Eye Test for Driving Licence Holders from Japan and South Korea
Introduction
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is a practical question that many expats ask, because Germany has a special agreement with both countries, and the rules for converting a licence are different from the rules for other countries. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is part of the Ummeldung, or conversion, of your licence into a German licence, and it is a legal requirement, even if your Japanese or Korean licence is still valid. This guide explains who can convert their licence without a driving test, what eye test is needed, and how to apply.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is a good position to be in, because both countries are on the list of countries whose licences can be converted into a German licence without a driving test, under a reciprocal agreement. That means you do not need to take a theory test or a practical driving test in Germany, and you do not need a driving school, but you do need a Sehtest, a first aid course, and the paperwork for your local driving licence office, the Fahrerlaubnisbehoerde. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is the same test as for a German applicant, with a visual acuity of at least 0.7 with both eyes together.
In this article, you will learn which Japanese and Korean licence classes can be converted, what eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea involves, how much it costs, how long the conversion takes, and what documents are needed. You will also find practical advice on the translation of your licence, on the differences between Japanese, Korean, and German driving rules, and on what to do if you fail the eye test. By the end, you will know how to convert your licence and keep driving in Germany.
The Reciprocal Agreement
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is part of the Umschreibung, and Germany has a reciprocal agreement with both countries. That means a Japanese licence and a South Korean licence can be converted into a German licence without a theory test, and without a practical driving test, provided the licence is valid, and provided you have lived in Germany for at least 185 days. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is the same as the test for a German applicant, and it is one of the documents that the driving licence office will ask for.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is not waived just because you have a valid licence from your home country. Your home country may not have asked for an eye test when you got your licence, and the German office will still want the German Sehtest-Bescheinigung. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea also has a time limit, because you must apply for the conversion within six months of moving to Germany, or you must stop driving in Germany until the conversion is complete.
Which Classes Can Be Converted?
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea depends on the class. A Japanese ordinary licence, the Futsuu licence, is usually converted to a class B licence in Germany, and a Korean ordinary licence, class 2, is also converted to class B. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is the standard test for class B, with a visual acuity of at least 0.7, and it can be taken at a large optician chain, where the fee is between 6.43 and 15 euros, and where the test is often free.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea for a motorcycle licence is a separate question, because not all motorcycle classes can be converted without a test. A Japanese or Korean motorcycle licence may need a practical test in Germany, depending on the engine size, and you should ask the driving licence office before you apply, because the rules change. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is the same for motorcycle classes, but the test requirement is different, and a driving school can advise you.
The Eye Test in Detail
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is a Sehtest at an optician, or a vision test at a TueV or Dekra station. Bring your identity card or passport, your residence permit, and your glasses or contact lenses, and read the letters or numbers from an eye chart, first with one eye covered, then with the other, and then with both eyes together. The result is a visual acuity value, called Visus, which must be at least 0.7 with both eyes together, with or without a visual aid. The fee is between 6.43 and 15 euros.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea can be done before the conversion, and the certificate is valid for two years. That means you can take the test as soon as you move to Germany, and you do not need to wait until you have the translation of your licence. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea produces the Sehtest-Bescheinigung, which you take to the driving licence office with your Japanese or Korean licence, a certified translation, a first aid course certificate, a passport photo, and the application form.
What to Expect When Driving in Germany
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is about the legal requirements, but driving in Germany is also different from driving in Japan or Korea. In Germany, there is no speed limit on some motorway sections, and you must always check the speed limit signs, because the limit changes often. In Japan, the traffic drives on the left, and in South Korea it drives on the right, as in Germany, but the road signs are different, and the priority rules are different. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is one step, but learning the German traffic rules is also important.
The eye test validity when exchanging a foreign driving licence page on this site explains how the certificate is used when you convert a foreign licence, and the eye test for a driving licence page on this site explains the standard test. Read both pages before you apply, because the conversion process is simpler than it looks, and most applications are processed in two to six weeks.
