She successfully passed the drivers test and was provided with a. After arriving to the country, all incoming personnel who are eligible to drive must go to the drivers testing station in bldg. Driving privilege and license to drive any vehicle private or government owned in japan, you as a sofa sponsored member, must be properly licensed with a u. It is important to obtain your sofa stamp before heading overseas. Points issued against a driver s license in florida remain on the license for at least 10 years. Duplicate license requirements present a valid picture dod id card. Individuals under the age of 18 years are strictly. The shape drivers license is only valid in belgium.
Students must be in the appropriate uniform of the day uod in order to attend this course. If you have the drivers license issued in switzerland, germany, france, taiwan, belgium, slovenia, or monaco, you can drive in japan for one 1 year from the date of entry to japan, provided you carry your license together with the japanese translation. This includes all military, department of defense dod civilians, dod contractors, and their authorized. Headquarters united states forces korea united states. You can update your information by bringing a copy of your new orders or letter of employment to the cfay drivers license office. Marine corps air station iwakuni vehicle registration. Sofa licensed drivers are subject to steeper fines and more severe. How to manage a longdistance relationship with the dmv. If your pov license is expired for more than 30 days, you will retest regardless if you tested for the initial sofa license or. Schedule your pov drivers test through your unit vcovnco and they will provide their personnel with the pov study guide usfk 9852 guide to safe driving in korea and necessary paperwork to obtain a pov license. All requirements for obtaining a sofa license must be. If your pov license has expired, you will have to take the test again. Already have a drivers license recognized by florida.
Individuals will need to make an appointment with the area. All area ii sofa sponsored personnel and eligible family members can obtain a civilian driver s license andor military driver license. Same sofa drivers license, but requirements differ between. First time drivers never applied and received a drivers license. Concurrently, a sofa license is a common term for a military issued driver s license permitting service members and families to operate vehicles in the country. Drinking and driving and illegal drugs are dealt with very severely by both japanese and military authorities. Yes, you can get a divers license on a tourist visa, you do not need to be a resident. Check with your state department of motor vehicles to see if they have a military extension policy and what you must do to get the extension. Marine, civilian or dependent to drive on okinawa or mainland japan, you must obtain a valid usfj4 ej, us forces japan operators permit. Yokosuka naval base directory drivers license office.
An international driver s permit idp a valid government of japan driver s license a written proof that they have successfully completed a certified formal driving course a valid current driver s license issued by the country specified in usfj instruction 31205. To drive a vehicle legally in japan, you will need an international driving permit idp etc. Rok drivers license or international driver license. If your license is from one of the countries that requires tests in order to get a japanese drivers license, you will need to submit your documents, take a short written test, and pass a driving test on an enclosed course at a testing center before you can get your license. Jul 14, 2006 by regulation, an international license is not an acceptable alternative to the usareur license if a person is here under the sofa.
To obtain a sofa drivers license all personnel will. Ensure you register to attend local conditionsdrivers training by calling 3152258725 or emailing. May 21, 2019 driving in germany is a privilege, not a right. All area ii sofa sponsored personnel and eligible family members can obtain a civilian drivers license andor military driver license. All bases require a valid stateside or international driver s license. In these nations, motorists must carry a valid international drivers license. Complete a usfj4ej renewal drivers application card pink card. Sofa licensed driver may find themselves faced with when operating a motor vehicle onoff base. Renewal drivers application cards are available at the pov licensing office. Us military personnel in japan enjoy sofaprotected driving. The minimum age to obtain a restricted driver license in the us varies from 14 years, three months in south dakota to as high as 17 in new jersey. The state of florida issues its citizens points against their drivers license for infractions occurring anywhere in the united states. If anyone had a sofa drivers license, then separated and came back to japan, the process for a japanese drivers license is very easy. An international drivers permit idp a valid government of japan drivers license a written proof that they have successfully completed a certified formal driving course a valid current drivers license issued by the country specified in usfj instruction 31205.
Oct 29, 20 to obtain a sofa stamp, you should visit a u. Their driving licenses will not be suspended or revoked by japanese. Note 51 sfs will assign a date and time for license pick up based on workload. Drivers are reminded to remain vigilant, obey all traffic laws, and drive defensively at all times to ensure safely navigating a motorized vehicle during your overseas tour. Once your paperwork is signed and approved, you will pick up license from the same building 765.
The nationality which country your passport is issued will not affect the the validity of the license or permit necessary to drive in japan. We serve all status of forces agreement sofa personnel assigned to bases and units in okinawa, japan. A valid current drivers license issued by the country specified in usfj instruction 31205 a prerequisite to obtaining a drivers license at cfay is proof of attendance at the area orientation brief and intercultural relations class aobicr. It should take 34 seconds to get to the same spot the car in front of you was just in. New texas residents can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another u. How to get your sofa drivers license on naf atsugi. International driving permit under the convention of road traffic on sep. All sofa members of usfk military, the civilian component including technical. Sofa license renewals are based on current stateside license, please ensure you have a state license to cover the duration of your tour in japan. Driver training, testing and licensing usfk drivers license. These licenses restrict certain driving privileges, such as.
Contractors must obtain an updated sofa letter through the mcb sja or service equivalent and provide a letter of employment. Personnel who have a letter of approval by the usag humphreys commander for exception to policy. Driving overseas eighth army the united states army. Authorized japanese translation for drivers license issued in. Switzerland, germany, france, taiwan, belgium, estonia or monaco. To drive any vehicle private or government owned in japan, you as a sofa sponsored member, must be properly licensed with.
