From April 2024, Japan has expanded the Specified Skilled Worker Visa system and started accepting foreign workers in the taxi industry. For those considering obtaining a regular Type 2 license to make use of this opportunity, this is a must-read.
This article provides a clear explanation of the types of vehicles you can drive with a regular Type 2 license and the conditions for obtaining it, tailored for foreigners who are about to get it. It is also full of useful information for planning the cost and duration until obtaining the regular Type 2 license.
Let's solve the concerns about acquiring a regular Type 2 license and find the best way to get your license.
Types of vehicles that can be driven with a regular Type 2 license
This refers to the license required for driving certain types of vehicles, such as taxis, hire cars, and vehicles used for transporting people in need of care. It is also needed for driving a customer's regular car as part of a chauffeur service for passenger transportation. The official name is "Standard Type 2 Driver's License."
Differences between First-Class and Second-Class
The difference between the Standard Type 1 and Type 2 licenses lies in the fact that the Type 2 license allows you to drive vehicles such as standard cars that carry passengers. Therefore, obtaining a Type 2 license is required to become a professional driver, such as a taxi driver, hire car driver, care taxi driver, or chauffeur service provider.
However, with a Standard Type 1 Driver's License, you can still operate taxi vehicles in certain situations. For instance, driving without passengers, such as for transfer or test drives, and driving a private vehicle can be done with a Type 1 license.
Types of vehicles that can be driven with a regular Type 2 license
The types of vehicles you can drive with a license are classified according to the Road Traffic Act. The characteristics of the vehicles that can be driven with a regular Type 2 license are summarized in the table.
Vehicle Type | Vehicle Characteristics |
Business Regular Vehicle (Taxi, etc.) | Less than 5 tons of total vehicle weight, less than 3 tons of maximum load |
Conditions for obtaining a regular Type 2 license
Here, we explain the conditions for obtaining a regular Type 2 license.
Basic necessary conditions
It is a condition that you are 21 years old or older at the time you aim to obtain the license and have over 3 years of total driving experience after obtaining one of the following licenses.
Ordinary car license
Semi-medium license
A portion of the Road Traffic Act was revised on May 13, 2022. Under this revision, if you are 19 years or older and have completed the special training course for examination eligibility, you can take the driving license exam if you have held the relevant license for more than one year.
The special training course for examination eligibility can be taken at either a registered driving school that has been approved by the Public Safety Commission or a designated driving school that has received authorization from the Public Safety Commission. It's important to confirm whether the driving school you plan to attend is eligible for this course.
For those with a foreign license
For those who obtained their licenses in their home country, it is possible to switch to a Japanese license. Please refer to this article for details on the foreign license switching procedure. (https://ziplus.jp/switching_license/flow/)
In this case, driving experience is counted cumulatively from the time you obtained your license in your home country. Therefore, it’s important to be cautious about how the counting is done, as it is not counted from when you obtained your Japanese license, but rather from when you obtained your license abroad. This means you need to have held the license for at least three years (or one year in the case of the special training course) after obtaining it in your home country.
(Example 1)
In the case of someone who obtained an ordinary license in China over 3 years ago
Obtain a Japanese driver's license through the foreign license switching procedure
3 years or more of driving experience in China is recognized, clearing the requirement for obtaining a regular Type 2 license
Obtain a regular Type 2 license at a driving school
(Example 2)
In the case of someone who obtained an ordinary license in Vietnam over 1 year ago
Obtain a Japanese driver's license through the foreign license switching procedure
Recognize over 1 year of driving experience in Vietnam, complete special education, and clear the requirement for obtaining a regular Type 2 license
Obtain a regular Type 2 license at a driving school
Required physical conditions
Item | Condition |
Vision (Unaided, with glasses, or contact lenses) | Over 0.8 in both eyes, over 0.5 in one eye |
Deep vision (Ability to perceive depth) | Measured by the three-pole method at a distance of 2.5 meters, examined 3 times, average error within 2 centimeters |
Signal light color (Not conducted if already licensed) | Ability to distinguish red, blue, yellow |
Hearing (Use of hearing aids possible) | Ability to hear a 90-decibel horn at a distance of 10 meters |
Body | No physical disability that hinders driving |
The measurement of deep vision is one of the contents that many foreigners encounter for the first time. It is a test that measures the ability to grasp the distance of things seen with the eyes, such as a sense of distance, depth, and dynamic depth which are important for driving.
If you have a physical disability, consult with the driving test site (driving aptitude window) to determine if it is possible to obtain a regular Type 2 license. Instead of being judged by the disability name, you will receive a judgment tailored to your current situation, and you will receive advice on what preparations are necessary when obtaining a license later.
