Foreign License Conversion
in Hokkaido Prefecture

Police organization:

Hokkaido Police (北海道警察)

Test center:

Sapporo Driver's License Test Center (札幌運転免許試験場)

City

Sapporo (Teine Ward / 手稲区)

Access

Located in Teine-ku, Akebono, Sapporo. Navitime lists the street address as 北海道札幌市手稲区曙5条4丁目1-1 (postal 006-0835); the prior memo's '曙5条1丁目1-1' appears to be in error. Public transit (per Navitime): nearest train is JR Inaho Station, about 1.5 km / ~18 min on foot; a '運転免許試験場' bus stop is adjacent (~1 min walk). The official conversion page itself lists only the Hokkaido Prefectural Police HQ address (札幌市中央区北2条西7丁目), not the test-center street address.

Test languages:

20 languages (nationwide standard since June 2024)

Reservation required

How to reserve

Mandatory advance reservation by phone (no online booking). Phone lines are congested (電話予約が混み合っている) so expect delays.

Reservation page ↗

https://www.police.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/guide/menkyo/gai_menkyo-kirikae.html

Phone

011-695-5515

Reception hours

Weekdays (Mon–Fri) 8:45–17:00. Closed weekends, public holidays, and Dec 29–Jan 3.

No foreign-language support. The official page states 外国語での対応はしていません (foreign language support is not provided). Applicants who cannot complete procedures in Japanese must bring their own interpreter.

Example for ordinary vehicle (普通免許): ¥2,500 test fee + ¥2,350 issuance fee. Fees vary by license category; confirm the exact amount when reserving.

By appointment only via phone. Non-exempt countries require 3 visits (document screening → knowledge test → practical driving test); exempt countries require 2 visits (document screening → issuance). Applicant must reside within the Hokkaido Public Safety Commission (Sapporo-area) jurisdiction (北海道公安委員会（札幌方面）管内に住所があること). Required documents include the application form and questionnaire, a valid foreign license (plus any old ones), a Japanese translation of the foreign license, passport/travel documents proving 3+ months of residence in the issuing country, a photo (3.0cm×2.4cm taken within 6 months), a residence certificate showing residency status, any previous Japanese licenses, and the fees.

We could not confirm the following from primary sources. Please check the official page before relying on them:

• Exact test-center street address: memo said 曙5条1丁目1-1 but Navitime says 曙5条4丁目1-1; the official conversion page does not state the test-center street address (only the police HQ address). The chōme number could not be confirmed from an official source.
• Whether regional centers (Hakodate, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Obihiro, Kitami) accept foreign-license conversion applications. The menkyo-menu page lists 8 facilities but does not specify which handle conversion; the conversion page references only the Hokkaido (Sapporo-area) Public Safety Commission jurisdiction.
• Specific approved translation providers (JAF / Ziplus / ALADDIN) — the official conversion page (as fetched) confirms a Japanese translation is required but did not enumerate these providers.
• Multi-month reservation-to-exam wait time — not stated on the official source.
• Winter (Dec–Mar) extra travel-time advice — editorial, not from the official source.
• Several-month wait after a failed practical test — not stated on the official source.

Always verify on the prefectural police's official page before you go — addresses, reservation methods, and document requirements change frequently.

• Official page (Japanese) ↗ — open via Google Translate / DeepL
• Official source ↗ https://www.police.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/guide/menkyo/menkyo-menu.html
• Official source ↗ https://www.navitime.co.jp/poi?spot=00004-01101900001

The 6-step process (eligibility → translation → appointment → document screening → 50-question test → practical test) is the same nationwide. See the main hub for the complete walkthrough, document checklist, and translation services.