Thinking this might be useful for VF members who, like me, want to get their French driver’s license translated for a car rental in Japan, here’s the email I received this morning from the consular authorities in Tokyo:
Yes, indeed—since September 2012, the French embassy, which clearly decided to do the bare minimum, no longer handles license translations. You *must* now go through the JAF, which charges three times as much...
Another heads-up: if you have a license translation from 2011 or later, you no longer need to get a new one for future trips—it’s now valid for life (whereas before, you had to renew it every year).
Do you have any idea what the translation costs now?
Edit: the price is 3,000 yen
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
We did this last October—it was really quick: we went to a JAF office (in Kushiro) around 5 PM one evening, and the next morning the guy brought the translation directly to our hotel (and even helped us rent a car!)
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
Good evening,
I also went on the JAF website...
Problem: if you read the form carefully, it says you have to pay, okay, but not *how*!
There’s no payment method listed on the site.... So should we put yen in the envelope sent from France?
In France, that’s illegal!
And then the kicker: the address to have the translation sent must *obligatorily* be... in Japan!
Since you need this translation to pick up your rental car when you arrive at the airport, how’s that supposed to work?
This whole thing’s a bit Kafkaesque. Though I’m sure there must be plenty of people who need a car when they arrive....
No payment method is listed on the site.... So, put yen in the envelope sent from France?
In France, that’s illegal!
It *is* illegal... But that’s always what I did with the embassy—I’d put yen in the envelope. And they’d put the change in the return envelope!
And then, even crazier: the address to have the translation sent must be... in Japan!
Since you need this translation to pick up your rental car when you arrive at the airport, how’s that supposed to work?
This whole thing’s a bit Kafkaesque.
It *is* a problem... Actually, it was super simple when the French embassy in Tokyo handled it because they’d send the translation to whatever address you wanted...
That said, if you include a return envelope with your address and the money for postage in your letter to the JAF, they’ll probably hesitate to keep your money and should still send the translation to you... I don’t know if anyone’s tried it yet...
Still, there must be a lot of people who need a car when they arrive...
Actually, I think it affects very, very few people! A handful at most...
The best option is obviously to plan at least a day in Tokyo to go to the JAF and get your translation done in person... Anyway, I *strongly* recommend taking a moment to settle in Tokyo before hitting the road.
Following up...
If this can be useful to others.
This morning, I received an email from the Japan Automobile Federation Tokyo informing me that in Hokkaido, there are seven offices where you can get the translation done without an appointment. No need to go to Tokyo just for this transaction, unless you're leaving by car from the city itself.
Thank you for your inquiry.
We can accept your applicatoin for the Japanese translation of your driver license without an appoitment during our opening hours. Our business hours are from Monday to Friday (9:00 AM to 5:45 PM), except on national holidays.
We have 7 offices in Hokkaido. Could you let us know which airport in Japan you’ll be arriving at? We can recommend the nearest JAF office branch from the airport you arrive at in Hokkaido. If you need any further information, please contact us again. Wishing you a great trip in Japan.
Best regards,
Koei Yoneyama
JAPAN AUTOMOBILE FEDERATION (JAF)
1-1-30-14F, SHIBA-DAIMON, MINATO-KU,
TOKYO, JAPAN, 105-0012
I used to pay 1,000 yen per document when the French embassy deigned to provide this service!
No, it was 2,000 yen per document when I did it in spring 2012.
And when I went to the consulate in Osaka (which has since moved to Kyoto) five or six years ago to get it done in person, it was obvious the staff weren’t overworked.
Basically, it’d be much simpler if Japan signed the international convention that would automatically recognize international driver’s permits issued by France (and Taiwan, for that matter).
The indifference to this administrative hassle for a handful of travelers is the most widely shared trait between Japanese and French authorities.
Hello,
Thanks for your replies.
Actually, thanks to a friend, I found another solution: having the translation sent to the address of a French company in Japan, which is then supposed to forward it to me.
