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JLPT: levels, dates, fees and how to apply
The JLPT (日本語能力試験, Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) is the standard test of Japanese for people whose first language is not Japanese. It has five levels, N5 to N1, runs in July and December, and is all multiple choice with no speaking test.
On this page
The five JLPT levels
N5 is the easiest level and N1 the hardest. Each level is its own paper, so you choose one level when you apply and you cannot apply for two in the same test.
| Level | What it means (jlpt.jp) | CEFR on the score report | Pass mark | Answer time | Passed, Dec 2025 (Japan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | The ability to understand some basic Japanese | A1 | 80 / 180 | 90 min | 53.5% |
| N4 | Basic Japanese | A2 | 90 / 180 | 115 min | 33.6% |
| N3 | Everyday Japanese to a certain degree | A2 (B1 from 104) | 95 / 180 | 140 min | 26.2% |
| N2 | Everyday Japanese plus a variety of circumstances to a certain degree | B1 (B2 from 112) | 90 / 180 | 155 min | 25.4% |
| N1 | Understanding Japanese used in a variety of circumstances | B2 (C1 from 142) | 100 / 180 | 165 min | 24.0% |
The pass mark is the total you need out of 180. You also need the minimum in every scoring section, so a high total does not pass you if one section is below its minimum. Scores are scaled, so you cannot work out your score by counting correct answers.
Sources: jlpt.jp: summary of each level, jlpt.jp: FAQ, JEES FAQ: applying, jlpt.jp: scoring and pass marks, jlpt.jp: test sections and times, jlpt.jp: CEFR level on score reports, jlpt.jp: test data by test
JLPT test dates and the next test
In Japan the test is held twice a year.
- The 2026 tests are on Sunday 5 July 2026 and Sunday 6 December 2026.
- December 2026 test: applications ran from 24 August to 7 September 2026 (17:00). December 2026 N1 and N2 applications closed at 12:00 on 31 August, 7 days before the 7 September deadline, and will not reopen.
- As of 5 October 2026 no 2027 test date, application window, fee or eligibility rule for Japan is published on info.jees-jlpt.jp or jlpt.jp. The home page lists only the two 2026 tests.
- December 2026 test (Japan): results in MyJLPT from late January 2027, mailed late February 2027.
- The JLPT runs twice a year, July and December; some overseas cities hold only one.
Sources: jlpt.jp: test sections and times, JEES: December 2026 test guide, JEES: notice, JEES: home page, jlpt.jp: FAQ
Seats ran out before the deadline in both 2026 rounds, so plan to apply on the first day the window opens next time. Until JEES announces 2027, you have three options.
- Wait for the 2027 announcement on info.jees-jlpt.jp and apply on the first day. This page will list the dates when they are published.
- If the reason is a visa, check whether another test counts. For Specified Skilled Worker (i), the JFT-Basic is the only other accepted test: it is held monthly, costs ¥10,000 in Japan, and your score shows on screen when it ends. See other Japanese tests.
- If you live abroad, apply through the JLPT host in your country. Fees and windows differ by host.
Who can take the JLPT in Japan in 2026
The JLPT is for people whose first language is not Japanese, with no age limit.
- 2026 tests in Japan are for non-native speakers who are mid- to long-term residents or special permanent residents.
- Tourists and anyone on a short stay without a residence card cannot take the test. Planning to arrive in Japan does not count: if no residence card has been issued when you apply, you cannot apply.
- Native speakers are sometimes asked to take it, usually for a national license exam or if educated abroad.
- People living outside Japan apply through a local host institution. Overseas: find your country and local host institution, confirm how to register, then register and pay the host; application periods differ by city.
Step by step: how to register and apply.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ, JEES: home page, JEES FAQ: applying, JEES: notice, jlpt.jp: taking the test overseas
What the JLPT tests
- There is no speaking or writing test. There are no plans to add speaking or writing tests.
- Every question is multiple choice, on a computer-scored answer sheet. Most questions have four choices; some listening questions have three.
- The CEFR level covers linguistic and reception skills; speaking and writing (production and interaction) are not included.
- No question requires specific knowledge of Japanese culture.
- The JLPT certificate never expires, though employers and schools can set their own time limits.
Which JLPT level do you need?
The level you need depends on what asks for it. These are the routes the Immigration Services Agency and the JLPT organizers name.
| What you want | Level that matches | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Language school in Japan (Student status) | N5, or JFT-Basic A1 | Japanese at A1 is checked by test or interview. |
| Specified Skilled Worker (i), most fields | N4, or JFT-Basic | As of December 1, 2025, no other test is recognized for this status. |
| Permanent residence | B1 from April 2027 | B1 is a consideration factor, not a pass mark, and an N3 pass shows B1 only at 104 or more. |
| University in Japan | N2, or EJU | ISA expects B2 for entrants from FY2027. Through FY2029 entrants, N2 counts as a guide. |
| Highly Skilled Professional points | N1 for 15, N2 for 10 | N2 points cannot be added to the Japanese-degree points. |
| Business Manager | N2 | The applicant or one full-time employee needs it. |
Details for each route, with the sources: JLPT for visas and work.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency (1), Immigration Services Agency (PDF) (1), Immigration Services Agency: Specified Skilled Worker Q&A, Immigration Services Agency (2), jlpt.jp: FAQ, Immigration Services Agency (3), Immigration Services Agency (PDF) (2), Immigration Services Agency (4)
How to take the JLPT in Japan, step by step
- Check you can applyYou need a residence card with a Japanese address.
