From April 2024 onwards, the Japanese government expanded the Specified Skilled Worker visa system, allowing foreigners to enter the taxi industry. There is great anticipation for this as a measure to alleviate the driver shortage, which has become a societal issue. Here, we will explain in step format the necessary processes and paths for foreign residents of Japan and abroad to work as taxi drivers in Japan. Please use this as a "Guide for Foreigners to Get a Taxi Job in Japan."

STEP 1: Obtain a Standard Type 1 License

<For Residents in Japan>

We recommend that foreign residents in Japan obtain a Standard Type 1 License as soon as possible. The Type 2 License, required for taxi operations, can only be obtained by those who are 21 or older and have at least three years of driving experience after obtaining a regular license. However, through special training, it is possible to obtain a Type 2 license with one year of driving experience at 19 years of age or older. Therefore, the longer your driving experience after obtaining the Type 1 license, the more advantageous it is for employment.

Those who are technical intern trainees, Specified Skilled Workers, or international students living in Japan are advised to obtain a Type 1 License through training camps. During the off-season periods of April to July and October to December, prices are very affordable, and you can graduate from a driving school in about two weeks. Afterward, if you pass the main academic test at the license center, a driving license will be issued on the same day. Recently, the number of prefectures offering exams in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese has increased, which is good news for foreigners.

<For Residents Abroad>

Those coming from abroad should obtain a driver's license in their home country. In some countries, it may take three to six months to obtain a license.

There is a system to convert a foreign license to a Japanese license, so please use it to obtain a Japanese driving license. The foreign license conversion requires that the license was obtained in your home country and that you stayed there for at least three months. Please be aware that the Japanese license center will check your passport to confirm your stay in your home country.

When obtaining a Type 2 license in Japan, the aforementioned driving experience (more than one year) is counted cumulatively from the time you obtained your license in your home country. Therefore, it is important to obtain a regular license as soon as possible in your home country.

STEP 2: Pass the Skills Test

STEP 3: Japanese Language Proficiency of N3 or Higher

This STEP provides a detailed explanation of the Specified Skilled Worker system.

What is the Specified Skilled Worker Visa?

The Specified Skilled Worker Visa is a residency status introduced in 2019 to supplement the labor shortage in Japan. This visa is issued to foreign workers with specific skills or knowledge necessary in certain industries. From April 2024, drivers working in the taxi industry are also eligible for this system, allowing foreigners to work as taxi drivers.

2.1 Skills Tests

To obtain a residency status as a "Specified Skilled Worker," one must pass a "skills test" conducted for each specific industry sector in Japan or each country. In the automobile transport industry, taxis, trucks, and buses are the main categories, and skills tests will be administered as separate paper exams. Exam questions will be in Japanese.

3.1 Exam to Confirm Japanese Language Proficiency

To obtain the residency status of a Specified Skilled Worker, you must pass a "Basic Japanese Test (JFT-Basic)" or Level 3 (N3) of the "Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)," conducted in Japan or each country. Taxi drivers are required to have a Japanese language proficiency of N3 or higher, as they need to handle emergencies, which is a level higher than other industries.

STEP 4: Joining a Company (For Those Visiting from Abroad: Entry & Joining)

While this section lists joining a company as STEP 4, it is possible to apply for taxi company job postings in advance and obtain a pre-job offer. Therefore, acquiring the Type 1 License as outlined in STEP 1 sooner will be a better approach.

STEP 5: Obtain a Standard Type 2 License

In general, the company hiring you bears the cost of obtaining this Standard Type 2 License. Therefore, the costs are usually covered by the company, but in many cases, they have a loan system in place where if you retire within 1-2 years, the cost of the Type 2 license may be charged to you.

The biggest challenge for foreigners in obtaining the Type 2 License is the main academic test.
The main academic test is taken at the license center.
The test consists of 90 written questions and 5 illustration questions, with scores of 1 point per written question and 2 points per illustration question. Illustration questions consist of 3 questions per illustration, and only if all are correctly answered will points be awarded. Passing requires a score of 90 out of 100.
*There is no provisional academic test.

Until now, the academic test for the Type 2 license was only available in Japanese. The National Police Agency has decided to conduct the academic test in multiple languages so that foreigners can more easily obtain the Type 2 license. Therefore, by March 2024, they have decided to distribute examples of multi-language translated academic test questions for the Type 2 license to prefectural police departments in the following 20 languages.

As of May 7, 2024, the multilingual implementation status of the Type 2 license is as follows.

STEP 6: Education and Training

After joining a taxi company, there is about a one-month training period where you learn service methods and business rules. The training is divided into driver aptitude diagnosis, external training such as customer service and legal compliance, internal training, practical training, and training after assignment to a branch office. You will acquire various practical skills, legal knowledge, customer service manners, and how to operate electronic money payment devices. In particular, aptitude diagnosis by the Incorporated Administrative Agency Automobile Accident Countermeasure Agency and basic education at organizations like the Tokyo Taxi Center is conducted, aiming for practical skill improvement. Some training panels are pass/fail-based, and it is common for wages to be paid during the training.

On February 29, 2024, the geography test for taxis was abolished in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kanagawa. With the post-COVID-19 surge in demand presenting a driver shortage challenge, this measure has made it easier for foreigners to challenge the taxi industry. Knowledge tests related to safety and hospitality will continue as before. This measure aims to ensure the quality of taxi drivers while responding to changes in the times with the proliferation of dispatch apps, and to attract new talent.

Conclusion

In order to work as a taxi driver in Japan, you need language proficiency, the appropriate qualifications, and to obtain a Specified Skilled Worker visa. Through this process, foreign workers can contribute to the Japanese labor market while deeply engaging with Japanese culture and society. There are several steps from visa acquisition to lifestyle preparation, but by properly preparing according to this guide, we hope you will join the company of your choice.