Osaka Driver's License Conversion: Why Pass Rates Hit 30% (2026)

Information current as of March 2026 based on Osaka Prefectural Police's official gaimen kirikae page, the English procedures guide, and the National Police Agency's October 2025 reform notices.

If you're a foreign resident in Osaka trying to convert your driver's license, the process changed dramatically in October 2025. What used to be a 10-question quiz with a 90%+ pass rate is now a 50-question written test with a 90% threshold — and the driving test is scored to provisional-license standards. The system isn't broken; it's just no longer the shortcut it used to be.

I wrote this because I keep seeing the same questions in foreign resident communities on social media — "How do I book at Kadoma?", "What changed with the new rules?", "I failed three times, what am I doing wrong?" — and most of the answers are outdated or Tokyo-focused.

Kadoma or Komyoike? Which Osaka test center to use

Osaka has two license examination centers that handle foreign license conversions. Your choice depends on where you live and how you want to book.

Kadoma is the main center and handles the largest volume of foreign conversions in Kansai. If you live in Osaka City, northern Osaka, or anywhere along the Keihan line, this is your default. Komyoike serves southern Osaka (Sakai, Izumi, Kishiwada). Both centers handle the full gaimen kirikae process — document check, written test, and driving test.

One critical detail: phone reservations are in Japanese only. The automated menu is in Japanese, and the staff who answer are not guaranteed to speak English. If the phone call is blocking you, that's exactly what LO-PAL is for — post your request for free and a local Japanese person can make the call and book the appointment with you.

How the reservation system works (it changed in January 2026)

The booking process depends on whether your country is on Japan's "exempt country" list (特例対象国) — roughly 30 countries including the US (some states), UK, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, and most EU nations. Exempt-country applicants skip the written and/or driving test, but still need an appointment for document review.

Exempt countries: in-person window booking at Kadoma

As of January 19, 2026, Kadoma switched from phone reservations to in-person window reservations for exempt-country applicants. You must visit the center during the reservation window:

• When: Weekdays, 15:30–17:00
• Bring: Residence card or passport, foreign driver's license, proof of address
• What happens: You receive a reservation slip with your appointment date. No document review at this stage — that happens on the appointment day.

Komyoike still accepts phone reservations for exempt countries: call 0725-56-1881, press menu 4 → 3.

Non-exempt countries: phone booking at both centers

If your country is not on the exempt list, you book by phone at either center. The key numbers:

• Kadoma: 06-6908-9121 → menu 4 → press 1 or 2
• Komyoike: 0725-56-1881 → menu 4 → press 3

Calls are only answered during designated reservation windows. If you call outside those times, nobody picks up — it's not a voicemail situation, the line simply doesn't connect. The Osaka Prefectural Police site does not publicly list the exact phone windows, so you may need to try multiple times.

Useful Japanese for the phone call:

外免切替の予約をしたいです。 (Gaimen kirikae no yoyaku o shitai desu.) — I'd like to make an appointment for foreign license conversion.

英語で対応できますか？ (Eigo de taiou dekimasu ka?) — Can you handle this in English?

予約可能な日はいつですか？ (Yoyaku kanou na hi wa itsu desu ka?) — What dates are available?

Required documents (Osaka-specific checklist)

The document requirements are nationally standardized, but the translation provider rules and residency verification differ slightly by prefecture. Here's the Osaka version:

The "3-month proof" is where most people get tripped up. You need to show — via passport stamps or other evidence — that you lived in the country that issued your license for at least 3 months after you got the license. If your passport was renewed and the old one has the stamps, bring both. If your country doesn't stamp passports (e.g. some EU countries), you may need additional documentation like a residency certificate from your home country.

The written test: 50 questions, 90% to pass (since October 2025)

This is the biggest change. Before October 2025, the gaimen kirikae written test was 10 true/false questions — mostly illustration-based — and over 90% of applicants passed. Now:

The test covers 22 topic areas: traffic signs, traffic markings, right-of-way rules, pedestrian protection, no-parking zones, highway driving, emergency response, and vehicle maintenance. It's the same content Japanese residents study for when getting their first license — but you're expected to pass it after potentially years of driving in a completely different traffic system.

English is available at both Kadoma and Komyoike. However, the English translations of Japanese traffic law concepts can be confusing. Terms like "temporary stop" (一時停止), "safety confirmation" (安全確認), and "priority road" (優先道路) have specific legal meanings in Japan that may not match your home country's rules.

Study tip: Use practice question sets specifically designed for the post-October 2025 format. The old 10-question practice tests floating around online are useless now.

The driving test: now scored like a provisional license exam

The driving test also got stricter in October 2025. It's now scored to the same standard as Japan's provisional license driving test (仮免許), with a new course layout that includes:

• Level crossing (踏切) — you must stop, open the window, and listen
• Hill climb and descent
• S-curve and crank course
• Lane changes with proper mirror-signal-shoulder check sequence
• Intersection right turns with pedestrian-safety confirmation

The test route is longer than before, which means more opportunities for point deductions. Common fail reasons at Kadoma and Komyoike:

• Not stopping long enough at the level crossing — a full 3-second stop with window down is required
• Mirror-signal-shoulder check order — Japanese driving requires a specific sequence: mirror → signal → 3 seconds → shoulder check → lane change. Skipping any step is an instant deduction
• Wide turns — hugging the left curb on left turns and the center line on right turns is strictly scored
• Speed too slow — driving under the limit to "be safe" is penalized as 加速不良 (insufficient acceleration)

Individual experiences vary. One foreign resident in a Kansai expat forum described failing three times at Kadoma before passing, saying the examiner deducted points for not checking the right-side mirror before pulling away from the curb — something they'd never been taught in their home country.

Fees and timeline

Timeline: from first reservation to license in hand, expect 2–6 weeks depending on appointment availability and how many attempts the tests take. The written test and driving test are usually done on separate days.

Quick FAQ

Can I use an international driving permit instead?

An IDP is valid for up to one year from entry, but only if your home country is party to the 1949 Geneva Convention. If you're a resident (not a tourist), you should convert — an IDP is a temporary solution, and since October 2025 it's no longer possible to keep renewing the workaround.

My license expired — can I still convert?

No. Your foreign license must be valid on the day of your test. If it expired, you'll need to renew it (possibly through your embassy or on a trip home) before applying.

I'm from an exempt country — do I still need to take the test?

Exempt-country applicants skip the written test and driving test (or just the written test, depending on the country). But you still need an appointment, a document review, and a brief aptitude test (eyesight, hearing, physical movement). It's not instant — plan for at least one full visit.

Is there a driving school in Osaka that helps with gaimen kirikae practice?

Yes. Several driving schools in Osaka offer gaimen kirikae practice courses specifically for the Kadoma and Komyoike test routes. Prices typically range from ¥15,000–30,000 for a few sessions. Search for "外免切替 練習 大阪" to find current options.

Related Articles

• Convert Foreign License Japan (2026): New Rules + 3-Month Proof
• Best Translation Apps for Foreign Residents in Japan (2026)

Need Help Booking or Practicing in Osaka?

Don't lose a day off work because the phone menu is in Japanese or because you're not sure which documents count as "3-month proof." On LO-PAL, you can post your question for free — a local Japanese person in Osaka can call Kadoma or Komyoike for you, help you prepare the paperwork, or even go with you on test day. You only pay if you request a task and the helper completes it.