Gifu Driver's License Test Centre (Foreign License Section)

Address	1-22-8 Sandenhora-higashi, Gifu City, Gifu 502-0003
Access	About 40 minutes by Gifu Bus from Gifu Station (bus bound for Sandenhora Danchi), get off at Sandenhora Jidosha Gakko-guchi. Walking time from the stop is not stated.
Booking	Document screening is booked by phone (call together with a Japanese speaker, and only once all documents are ready). Only applicants who pass screening can book the application day; arrive at 8:30. Late arrival or missing documents means no reception.
Days and times	Phone enquiries and booking Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00 (not public holidays or year-end/New Year). Application days are weekdays. First-time applicants take the knowledge check in the morning and the skills check in the afternoon, so plan a full day. The page (dated 2026-04-10) gives current waits of about 2 months to document screening and about 5 months after screening to the knowledge/skills checks.
Driving test course	Driving test course The police publish the course map:
Fees	Aptitude test and checks (ordinary licence, with vehicle) - example amount on page: ¥3,300 Licence issuance: ¥2,350 Additional category entry (per category): ¥200

Documents

Valid foreign licence (plus any old licences)
ID card issued in the licence-issuing country
Residence card (A4 copy, front and back)
Japanese translation of the foreign licence (issuing authority, embassy/consulate, or approved agencies such as JAF, ZIPLUS, ALADDIN)
All passports ever issued (original; old ones too)
Licence history certificate where required for your country (original)
Residence record (juminhyo) showing nationality or domicile and all residence-card items, no omitted items
One photo 3 cm x 2.4 cm taken within 6 months (not needed for screening)
Country-specific documents where required
Japanese licence if you have ever held one

From 2025-10-01 the knowledge check has 50 questions; people who passed the old check before that date must retake it under the new rules.
From 2025-10-01 the skills check uses new courses for all licence classes with more test tasks; one of several courses is assigned on the day.
Residence record must show all residence-card items without omission; records with changed details must be reissued, and old versions are not accepted. If the residence card is renewed before the test, a new record is needed.
Interpreter required if you do not understand Japanese.
Eligibility: valid foreign licence, at least 3 months total stay in the issuing country after obtaining it, registered residence in Gifu, no current administrative sanction.
Gifu Test Centre is the only location named on the official page for these procedures; Tajimi was not mentioned there.

Not checking the blind spot (turn your head) before moving off, changing lanes and turning.
Left turns: not moving close to the left edge first, then turning slowly along the edge of the intersection.
Right turns: not moving close to the centre line beforehand, or not turning just inside the centre of the intersection (wait there for oncoming traffic).
At a stop sign (止まれ): not stopping completely at the stop line, then stopping again where you can see.
Signalling late: signal 30 m before a turn, 3 seconds before a lane change.
Crossings: not slowing down or not stopping for a pedestrian who may cross.
Railway crossings: not stopping before the crossing and checking left and right with the window open.

Always check the official page before you go: times and rules change. Official page · Checked 2026-11-09