- Register on MyJLPTRegistration is free and has two steps: an interim registration, then a link by email.
- Apply and pay during the windowPick one level and a test area, enter your residence card details and pay ¥7,500.
- Get your test voucherIt shows your venue, which you cannot change.
- Sit the testBring the voucher, the original residence card, HB pencils and a plain wristwatch.
- Get your resultsResults appear in MyJLPT first and arrive by mail a few weeks later.
Sources: JEES FAQ: applying, JEES: applying in MyJLPT, JEES: MyJLPT registration, JEES: MyJLPT, JEES: December 2026 test guide, JEES: application notes
A teacher while you wait for the next test
Practice questions are free; a teacher is the paid option.
italki
- One-to-one lessons by video with a teacher you choose
- Up to 3 trial lessons, one per teacher
- Pay per lesson, no subscription needed
- Fits you if you want a teacher to plan your study for the level you are aiming at, one to one.
- Not for you if you only want practice questions: the free official workbooks have them. Lessons help you learn Japanese; they do not give you a seat at the test.
Find a Japanese teacher for the JLPT on italki
Opens italki's site (Japanese; English version too)
JLPT guides
Registration
How to register in Japan or abroad, the fee, the residence card rule and what to do now that December has closed.
Results and pass marks
When results arrive, how to check them, the pass mark at each level, certificates and what to do if you fail.
Test day
What to bring, the timetable for each level and the rules that can end your test.
Practice tests
Past papers are not published. What is free instead: official workbooks, sample questions and mock tests.
Reading practice
Free official reading questions N5 to N1, graded readers, and what each source says about its level.
Study guide
Hours by source, textbooks by level, app prices and lessons, each with its source named.
Other Japanese tests
JFT-Basic, EJU, J.TEST, JPT, BJT and more: fees, scores and what each one counts for.
JLPT for visas and work
The JLPT level, or other test, that each visa, school and permanent residence route asks for.
Guides by level
JLPT N5
Passing score 80 of 180, free practice questions, study hours and N5 or JFT-Basic A1 for language school.
JLPT N4
Passing score 90 of 180, free practice, and N4 or JFT-Basic for Specified Skilled Worker (i).
JLPT N3
Pass score 95 of 180, the B1 line at 104, free practice and what N3 is enough for.
JLPT N2
The level most visas and universities name: pass mark, reading, pass rate and what N2 gets you.
JLPT N1
The hardest level: pass mark, question types, pass rate, N1 vs N2 and what N1 is used for.
JLPT questions
What is the JLPT?
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test is a test of Japanese for non-native speakers, held since 1984. jlpt.jp calls it the largest-scale Japanese-language test in the world. 2025 had about 1.9 million applicants worldwide, the largest number ever.
How much does the JLPT cost?
Test fee in Japan: ¥7,500, tax included (2026 tests). Abroad the fee is set by each host: US (AATJ), December 2026: $135 for every level; UK (SOAS London): 115 pounds for every level; Philippines: N3, N4 and N5 cost 1,800 pesos.
How often is the JLPT held?
The JLPT runs twice a year, July and December; some overseas cities hold only one. The 2026 dates in Japan are Sunday 5 July 2026 and Sunday 6 December 2026.
Is there a speaking or writing test in the JLPT?
There is no speaking or writing test. Every question is multiple choice, on a computer-scored answer sheet.
Does a JLPT result expire?
The JLPT certificate never expires, though employers and schools can set their own time limits.
Can I take the JLPT on a tourist visa?
Not in Japan in 2026. Tourists and anyone on a short stay without a residence card cannot take the test. People without a residence card, such as tourists, cannot take the 2026 test in Japan.
Which JLPT level should I take?
Take the level you can pass now. You can apply for only one level per test, and the December fee is not refunded if you passed in July. You can apply for only one level per test; duplicate applications may disqualify you. N4 and N5 test basic Japanese learned mainly in class; N1 and N2 test Japanese used in a broad range of real scenes; N3 bridges the two. Check the level a visa or school asks for first: JLPT for visas and work.
Is JLPT N3 the same as CEFR B1?
Not always. Not every N3 passer is B1; 95 to 103 is shown as A2. For B1 the official advice is N3 (104 or more) or N2 (up to 111).
How we checked
Every fact on this page links to the page it was read from, and our data keeps the quote. We read jlpt.jp (the official JLPT site), the JEES site (the organization that runs the test in Japan) and Immigration Services Agency pages on October 5, 2026. We do not run the test and are not affiliated with it.
The italki button on this page is an A8.net affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up through it. It does not change what we write. Read our editorial policy.