Kochi Consultation Center for Foreign Residents（Kocoforre）

スコ・ニューコフォーレ

こ う ち け ん がいこくじんせいかつそうだん

Kocoforre News高知県外国人生活相談センター（ココフォーレ）

Issue 4: Summer 2023

“Kocoforre”is the nickname for the Kochi Consultation Center for Foreign Residents

The sun is shining bright outside, and it finally feels like summer. Have you been enjoying
your summer so far? In Kocoforre News, we introduce our center’s activities and useful
information for foreign residents of Kochi, those who are connected with foreigners, andpeople interested in multiculturalism.
Driver’s License Center200 Edagawa, Ino-cho,Agawa-gun
Testing Manager Phone:(088)893-1244
Weekdays 8:30～17:00
In this issue, we will guide you through the process of converting a driver’s license
obtained overseas to a Japanese driver’s license. Those living in Kochi Prefecture
can convert their license at the Ino-cho Driver’s License Center. First, you must undergo a preliminary screening(document submission and an interview). Later, you will need to take and pass the aptitude test (vision test, etc.)
and the written exam, and then you will take the practical exam*. Once you pass the practical exam, you can getyour Japanese driver’s license.

Topics Switching Your Foreign Driver’s
License to a Japanese License*Some countries are exempt from taking the written and practical exams (29 countries as of June 2023). Those holding
licenses from the following countries may receive their Japanese license after passing the preliminary screening and theaptitude test:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South
Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States of America (states of Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio,Oregon, Virginia, and Washington only).

1. Preliminary Screening (document submission and interview)Call the Testing Manager at the License Center (088-8931224) and schedule an interview. Make sure to bring therequired documents to the interview. Document processing
takes between a week and a month.

TEL

Required Documents◦Foreign driver’s license (must be translated; the Japan
Automobile Federation (JAF) can translate it for you)
◦Passport (or other document showing that you resided
for over 3 months in the country where you received
your license)◦Residency certificate (including nationality anddomicile)◦Residence card
◦International driver’s license (for those who have one)
◦Japanese driver’s license (for those who had one inthe past)
Foreign license translation service:

2. Aptitude Test, Written Exam, and Practical ExamThose who pass the preliminary screening must schedule
another appointment to take the aptitude test, written
exam, and practical exam at the Driver’s License Center.

https://jaf.or.jp/common/contact/global-support

Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) Kochi Branch:
19-28 Kitakubo, Kochi CityTEL : 088-882-0311

3. Receive your driver’s license

試験中

１．Take the aptitude test and written exam

2. Take the practical exam
試験中

Pass

Pass

試験中

➡
What to bring◦Eyeglasses or contact lenses (forthose who usually wear them)◦1 ID photo (must be taken within
the last six months and be ３cm
long x 2.4 cm wide)◦Required documents◦Handling fee (regular license: 2,550yen; motorbike license: 1,500 yen)
◦License issuance fee (2,050 yen)

➡

Q &A

Q1 What is the written exam?
AIt is a test consisting of 10questions about Japanese
traffic laws, etc.

Q3 Can I bring an interpreterwith me?

AYou may be accompanied
by an interpreter during theinterview and the aptitude
test, but not during thewritten and practical exams.

Q2 Can I take the written exam in aforeign language?

AIn addition to Japanese (withfurigana), the test is also available
in English, Korean, Chinese,Spanish, Vietnamese, Portuguese,Farsi, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, andIndonesian.

Kochi Prefectural Police Department Homepage https://www.police.pref.kochi.lg.jp/menkyo/201610_gaikoku_mennkyo_kirikae.html

Highlights of Kocoforre’s Activities（April 2022-March 2023）

Consultation Breakdown（April 2022-March 2023）
Personal(marriage, divorce,domesticviolence, etc)
3%

Immigration
19%

Other
32%

Employment andlabor
14%
Medical care
9%Childbirth andparenting
3%
Social insurance
and pension
Housing
4%
4%Translation andinterpretation
6%
Japanese language learning
6%