A bit complicated... maybe too much, since I haven’t heard back!
I can’t go for the Tokyo option because I have a connecting flight to Kushiro right after arriving in Tokyo...
Worst case, I’ll figure it out when I get there.
Thanks again.
We had our license translated at the JAF office in Kushiro—they were really friendly and super fast (see my previous post). It’s possible they can just drop it off at your rental agency so you can pick it up with the car...
I used to pay 1,000 yen per transaction when the French embassy deigned to offer this service!
No, it was 2,000 yen per transaction when I did it in spring 2012.
Actually, it was listed as 2,000 yen on the website, but I always paid between 1,000 and 1,500 yen (I’ve done it every year since 2005...).
Maybe in 2012, before stopping the service, they decided they’d "really" charge 2,000 yen 🤪...
Hey!
We’re also totally not the type to know where we’re sleeping each night, but watch out—you’re going to Japan!
Depending on the time of year, you might find some campgrounds open, but otherwise, be ready to pay a lot or sleep in your car! (That’s what we did for a week in Hokkaido because of our habit of not wanting to book accommodations in advance.) ;-)
Yeah, it makes sense that the license translation is valid as long as the French license doesn't change...
Now (and I know I'm not the only one), I've used expired translations before, and it works fine with rental companies. And I think if something goes wrong, since it's just a translation and not an official license, I don't think it would cause any issues either.
But if you have the time, it's obviously recommended to have an up-to-date translation...
For the record... during a rental in 2005, the "Toyota Rent a Car" employee (about as good in English as I am in Japanese) was more worried about whether I could handle the little VITZ with a manual transmission than what the translation actually said! :O). I, on the other hand, was more worried he’d palm off an automatic on me... Because driving on the left in Japan with an automatic just didn’t appeal to me at all! ;-))
You must’ve gotten THE manual transmission car from Japanese rental companies 😉! I guess it was there for hypothetical European customers! Wasn’t there too much dust on it ?
In the end, he let me take the manual transmission car (in Japan, at the time, there were separate licenses for "manual/automatic" for Japanese drivers! And that might still be the case...)
It still is... like in France and the United States, for example...
Personally, with the gear shift on the left, I prefer an automatic because a manual isn’t as "natural" as on the other side: you have to pull and move outward to shift into second, for example, whereas "back home" you pull and move inward, which feels more natural...
Good evening,
Just to give an update... especially for Kujila and Imaga who kindly helped me out:
my driver's license translation was done by the JAF and sent to a professional contact in Tokyo, who forwarded it to me.
Note: the address on the license was translated... it hasn't been current for a long time,
so it doesn't match the one on my passport, but that didn't cause any issues with the rental company.
And I didn't spend any nights outdoors, except while waiting for the Ketupa... luckily, because some mornings it was -17°C...
no campsites open in February in Hokkaido, don't even dream about it!
Note about licenses: in France, there aren't different licenses for automatic or manual transmission. However, there are special mentions that can be added to the license, like: "must wear corrective lenses," "BVA," etc.
Finally: the efficiency and friendliness of the Japanese were fantastic! I'll definitely go back with great pleasure. On the other hand, I was surprised by the lack of interest in foreign languages, especially English, among Hokkaido residents (including in hotels!!!). I wasn't expecting anyone to speak French to me...)
Note about licenses: in France, there are no separate licenses for automatic or manual transmission. However, there are special endorsements that can be added to the license, such as: "must wear corrective lenses," "bva," etc....
Yes, there *is* a category B license for automatic transmission. In this case, you’re only allowed to drive an automatic (well, as long as there are only two pedals, really) for 12 months. After that, you can take a test to drive a manual transmission.
Finally: efficiency and friendliness of the Japanese: amazing! I’d go back with great pleasure! However, I was surprised by the lack of interest in Hokkaido’s residents (including in hotels!!!) for foreign languages, especially English (I didn’t expect them to speak French...)
