Under the current system, foreigners with valid licenses from their home countries can obtain Japanese licenses if they pass basic knowledge and driving skill tests. However, the process does not require applicants to prove long-term residency, allowing some visitors to register hotels or temporary addresses, raising law enforcement concerns about accountability in the event of accidents.

Starting October 1, the revised system will require all applicants to present a certificate of residence, effectively limiting conversions to foreign residents living in Japan. Tourists will instead be required to use an international driving permit based on the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, Japan Times reports.

Authorities also plan to toughen the licensing process itself. The written test will expand from 10 to 50 questions, and applicants must now score at least 90 percent to pass. The practical driving test will also have stricter grading criteria.

A recent agency survey of 15 countries found that none allowed tourists to convert licenses. Japan recorded a sharp increase in conversions in 2023, with about 68,000 foreign applicants.

The bridge is a key component of Tanzania’s Trunk Road T4, a strategic highway corridor that links the country to neighbouring Uganda , Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is expected to significantly enhance regional integration by facilitating faster and more efficient movement of goods and people.

In support of the project, the Tanzanian government is also developing complementary road infrastructure, including the 54.5-kilometre Sengerema–Nyehunge and the 32-kilometre Kamanga–Sengerema roads. These routes aim to improve regional accessibility and strengthen supply chains within Tanzania’s Lake Zone.

The bridge will officially be inaugurated on June 19, 2025, by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, according to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who called the project “a proud moment for the nation.”

Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega hailed the bridge as a “transformational milestone,” highlighting its role in reducing dependence on ferry transport between Kigongo and Busisi and unlocking new economic opportunities.

"The JP Magufuli Bridge is a testament to our nation's ability to mobilise internal resources for transformative development," said Ulega. "It will ease movement between Kigongo and Busisi, reduce reliance on ferry transport, and unlock economic potential across the Lake Zone," he said.

Built at a cost of $270 million, the JP Magufuli Bridge is a cornerstone of Tanzania’s broader development strategy.