Mie License Conversion: 87 Tested, 3 Passed (October 2025)
Mie recorded a 3.4% overall pass rate in October 2025 — 87 applicants, only 3 passed. Phone reservation, 3-4 month wait. 10-min walk from Kintetsu Minamigaoka. Driving school practice recommended.
Information current as of March 2026 based on the Mie Prefectural Police gaimen kirikae page and the English PDF guide. Additional multilingual information from Mie Info.
Mie has roughly 69,000 foreign residents and a car ownership rate of 1.443 per household. The prefecture is home to Honda, Sharp, and numerous manufacturing facilities where many foreign workers are employed. Public transport outside Tsu and Yokkaichi is sparse — driving is essential. Mie also has some of the most dramatic post-October 2025 pass rate data in the country.
The numbers: 87 tested, 3 passed
In October 2025 — the first month under the new rules — Mie processed 87 gaimen kirikae applicants. Only 3 passed.
| Before Oct 2025 (2024) | After Oct 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test pass rate | 87.6% | 34.4% |
| Skills test pass rate | 19.7% | 1.8% |
| Overall pass rate | ~17% | ~3.4% |
These are among the lowest numbers in Japan. Preparation is not optional — it's essential.
Where to go
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | 三重県運転免許センター 外国免許審査係 |
| Address | 〒514-0081 三重県津市垂水2566 |
| Phone | 059-229-1212 (IVR: press 2, then 3) |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 |
| Station | Kintetsu Minamigaoka Station (南が丘駅) ~10 min walk south |
| Bus | Mie Kotsu bus → "運転免許センター前" stop ~5 min walk |
| Car | Hisai IC (Ise Expressway) ~2.2 km |
| Parking | Free, ~350 spaces |
How to book
Phone reservation only. Call 059-229-1212, press 2, then 3 for the foreign license section. In-person reservations are not accepted.
Current wait: 3–4 months. The center notes that many applicants don't speak Japanese, which slows processing and limits daily capacity.
The phone system is in Japanese. If calling is a barrier, post on LO-PAL for help.
What to bring
- Valid foreign driver's license
- Passport(s) with entry/exit stamps for the license-issuing country
- Residence card
- Juminhyo — with nationality listed
- Japanese translation from JAF or embassy/consulate
- Photo: 1 sheet, within 6 months
The written test
50 questions, 90% to pass. Mie's knowledge test pass rate dropped from 87.6% to 34.4% — meaning roughly 2 in 3 people fail.
Languages (20): English, Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Persian, Korean, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Myanmar, Mongolian, Ukrainian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi.
Request the foreign-language exam when submitting your application form.
The driving test
Mie's skills test pass rate dropped from 19.7% to 1.8% — the lowest figure reported by any prefecture. The test is scored to provisional license exam standard.
Key areas that fail people:
- Five-point safety check before pulling away (left mirror → left blind spot → center mirror → right mirror → right blind spot)
- Complete stops at railroad crossings (open window, look/listen both ways)
- S-curve and crank course precision
- Speed management (too slow = hesitation penalty, too fast = safety penalty)
For detailed preparation, see our Osaka driving test guide.
Consider driving school practice: With a 1.8% skills pass rate, self-study alone may not be enough. Search for 「外免切替 練習」 or 「ペーパードライバー教習」 in Mie to find driving schools that offer gaimen kirikae practice courses. Expect ¥15,000–30,000 for a few sessions.
Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam/confirmation fee | ¥2,550 |
| License issuance | ¥2,050 |
| Total (first-attempt pass) | ~¥4,600 |
Mie's fees are among the lowest. Each retry requires re-paying the exam fee.
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 Portuguese | ポルトガル語で試験を受けたいです | Porutogarugo de shiken o uketai desu |
| Is there a driving school for practice? | 練習できる教習所はありますか？ | Renshū dekiru kyōshūjo wa arimasu 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 Mie? Post on LO-PAL for free — a local helper can make the phone reservation, find a driving school for practice, 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
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