Comments on: A Japanese permanent residence visa at last!

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:44:48 +0000

Does anyone have experience of obtaining a “spouse of perminent resident” visa?? Is it relatively easy, and does it carry the same weight as a “spouse of Japanese Citizen” visa??

Any comments or suggestions gratefully recieved.!!

By: Q

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:28:43 +0000

Maddog,

Well, technically you don’t need her to sponsor you if you have decent income, but realistically I don’t think you can get all the necessary paperwork without your wife’s cooperation. You need a lot of paperwork from her that probably isn’t lying around the house, and only she would be able to get her birth certificate, etc.

By: Maddog

Maddog — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:37:50 +0000

I am in the process to aquire PR also.. can you tell me does wife need to sponsor PR? My wife is scared once I have PR I will divorce her, hence her not willing to sponsor the app. Drivers licence was easy for an Australian.

By: Paul YM

Paul YM — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:04:13 +0000

Just another Driver’s License one-goer who wants to brag. I lived here for 4 years renewing the old IDP, left for a few years, and returned to discover the dreadful new 1 year rule. My year came to a close in June, so I started scrambling to take my test in April.

Long story short, it was a piece of cake. Granted, I was the only one in my group to pass, but I saw how the others were driving. Just read up on all the sites with tips, and then follow said tips, and you should do fine. I walked the course with a Nigerian guy I struck up conversations with. I spoke aloud as we walked, announcing things like “pause 3 seconds at stop sign” and “signal to drive around cones” and “keep approximately 75cm from curb.” When it was his go, did he heed any of this? No.

Apparently the 75cm from curb thing is a big deal. The tester mentioned it to everyone who failed. The idea is that you should discourage scooters from passing on your left. Ridiculous. Follow every inane rule you learn. Do not question authority.

I did take my test in Hyogo. Apparently things are a lot rougher in Tokyo. My next challenge is Permanent Residency!

By: Hidesato Sakakibara

Hidesato Sakakibara — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:27:51 +0000

You should have gone for citizenship. Better to have the right to vote, I say. PR is still just a visa. But to each his own, I guess.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 24 May 2007 09:40:01 +0000

The Japanese driving test is not so difficult, but it depends on a few factors.
1. Do you already posess a valid foreign license?
If so, you can have it translated and converted to a Japanese License.
Depending on the country of issuance, you may have to take a small written test (10 question test in English). Very simple. Questions like, if a baby is laying in the middle of the road, do you A. Stop and carry it to safety? or B. Run it down?. Also, depending on the country you may have to take a driving check test. This is case by case. I’ve heard horror stories of having to take it 5-10 times, and I’ve heard people passing it in 1 go(like myself).
2. If you don’t posess a valid drivers license already from your country, you need to get one or renew it before it can be translated. HOWEVER (see #3) below:
3. Have you had your license (valid) for at least 3 months prior to entering Japan for the first time? (this will be the license translated)
This was a bit tricky. I didn’t have any valid license when I first came to Japan back in 99′, but the law wasn’t changed yet, so I was able to translate my license back then even though I got a new one AFTER I entered Japan. However, I never went to get my license, and thus the translation was old. Then I renewed that license and eventually I had to have it re-translated(even though it said basically the same thing..bleh) I was informed that because I had the license translated already prior to the new regulation, they allowed me to convert to the Japanese license. I am told that if you don’t have a valid driver’s license issued from your country 3months or more prior to entering Japan, then you can’t make the conversion.
I’m not sure they are enforcing that, but if anyone fits this category, they might have to take the whole test from scratch.
However, for a steep fee, you can go to a place like Koyama Driving School and I think they offer it in English also.

By: Juanito

Juanito — Tue, 08 May 2007 09:08:06 +0000

Congratulations Q!!!

I applied too for the permanent residence visa at February. I hope to get it…

See you soon.

By: Q

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:13:18 +0000

Oh, you’re right. That doesn’t affect me though. (I’ll explain in an email.)

By: Dirk

Dirk — Tue, 01 May 2007 21:35:15 +0000

No, I think you now anything you earn or possess outside of Japan is subject to Japanese tax.

By: Q

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:13:56 +0000

You mean the national pension system?