Heres what four of the largerpopulation states require to renew expired drivers licenses. If test is passed you will take your paperwork to building 765, pass and id. All requirements for obtaining a sofa license must be met before obtaining a motorcycle endorsement. Valid usfk sofa drivers license, contractors are not required to have a usfk drivers license as they must have a drivers license issued by the host nation. Japanese drivers license nonsofanoninternational licensed personnel. A foreign drivers license must be in the form of a valid full license, and the holders of a temporary, learner, provisional, probationary, permit, certificate etc. Must take the hq usareur drivers test must have a valid us drivers license not provisional or restricted must possess the usareur drivers permit while operating a usareur plated vehicle must be 17 years old or older.
The way to calculate the recommended distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. All sofa status usfk military personnel, usfk civilian appropriated and nonappropriated employees, usfk technical representatives, and family members of the aforementioned personnel must also possess a valid u. If your pov license is expired for more than 30 days, you will retest regardless if you tested for the initial sofa license or not. Converting your out of state drivers license to a florida. Since the guide staff always leads, do not worry about the unfamiliar japanese road. That means a lot of new drivers showing up at the local dmv offices. You cannot obtain an international driving permit at the embassy.
To drive any vehicle private or government owned in japan, you as a sofa sponsored member, must be properly licensed with a u. In massachusetts point system is known as safe driver insurance plan sdip. License pickup procedures driver s license pickup procedure renewing the usfj form 4ej operators permit sofa license for personnel with an expired stateside license where they cannot renew online or in the mail and the only way to renew is returning back to the state where the license was issued. Bring your completed 374 aw form 50, your driver in japan booklet, pen, paper, and your current drivers license us or other country to right start or local conditions orientation when you arrive. International driving permits are not a mediumtolong term substitute for a japanese drivers license. But, other nations in europe do not recognize the usareur license as a valid license for operating motor vehicles within their borders. Follow the link below to access the most current version of the handbook for driving in okinawa.
Card, dependent id card, or authorized id card present at the time of license issuance. To become a licensed driver in okinawa, you will need to obtain a sofa license. Import or customs shipping documents normally provided by email from the vpc valid dod idcac. By regulation, an international license is not an acceptable alternative to the usareur license if a person is here under the sofa. Study 24 terms okinawa sofa permit test flashcards quizlet. Prior to the end of the 90 day grace period, a new texas resident must apply for a texas license in person at any driver license office to. To obtain a rok drivers license, you should have a valid u. At the time of applying for a license, a background check. The state of florida issues its citizens points against their driver s license for infractions occurring anywhere in the united states. Driving without a valid driver s license, aiding and abetting another to drivewithout a valid driver s license, improper acquisition of a driver s license and knowinglyloaning a vehicle to someone who does not possess a valid driver s license can result with afine and or punishment of up to 3 years confinement and no more than 500,000 yen. All personnel assigned to the kmc who require driving privileges. Concurrently, a sofa license is a common term for a military issued drivers license permitting service members and families to operate vehicles in the country. Okinawa, drivers test, driving exam, traffic, license. Same sofa drivers license, but requirements differ.
In most states, a graduated licensing law applies to newlylicensed teenage drivers, going by names such as provisional driver, junior operator, probationary driver, or intermediate license. Must take the hq usareur driver s test must have a valid us driver s license not provisional or restricted must possess the usareur driver s permit while operating a usareur plated vehicle must be 17 years old or older. All bases require a valid stateside or international drivers license. Driving without a valid drivers license, aiding and abetting another to drivewithout a valid drivers license, improper acquisition of a drivers license and knowinglyloaning a vehicle to someone who does not possess a valid drivers license can result with afine and or punishment of up to 3 years confinement and no more than 500,000 yen. The below requirements must be met before issuance of a usfj form 4ej sofa license for operating a motorcycle. Personnel are advised to have their stateside drivers license, idcac card, and usareur license when driving in germany, as well as with an international drivers permit when outside the country. The written test tests your knowledge of the basic safe driving and. All drivers are required to have a valid drivers license. Invited contractors, their employees including koreans and dependents of contractors who operate a pov in the republic of korea, must first obtain a valid rok drivers license. You cannot obtain an international driving permit at the. Applicants must present a stateside drivers license to take the test. Authorized japanese translation for driver s license issued in. Marine corps installations pacific staff and sections. The sofa driver license for us forces japan is acceptable.
What is the difference between overtaking and passing. It only took one day with no tests and i they issued me japanese license. Driver license commander, navy installations command. The 18th wing safety office 18 wgse is responsible for providing driver safety training for all 18th wing 18wg or kab assigned personnel requesting a usfj form 4ej driving permit. Points issued against a drivers license in florida remain on the license for at least 10 years. Privatelyowned vehicle pov usfj form 4ej operators permit sofa license management issuance, renewal, etc. Persons found driving in japan without a legal license are subject to fines, arrest and possible deportation. Usfj form 4ej operators permit sofa license for newly arriving licensed personnel. Invited contractors, their employees including koreans and dependents of contractors who operate a pov in the republic of korea, must first obtain a valid rok driver s license. Depending on where you are moving from your valid drivers license may be directly exchanged for a florida drivers license.