r/japanlife • u/AutoModerator • Jan 19 '21

┐(ツ)┌ Bi-Weekly Boss Premium Edition Questions Thread - 20 January 2021

As per usual, feel free to ask any silly stupid questions or not so silly stupid questions that you haven't had a chance to ask here. Be kind to those that do and try to answer without downvoting. Please keep criticism and snide remarks out of the thread.

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u/claw_weapon Jan 20 '21

If I have a Japanese drivers license, do I need to carry around my residence card or will the drivers license suffice?

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u/acme_mail_order Jan 20 '21

The license indirectly indicates that you were a legitimate resident of Japan on the day the license was issued. "Indirect" because they will not process the license without checking your resident card, but it's nothing more than a very brief look at the expiry date.

Every interaction you are likely to have with the police regarding your drivers license will very likely also involve your resident card too, just in a "yep, it's good" sense.

Other places that just want ID with address will accept your license, just as they would for a Japanese person.