Heh, heh! It’s true that, contrary to popular belief, English isn’t widely spoken in Japan. Even in a city like Tokyo, it’s rare (never with police officers or taxi drivers, for example), so you can imagine what it’s like in the countryside 😉...
Yes, there is indeed a category B license for automatic transmission. In this case, you're only allowed to drive an automatic (basically, as long as there are only two pedals) for 12 months. After that, you can take a test that allows you to drive a manual transmission.
Sorry to insist, but... no, there isn’t a category B license specifically for automatic transmission. Current law (L221-1 and L221-2 of the French Highway Code) doesn’t mention it, nor does the regulatory section inserted into the Highway Code (Art R221-1 and following).
However, as I mentioned above, there are "restrictive or additional endorsements" such as:
01.01 - "glasses"
20 - "adapted braking mechanisms"
78 - "limited to vehicles with automatic transmission", etc.
There are over 100 possible endorsements. But this doesn’t make them separate licenses.
If you still think I’m wrong, please share your sources!
However, as I mentioned above, there are "restrictive or additional endorsements" such as:
01.01 - "glasses"
20 - "adapted braking mechanisms"
78 - "limited to vehicles with automatic transmission", etc.
There are over 100 possible endorsements. That doesn’t make them separate licenses, though.
Hmm... isn’t it basically the same thing? You learn on an automatic car, and afterward, you can only drive automatics. It *is* a license that only lets you drive automatics. That said, it makes sense the training is the same—there’s no reason the license itself should be "different." I think we’re just splitting hairs to say the same thing...
I’m using this thread to double-check:
We’re arriving in Japan on a Wednesday in mid-September, in Tokyo. After spending two days there, we plan to rent a car to explore the rest of the country. I was thinking of heading to a JAF office during those two days to get our licenses translated before picking up the rental. Is that realistic time-wise (2 days)?
As far as I'm concerned, about three months ago—but in Sendai, not Tokyo—the time spent at the JAF office to get the translation was around forty minutes, including entering, greetings, service, and thank-yous.
That’s pretty much it. You should include the moment right after entering when the receptionist (I assume) asked me what I wanted, because at Sendai, walk-ins don’t seem common given the JAF office’s location—tucked behind a barracks in the suburbs.
There was a bit of confusion at one point since the clerk spoke only Japanese and I didn’t understand what he was getting at.
Weeks later, I’m still wondering what he meant, but in the end, he handed over the precious permit with the usual ceremony, including the change carefully placed in the center of the bill he returned, all while giving a deep, graceful bow.
I’m planning a summer trip to Japan and we’d like to rent a car occasionally—maybe one day here, one day there. I was thinking of using my first week in Tokyo to visit the JAF office and get the translation done. If we go to a JAF branch ourselves, do we really get the translation the same day?
Because on their website it says:
"
Days required for issuanceThe Japanese Translation will be issued on the same day up to two weeks. The processing time varies depending on the issuing country, condition, content of the driver’s license, and JAF Branch Office. For details, please contact your nearest Branch Office in advance."
Is there a risk they’ll tell us it’ll take 10 days to send it?
I’m planning to go on vacation to Japan this summer, and we’d like to rent a car occasionally—just here and there for a day or two. I was thinking of taking care of the translation during the first week of my stay in Tokyo by visiting the JAF. If we go to a JAF office ourselves, do we get the translation the same day?
Yes, you’ll get your translation on the spot... Just don’t go too late in the morning to avoid a long wait, but I don’t think it gets too crowded.
I can only speak from my own experience. It wasn’t in Tokyo (where I imagine demand must be higher) but in Sendai (Tohoku). As I’ve mentioned before, I arrived at a very quiet office where I was asked to sit down before they handed me the translation after maybe a forty-five-minute wait.
There were a few minor language hiccups, but we eventually got there. For them, this didn’t seem like a routine task.
