Japan, from October, will enforce stricter criteria for the conversion of foreign driving licenses to local ones. This move follows a series of allegations indicating that some license holders got their certifications abroad solely to avoid stringent Japanese driving tests. The country's transport ministry has decided to reassess those with year-long foreign licenses from countries where Japanese nationals specifically go to avoid domestic licensing.

In Japan, obtaining a driving license can be a rigorous and expensive process compared to other countries. Therefore, some Japanese nationals use loopholes to obtain licenses from foreign countries with easier criteria, only to convert them back in Japan. The public bears mixed feelings towards the new regulation, but many affirm that safety must be prioritized.

In the US or EU, rules around the conversion of foreign driving licenses vary. For instance, some states in the US, like California, require everyone, regardless of their previous licensing status, to take written and practical driving tests. Others, however, accept licenses from certain countries without a need for additional exams.