The JLPT: Japan's Japanese language exam and what changes for residents in 2026

Last week the first JLPT sitting of 2026 took place. I passed N2 sixteen years ago, when I first arrived in Japan. At the time I did it out of a mix of personal motivation and practical necessity. Today there’s a more concrete reason for foreign residents in Japan to pay attention to the exam: since January 2026, JLPT level N3 is a requirement for certain visa types.

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What the JLPT is

The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test / 日本語能力試験) is the most widely recognised official Japanese language proficiency exam in the world. It’s jointly administered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. You can sit it in Japan and in over eighty countries.

It has five levels, from N5 to N1:

• N5: basic level. Ability to understand some Japanese in simple everyday situations.
• N4: can understand basic Japanese with vocabulary learned in class.
• N3: intermediate. Can understand Japanese in everyday situations to a reasonable degree.
• N2: can understand Japanese in everyday situations and in a variety of contexts.
• N1: can understand Japanese in a wide variety of contexts at an advanced level.

The exam tests reading comprehension, listening comprehension, vocabulary and grammar. There is no speaking or writing component.

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The exam sessions

The JLPT is held twice a year in Japan:

• First sitting: first Sunday of July.
• Second sitting: first Sunday of December.

In some countries outside Japan it’s only held once a year, generally in December.

Registration for the July sitting typically opens in March and closes in April. The December sitting opens in August and closes in September. Results are published approximately two months after the exam.

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The N2 I passed when I arrived

When I arrived in Japan sixteen years ago, the JLPT still used the old four-level system (1, 2, 3 and 4). The current N2 is roughly equivalent to level 2 in that old system.

I decided to take it because I needed to demonstrate my Japanese level in some way, both to myself and in a professional context. The certificate itself didn’t directly open many doors, but the process of preparing for it did: it forces you to systematise Japanese in a way that informal study doesn’t. Vocabulary, grammar, speed-reading patterns, listening comprehension of formal situations.

The exam itself is harder than the description suggests. N2 requires knowing around 6,000 words and the 1,000 kanji in common use. The listening section is what most people fail: the audio plays at natural speed, without pauses, and isn’t repeated.

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Why the JLPT matters more in 2026

Until now, the JLPT was primarily a tool for Japanese language students, job candidates at Japanese companies, or people wanting to certify their level. For established foreign residents in Japan, it was optional.

That has changed. Since January 2026, new applications for the Business Manager visa (経営・管理) require demonstrating a minimum level of N3 on the JLPT. In other words, intermediate Japanese.

N3 is the third level from the bottom. It’s not advanced. But it does mean being able to hold everyday conversations, read simple documents and understand the basic context of a business meeting in Japanese. For someone who has spent years in Japan speaking colloquial Japanese, it may be well within reach. For someone who has relied on English or interpreters, it requires preparation.

If you’re working toward permanent residency, it’s worth knowing that language ability is increasingly part of the broader picture immigration authorities look at, even where it isn’t a hard requirement yet. The government has also announced that it is developing broader language integration requirements that could come into effect from 2028 on a trial basis. In that context, the JLPT may become a more relevant accreditation tool for a wider range of visa categories.

The October 2026 visa fee reform, which raises renewal fees significantly and the permanent residency fee from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000, runs in parallel with these language requirements. Our visa fee calculator shows what your specific renewal or PR application will cost before and after the reform deadline.

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How to prepare for the JLPT

For N5 and N4: most beginner Japanese textbooks reach this level. Series like Minna no Nihongo (みんなの日本語) or Genki cover the necessary vocabulary and grammar. With six months of regular study, N4 is reachable from scratch.

For N3: this is the point where classroom Japanese starts to be insufficient and exposure to real content becomes necessary. TV series, news in simplified Japanese (NHK Web Easy), apps like Anki for vocabulary. The Nihongo Sou Matome (日本語総まとめ) series has N3, N2 and N1 versions specifically geared toward the exam format.

For N2 and N1: requires constant exposure to natural Japanese (newspapers, regular TV programmes, books) alongside specific preparation for the exam format. Listening comprehension is the section that needs the most time.

Recommended resources:

• JLPT Sensei (jlptsensei.com): vocabulary and grammar classified by level, with practice tests.
• NHK Web Easy: news written in simplified Japanese with furigana, ideal for N3-N2.
• Anki: flashcard app with freely available JLPT vocabulary decks.
• Nihongo Sou Matome: exam preparation series by level, the most widely used in Japan.

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On exam day

The exam is paper-based, at designated centres. In Japan there are venues in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo and other major cities. Registration is done online through the official JLPT Japan website (jlpt.jp).

The exam lasts between 105 minutes (N5) and 170 minutes (N1), divided into sections covering vocabulary and grammar, reading, and listening comprehension. There is no speaking component. Results come with a total score and section scores, with a minimum passing score for each section as well as the overall total.

The certificate does not expire. Once obtained, it is valid indefinitely.

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FAQ

What level do I need to work in Japan? Depends on the sector. In international companies, English is sometimes sufficient. In Japanese companies and for the Business Manager visa, N3 is the new formal minimum. For office work in a fully Japanese-language environment, many companies ask for N2.

How much does the exam cost? In Japan, approximately ¥5,500 for all levels. The price varies outside Japan depending on the country.

Can you retake it if you fail? Yes. You can sit it again at the next session. There’s no limit on attempts.

Is N3 sufficient for the Business Manager visa? It’s the minimum required since January 2026 for new applications. For renewals and other visa types, check the specific requirements on the Immigration Services Agency website (出入国在留管理庁).

When is the next sitting? The second sitting of 2026 is the first Sunday of December. Registration opens in August.

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Information based on JLPT requirements and the 2026 visa reform. Verify current details at jlpt.jp and the official Immigration Services Agency website before submitting any application.