[By Method of Acquisition] Cost and period for obtaining a regular Type 2 license
There are two methods of obtaining a regular Type 2 license: attending a driving school or attending a training camp.
Here, we explain the costs and periods for each method.
When going to a driving school
This method involves receiving the necessary classroom education and skills training at a driving school according to the license you already hold, with the goal of obtaining a license. After passing the graduation test, if you can pass the aptitude test and written exam at the driving license test center, you can obtain a standard Type 2 license.
Alternatively, you can directly apply to the driving license test center and take the test aiming for a first-time pass of the standard Type 2 license. However, since the tests are set with strict criteria, the difficulty level is inherently very high. It is generally recommended to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge of traffic regulations at a driving school before taking the exam.
Acquisition cost
The curriculum required varies depending on the obtained license, and the cost paid to the driving school varies as well.
Held License | Approximate acquisition cost |
Ordinary car license | 250,000 yen to 300,000 yen + temporary license fee (2,850 yen) |
The above acquisition cost is only an estimate. Prices may vary depending on the driving school and the time, so it's essential to check in advance.
Acquisition period
The hours of academic and skills training you need to attend vary depending on the obtained license.
Held License | Academic training | Skills training | Acquisition period estimate |
Ordinary car license | 19 hours | 21 hours | About 10 days to 2 weeks |
The required days vary depending on the availability of the driving school and the combination with work.
When participating in a training camp
Stay at a driving school for a short period and focus on skills and training intensively. Various plans are prepared for each driving school.
Acquisition cost
Held License | Approximate acquisition cost |
Ordinary car license | 200,000 yen to 250,000 yen + temporary license fee (2,850 yen) |
Generally, the above acquisition cost often includes school fees, meal costs, and accommodation costs. Therefore, compared to attending a school, camps are relatively cheaper and thus popular.
Acquisition period
The time required for academic and skills training is the same as when aiming to obtain a license by commuting. However, since you concentrate on teaching, the number of days required for acquisitions differs significantly.
Held License | Academic training | Skills training | Acquisition period estimate |
Ordinary car license | 19 hours | 21 hours | 7 nights 8 days |
According to the regulations, up to 3 hours of training are conducted per day. Those who want to get a license as soon as possible are suited for camp licenses.
FAQs about obtaining a regular Type 2 license
Is obtaining a regular Type 2 license for foreigners less difficult?
The biggest challenge for foreigners in obtaining a regular Type 2 license is the written exam.
The written exam is taken at the license center.
The written test consists of 90 text questions and 5 illustration questions, with the text questions scoring 1 point each and the illustration questions scoring 2 points each. Illustration questions are scored only if all parts of an illustration are correct. You need at least 90 out of 100 points to pass.
*There is no preliminary written exam.
Previously, the exam language was only Japanese for the Type 2 written test. The National Police Agency has decided to implement multilingual support for the written test to make it easier for foreigners to obtain a second-class license. The National Police Agency has decided to distribute examples of translated test questions for the second-class licenses in the following 20 languages to prefectural police by March 2024.
Europe/America | English, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian |
Asia | Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Nepali, Indonesian, Myanmar, Thai, Hindi, Urdu, Khmer, Mongolian, Sinhala |
Middle East | Persian, Arabic |
With the ability to take the written exam in native languages other than Japanese, it is expected that the number of applicants and passers will increase significantly, especially as taxi driver employment becomes available with the Specified Skilled Worker Visa.
"Status of Multilingual Implementation for Type 2 Licenses by Prefecture as of May 7, 2024"
Feel free to reference this as well. We will continue to update as needed.
Can you obtain a regular Type 2 license at any driving school?
The number of driving schools where you can obtain a regular Type 2 license is limited. Even in one prefecture, it is not uncommon for only a limited number of schools to offer it.
Therefore, if there isn't a nearby driving school where you can obtain a regular Type 2 license, consider using a training camp instead of commuting. By using a camp license, not only can you aim to obtain it in a short period, but you can also acquire safe-first driving skills required for the main exam more easily.
Plan carefully when pursuing a regular Type 2 license
In Japan, standard licenses are divided into Type 1 and Type 2 based on whether they allow driving with passengers. Decide which type you need based on how you want to use the license for your work. Although there have been relaxations in eligibility requirements, it is also important to check if your current qualifications meet the requirements.
There are three main ways to obtain a Type 2 license: attending a driving school, participating in a driving camp, or aiming for a direct pass. Since there are only a limited number of driving schools that offer Type 2 license training, early action is important.
Choose the method that suits you best and proceed with the necessary preparations step by step to obtain your Type 2 license.