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Solving `Passport Application` with Haskell

(jameshaydon.github.io)
306 points jameshh | 3 comments | 28 Jun 25 23:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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franciscop ◴[29 Jun 25 04:12 UTC] No.44410308[source]▶
I have noticed in Japan the crazy bureaucratization of document applications in the 7-8 years I've been living here. I've had 2 Japanese documents expire, "MyNumber" and "Driving License" in these years, and when trying to re-obtain them the process has become MUCH more complex. I'm bad at remembering all these processes in detail, but these are from memory:

- For the mynumber, first time, it was a simple application, and maybe a trip or two to the City Hall. This was at a moment where Japan was trying everyone to have/use the mynumber system so that might've made it easier on purpose.

- The second time I needed to book an appointment to request the application forms, which were (snail)mailed to me so then I could apply for the card. Yes, that sentence is as bad as it reads.

Now the crazier one is the driving license (conversion process):

- The first time I needed to get a translation, I went to JAL, showed my documents and paid, then received the translation. Took that and 2-3 documents, went to the driving license center, and gave the documents and passports and IDs. Waited few hours and had it done. Oh, I also got the Motorbike license for free.

- The second time I am applying now: need to get the translation, first register online for the translation, for which you need to create an account and a 8-step process. Hard, but still doable [1]. Then you need to book a meeting for the driving license center. But it's very hard to do so, in fact I couldn't find the link at all. I went in person and they showed me a QR code for the booking, I suspect this is hard to find on purpose. Every place is full and cannot be booked, except for 1 of them, 2 months later. Okay, I try to apply. First basic questions, sure, then asks for travel history on my passport that I need to input manually. Note that dates in one part of the form are on the shape of `YYYYMMDD` and in other they are 3 fields of "YYYY", "MM", "DD" (3 different inputs), having to write a dozen of them is maddening. Oh wait, but if I want the motorbike one, which was automatic before, I now need a document from the Spanish embassy as well, another side quest. I'm hoping they can at least provide it in Japanese. I guess I'm halfway that process now, got a meeting booked 2 months later.

[1] https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/drive-in-japan/ab...

replies(1): >>44411409 #
tecleandor ◴[29 Jun 25 08:56 UTC] No.44411409[source]▶
Ha! I go to Japan every now and then, as I have friends there, and I've though a couple times about doing the Japanese driving license thing, that looked super easy back at the time (translate your current driving license, book a meeting in the exam center, do a short exam, and you're almost good to go). I was thinking about doing it in my next trip in two weeks, but seems like they've raised the difficulty several levels :)

(Spaniard here too...)

replies(2): >>44411772 #>>44430342 #
franciscop ◴[29 Jun 25 10:02 UTC] No.44411772[source]▶
> I go to Japan every now and then

AFAIK this is only available for residents? People traveling can/should use the international driving permit. Both JAL (translation) and the center itself asked me for my resident card.

> do a short exam

Oh there's no exam needed at least! Unless you mean the eye test?

replies(1): >>44412367 #
1. klausa ◴[29 Jun 25 11:55 UTC] No.44412367[source]▶
It’s not, you can get a Japanese driving license without living here ; but the government is making some noises to cut back on that (some recent semi-notable accidents caused by foreigners).

It’s apparently been a loophole for Chinese and Vietnamese tourists to get a license that is more recognized abroad then their own.

I think restricting this to residents makes sense; I’m more wary of making it more complex or difficult in other ways, but I also have that quest behind me so I don’t really care to be fair.

As to exam - that depends entirely as to where your “original” driving license is from.

Some countries just need a sufficient amount of paperwork (which sometimes is more difficult than the exam), some require just a theory exam, some require both theory and practical exam. In case of the US, it also differs state by state, because of course it does; why would anything ever make sense.

replies(1): >>44412846 #
2. franciscop ◴[29 Jun 25 13:07 UTC] No.44412846[source]▶
> As to exam - that depends entirely as to where your “original” driving license is from.

Yes, that's why I was replying that since we both are Spaniards "(Spaniard here too...)"

replies(1): >>44415175 #
3. tecleandor ◴[29 Jun 25 18:22 UTC] No.44415175[source]▶
The "Spaniard" was mostly for reference, as right now I can't remember who sent me the information about the exams, so it might not apply to Europe or Spain.

But the documents required (at least previously to recent changes) for the license transfer were [0]:

    1. Application form for Japanese Translation of foreign driver’s license
    2. A driver’s license (original, in principle)
    3. A photocopy of a residence card or a resident record etc [...] only required for licenses written in Arabic or Russian and licenses issued in certain countries[...]
And it didn't mention any residence documents. I don't know how that works today...

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  0: https://english.jaf.or.jp/use-jaf-more/drive-in-japan/foreign-nationals-license