What Happens If You Fail the Eye Test
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea can be failed, and the most common reasons are a wrong glasses prescription, tired eyes, and a dirty lens. If you fail, get an up-to-date prescription from an optician, and take the test again after a few days, with new glasses, and you will usually pass. If you fail twice, the optician will usually refuse a third test, and the licence office will expect a medical report from an ophthalmologist, the Augenaerztliches Gutachten, instead of a simple certificate. That report is more detailed, and it costs between 100 and 250 euros, and the licence office will decide on the basis of that report.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is also a chance to think about your eyesight as it changes with age. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, your eyesight can change more quickly, and the eye test is a useful check. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea should be taken regularly, not only for the driving licence, but for your own safety, and a yearly eye test at an optician is a simple way to keep track of your vision.
Driving in Japan and South Korea: The Differences That Matter
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is a step in the conversion process, but the road itself is different in each country, and it is worth knowing the differences, so that you can drive safely in Germany, and also when you go home for a visit. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is not about the road rules, but a Japanese licence holder who has driven on the left all their life must learn to drive on the right in Germany, and that is a big change, and it takes time to get used to, and a driving school can help. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan is the standard German test, and the conversion is possible without a driving test, because Japan is on the Annex 11 list, and South Korea is also on the list, and both countries have a reciprocal agreement with Germany.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea should be combined with a study of the German traffic rules, because the rules are different: in Germany, there is no speed limit on some motorway sections, and you must always check the speed limit signs, and right of way at a junction is often decided by a sign, and the priority rules are strict. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan is a document that the licence office will ask for, and the office will also ask for a certified translation of your licence, and for a Japanese licence, the translation is usually done by the Japan Automobile Federation, the JAF, or by a sworn translator in Germany, and for a South Korean licence, the translation is done by a sworn translator. Eye test for driving licence holders from South Korea is the same test, and the documents are the same.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is also a question for the future, because after you have a German licence, you can use it to drive in Japan and in South Korea, but the rules are different: Germany has a reciprocal agreement, but a German licence is not always accepted as a direct exchange in Japan, and you may need an International Driving Permit, which you can get from the ADAC in Germany, and which is valid for three years, and which must be carried with your German licence when you drive abroad. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is a one-way conversion, and it is worth keeping your original Japanese or Korean licence safe, because you may need it if you move back home.
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is a simple step in a simple process, and the conversion is usually processed in two to six weeks, and it costs about 35 to 50 euros, plus the translation of your licence, which costs 40 to 80 euros. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea costs between 6.43 and 15 euros, and it is often free at a large optician chain, and it is the cheapest document on the list, so take it first, and apply early, because you must stop driving on your Japanese or Korean licence after six months in Germany, until the conversion is complete. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan is a step that many expats take in their first month, and it is a good start to a new life in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a driving test to convert my Japanese licence?
No, eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is part of the conversion, and Germany has a reciprocal agreement with Japan, so a valid Japanese licence can be converted without a theory or practical test. You still need a Sehtest, a first aid course, and the paperwork for your local driving licence office.
Do I need a driving test for my South Korean licence?
No, eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea also applies to a South Korean licence, because Germany has a reciprocal agreement with South Korea, and a valid Korean licence can be converted without a driving test, provided you apply within six months of moving to Germany.
How much does the eye test cost?
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea costs between 6.43 and 15 euros at an optician, and it is often free at a large chain. The conversion fee at the driving licence office is usually 35 to 50 euros, plus a certified translation of your licence, which costs 40 to 80 euros.
What documents do I need for the conversion?
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea produces a certificate that you take to the driving licence office, together with your Japanese or Korean licence, a certified translation, a first aid course certificate, a passport photo, and your identity card and residence permit.
How long does the conversion take?
It usually takes two to six weeks, and it can be longer if the office has a waiting list, or if the translation of your licence is needed. Apply early, because you must stop driving on your Japanese or Korean licence after six months in Germany, until the conversion is complete.
For the official legal text behind the rules in this article, see the German driving licence regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung).
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is the standard Sehtest for class B. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is needed even if your licence is valid. Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea can be taken at any large optician.
Conclusion
Eye test for driving licence holders from Japan and South Korea is a simple step in a simple conversion process. Germany has a reciprocal agreement with both countries, so a valid Japanese or South Korean licence can be converted to a German class B licence without a driving test, and the eye test is the standard Sehtest, with a visual acuity of at least 0.7. Apply within six months of moving to Germany, bring your licence, a certified translation, a first aid course certificate, and the Sehtest-Bescheinigung, and your German licence will be ready in two to six weeks. With the right preparation, you can keep driving in Germany, safely and legally, with your new German licence.