# KnowRoute vs パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用）

The clearest difference is update cadence: KnowRoute at every 6 weeks against パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用）'s every 6 months. KnowRoute also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 8%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

KnowRoute ships an update every 6 weeks, パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KnowRoute | パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.3 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id6443712967/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **186** |
| Positive reviews | **28.6% of reviews** | 8.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 56 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spare Labs Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1073027185) | [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/999246041) |

## What reviewers say

### KnowRoute

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knowroute/id1455155582)

This app offers on-demand public transportation powered by AI, matching routes with passenger demand. Book a ride, get picked up at a nearby stop, and enjoy a cashless journey to your destination within service areas.

**Highlights:** AI-controlled route matching, On-demand ride booking, Nearby bus stop pickup, Cash-free payment options, Efficient ride sharing, Minimal detours

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用）

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id6443712967)

This app is the official application by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Japanese nationals living abroad to electronically apply for passports. It provides features for capturing passport details, taking personal photos, and linking with the online passport application system. To use the app, users must launch it from the online system and have submitted their residence information.

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Lightning-fast load times
- 👍 Convenient for overseas residents
- 🚀 Streamlined application process

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
- 👎 Confusing and unintuitive UI
- 👎 Requires Japanese language and region settings
- 🤯 Overly complex multi-step process
- 👎 Poor user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to read passport IC chips
- Repeated requests to re-take photos and re-upload documents
- Frequent crashes and errors on launch

**Requested features**

- Ability to change language and region settings within the app
- Simplified and streamlined application flow
- Improved error handling and messaging
- Live photo capture functionality within the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KnowRoute free?

KnowRoute is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） free?

パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do KnowRoute or パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） have ads?

Neither KnowRoute nor パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KnowRoute or パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用）?

KnowRoute ships an update every 6 weeks, and パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） every 6 months. Most recently, KnowRoute was updated on September 22, 2026 and パスポート申請（海外在留邦人用） on September 17, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*