I’d read before leaving—here or on other Japan-focused forums—that some people have the translation sent to their hotel. I don’t know the agency or Tokyo office, but they must have the right staff and resources, as is typical in Japan. If you have a French license (and not a Zimbabwean one...), it’s one they’re used to translating, so it’s "standard procedure." Your request should be resolved in two or three hours—like dropping by in the morning and picking it up in the afternoon, after paying upfront, of course.
Safe travels.
You don’t have to wait, obviously, and you can retake it whenever you want once the 3 hours are up—even the next day (especially since it closes pretty early, like 5 PM).
Hi everyone, I’m planning my first trip to Japan this summer and I’d love to rent a car while I’m there. Has anyone here used the services of the site "Vivre le Japon" for their driver’s license translation service?
Kujila is right to say that it might not be necessary to pay a big markup to a provider if you can do the same process for much cheaper... but that means you’ll have to handle the work yourself, which you’ll pay for in time and effort. They take the hassle off your hands—that’s the whole point of the service. It’s up to you to decide.
I’m having the same issue—I’m heading to Japan this summer, and it’s pretty frustrating to lose half a vacation day just to get a translation done on the other side of Tokyo.
It’s a major downside and really inconvenient for tourism growth.
Isn’t there a way to pay a bit more (but not 65 €, that’s way too much!) to get it by mail?
I seem to have the same issue—I’m heading to Japan this summer, and it’s pretty frustrating to lose half a day of vacation just to get a translation done on the other side of Tokyo.
It’s a real pain point and a big hurdle for tourism growth.
Isn’t there a way to pay a little extra (but not 65 €, that’s way too much!) to get it by mail?
Good evening,
Yes, there is a way: ask a Japanese friend to handle it and send you the translation. I’ve tried it, and it works great. 🙂
It’s much cheaper, as long as you don’t factor in the gift budget—a pricey but very Japanese tradition. But friendship has its costs. 😉
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Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi there,
I’m a French citizen living in Switzerland, and I set up an RV LLC in Montana, USA. Through that, I was able to register 3 vehicles (an RV, a Jeep, and a Harley) with Montana plates.
I’d like to spend 3 months in Mexico, but it seems complicated—maybe even impossible—to cross the border from the US with all 3 vehicles.
Can anyone give me some advice?
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
Thanks for your feedback!
Elisabeth
There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
Hi there,
We need to apply for a B2 visa because we visited Iran in 2018. It currently costs $185, but they’re planning an additional $250 fee per person for the same visa—it’s been approved but not yet implemented. Does anyone know when this fee will take effect?
Thanks in advance!
Elisabeth
Hi there,
In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam.
I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice.
Has anyone here been in this situation recently?
Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding?
Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival?
Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient?
Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?
Hi there,
Just a question that’s probably been asked before (though usually the other way around for my situation :))
My wife and I are heading to the US.
On her ticket, it only has her maiden name (e.g., Martine DUPOND).
On her passport, it’s written as Martine DUPOND épouse AVRY.
No issues for travel, I hope I did the right thing with the ticket?
Then for the ESTA, is just Martine DUPOND enough, or do I need to include the "épouse AVRY" part like on the passport?
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’m spending a few days in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) and would like to cross the Argentine border to make a loop toward Salta and then return to Chile to drop off the rental car.
I’ve heard that crossing the border can be tricky!
Is it possible with a rental company’s authorization? Which company, and at what cost?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Best regards,
Arnale
I saw on the French Embassy in Peru’s website and the Peruvian Consulate in Paris’s site that the rule is to have a passport valid for 6 months *after the arrival date* (not the return date).
I arrive in Peru on August 13, 2019 (for about twelve days), and my passport is valid until February 16, 2020.
That’s 6 months and 3 days after my arrival date in Peru. In my opinion, I’m good to go.
But could I still be denied entry if they say I don’t cover the return date or that I’m too close to the 6-month mark?
I read on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that it’s possible to apply for a temporary driving permit in China, valid for 1 month.