This past year, Kocoforre handled 638 consultations. In addition toforeigners, we also received consultation requests from companies,government offices, and Japanese residents with connections toforeigners. Apart from working with clients at the Consultation
Center, Kocoforre also held visiting consultation sessions inother localities, and set up consultation spaces at international
affairs-related events where foreigners and Japanese people withconnections to foreigners could stop by to speak with us.
Last year, there was a large number of consultations regarding
immigration procedures. Cases about obtaining permanent residency
and changing residency status to long-term resident or spouse of aJapanese citizen, etc. were especially numerous. Due to the relaxationof COVID-19-related border restrictions over the past year, we also
received consultation requests regarding visas and quarantine
measures when entering Japan and other countries.
Employment and labor consultations included cases related to job
hunting and career change, as well as inquiries about part-time workfrom students studying abroad in Japan. Residence status is a big
factor in foreign residents’employment.
Other consultations were made about a wide range of topics, including
schooling for children coming to Japan from abroad, My Number cards,
COVID-19 vaccines, loan repayment, and traffic accident compensation.

Free Legal Consultations
Now Available at Kocoforre

Announcements from Kocoforre
Company Visits
Kocoforre staff visits companies to meet with foreign
employees and introduce them to Kochi Prefecture
and the foreigner community here, and give them
useful information about life in Kochi from a foreigner’sperspective. We also hold get-togethers (with interpretation
available) where participants can ask questions or express
worries about their life in Japan in an informal setting. For
more information, please contact Kocoforre.

Upcoming
Career Fair

Sept. 24th (Sun) 13:00-17:00
Kochi City Culture-Plaza CUL-PORT

A career fair for job-seeking foreigners will be held in
Kochi Prefecture. Participants will be able to speak directlywith representatives from local companies interested in
hiring foreign employees. The Immigration Bureau and theLabor Bureau will also be represented, so participants
will have the chance to ask about technical matters suchas residence status and work. Kocoforre will also beparticipating. Further details will be posted on Kocoforre’s
website and social media accounts.

Legal consultations held at Houterasu can now be
conducted at Kocoforre, too. Consultations areavailable for foreign nationals and naturalized citizens
living in Kochi Prefecture whose income and assets
are below the designated threshold. Lawyers from theKochi Bar Association will provide legal consultations(excluding consultations regarding criminal cases).

By holding your legal consultation at Kocoforre,
you can rest easy about two things:
1. No pesky language barrier!
You can consult with lawyers in your native language.
Interpretation will be provided by consultants orinterpreters at Kocoforre or a three-party telephoneinterpretation service.
2. We’
re with you every step of the way!
If you hold your consultation at Kocoforre, we cancontinue to follow up with you about your case, andwe can also advise you on non-legal matters.
■For more information, check Kocoforre’s website↓
https://kccfr.jp/shiteisoudanbasho-20221215/

Kocoforre Consultation Sessions with Specialists*Details will be posted on Kocoforre’s website and social media as they are finalized

Date

Consultation Session

Location

September 9 ,2023 (Sat)

Shimanto City On-site
Consultation

3rd Floor of the Shimanto City Office(Address: 4-10 Nakamura Oohashidoori, Shimanto-shi)

December 10th,2023 (Sun)Nankoku City On-site
Consultation

Nankoku City Chiiki Koryu Center
MIARE!
(Address: 2117 Oosoneko, Nankoku-shi)

February 2024

Tosa City On-site
Consultation

TBA

Late September
2023/Late
February 2024

Free Legal
Consultation Week for
Foreigners

Kocoforre(Address: 4-1-37 Honmachi, Kochi-shi)th■Website■Instagram
Available inJapanese,
English, Chinese,Korean,
Indonesian, andVietnamese.

Usefulinformation onliving in Japanis posted insimple Japaneseand foreign
languages.

Description
Immigration Bureau staff will beavailable for in-depth consultations
regarding residence status. Kocoforre
consultants will also be available todiscuss general concerns about life inJapan besides residence status.
Lawyers will be giving free consultations
to all clients regardless of financial
means (excluding corporations).

Published by: K ochi International Association
Kochi Consultation Center for Foreign Residents
Address: Marunouchi Building 1F, 4-1-37 Honmachi, Kochi City
780-0870
Contact info: TEL: 088-821-6440 FAX: 088-821-6441
E-mail: consultation@kccfr.jp
Website: https://kccfr.jp
Publication Date: July 2023