and your test date, you must get a new juminhyo. The old one won't be accepted.
The written test
50 questions, 90% to pass (since October 2025). Available in 20 languages.
Languages: English, Spanish, Persian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Myanmar, Mongolian, Ukrainian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi.
The driving test
Standard nationwide criteria since October 2025. 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 + vehicle usage fee | ¥3,350 |
| License issuance | ¥2,350 |
| Additional category | ¥200 per category |
| Total (first-attempt pass) | ~¥5,700 |
Plus JAF translation (~¥4,000) and juminhyo (~¥300) separately.
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 a phone reservation | 電話で予約しています | Denwa de yoyaku shite imasu |
| I'd like the test in English | 英語で試験を受けたいです | Eigo de shiken o uketai desu |
| Where is the foreign license section? | 外国免許係はどこですか？ | Gaikoku menkyo kakari wa doko desu ka? |
Related articles
- Convert Foreign License Japan (2026): New Rules + 3-Month Proof
- Osaka License Conversion: Why Pass Rates Hit 30%
- Aichi License Conversion: Reservations Fill in 1 Minute
Need help in Gifu? Post on LO-PAL for free — a local helper can make the phone reservation, prepare your document copies, or accompany you to the center.
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
Read full bio →