I’m planning to rent a car (without a driver) to explore part of the country next August, so I was wondering:
Has anyone here already gone through this process upon arrival?
How long do the formalities take on the spot?
Is it possible to handle these steps in advance, before arriving in China?
Hi there,
My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization.
Does anyone have any recent info on this?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone.
I’m leaving for almost 3 months in the Philippines (11 weeks total) starting in early May.
I already have my round-trip ticket.
The problem is, I don’t have time to get a 2-month visa because the process takes nearly a month.
From what I’ve read here and there, I need a return ticket valid for less than a month when I arrive in the Philippines to prove my good faith.
After that, I can apply for a 30-day extension at the immigration office.
I’m planning to either buy a fully refundable ticket to the nearest country or a fake ticket.
For 3 months, I’ll need to extend my visa two more times before my return date to France.
My question is this:
Will immigration ask me each time I extend my visa by one month to show proof of an exit ticket matching the new visa extension date?
Is it possible to extend directly by 2 months before the initial 30 days expire?
Thanks in advance for your experiences and tips! 😊
I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…
There’s a new system in place now, it seems.
TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay.
If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand,
do I need to submit a new TDAC application?
Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?
Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?
Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.
My partner (Mexican) entered France on January 21st as a tourist. She was therefore entitled to stay for 90 days in the Schengen Area. She’ll be leaving for Mexico on April 16th, so she’ll have “used up” 86 days.
She plans to return to France on July 18th. According to the European Commission’s Schengen calculator, this new stay “may be authorized for a maximum of 90 days.” That’s not very clear ("may be," "for a maximum of").
The text of Article 6 of the European regulation (2016/399) states that for a stay planned in the territory of the Member States, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, one must examine "the 180-day period preceding each day of the stay." That’s not very clear either.
My partner wants to return to France for a 90-day period starting on July 18th. Is this possible?
There are two ways to look at it:
1) The first day she spent in the Schengen Area was January 21st. That day will drop out of the calculation 180 days later, on July 20th.
From July 20th, she’ll get back 1 day of possible stay; on July 22nd, 2 days; and so on. All the days from her previous stay (January 21st–April 16th) need to be outside the 180-day rolling window.
The last day of her stay was April 16th. Looking 180 days ahead, that brings us to October 13th. From that date, she’ll be able to return for a full 90 days.
2) The number of allowed days is calculated for each day of the new stay. In other words: the 180-day window is recalculated every day, not fixed at the entry date.
If she re-enters France on July 18th, she’ll only have a “credit” of 4 days. But with each day of her new stay, one day from the previous stay (January–April) will drop out of the calculation. The rolling window allows her to “replace” days from the previous stay with those of the new stay, without ever exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
In this case, my partner could stay in France for 90 days starting on July 18th.
The Prefecture doesn’t provide any information, nor does Air France, and in the forums I’ve checked, opinions are divided. Thanks for any insights you can share!
Hello,
We’re planning to travel to Indonesia (Sulawesi with family) next July and August for a stay longer than a month (about 6 weeks).
I’ve seen that it’s possible to get a 60-day visa before departure, but I’ve also read about people having a lot of trouble getting it (some even didn’t manage and had to leave without it).
We absolutely need to have these 4 visas BEFORE leaving because once we’re in Sulawesi, I’m not sure we’ll be able to go to an embassy to request a visa extension after 30 days.
In short, how can we **100% guarantee** that we’ll get our 4 60-day visas before our trip this summer?
Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!
We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana.
But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer.
All your tips are welcome!
I’m currently a student on a gap year, and I don’t plan to go back to school right away. That said, traveling really interests me. But I’ve been wondering: does being a student come with any perks when you decide to go abroad? The real question is whether I should re-enroll in a program just to keep that status without actually attending.
I used to pay 1,000 yen per transaction when the French embassy deigned to offer this service! 
No, it was 2,000 yen per transaction when I did it in spring 2012.
