The JLPT is run by the Japan Foundation outside Japan and by Japan Educational Exchanges and Services inside it. Since 2010 it has had five levels. N5 and N4 test basic Japanese; N3 is the bridge to everyday use; N2 indicates the ability to follow everyday conversation and read general material such as newspaper articles; N1 indicates the ability to understand Japanese across a broad range of situations, including complex texts. Tests are held on the same days in July and December in Japan and in many other countries. In 2025 the two sessions drew about 912,000 and 1,050,000 applicants, both records.
The test has limits. It is multiple choice and covers vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening only. It does not test speaking or writing, and a certificate does not expire. Someone who passed N1 a decade ago and has since worked in English may now be weaker than a recent N2.
Its weight comes from immigration and hiring. N1 earns 15 points on the Highly Skilled Professional table and N2 earns 10. N1 is a condition of the Notice 46 route under Designated Activities. Since 15 April 2026, smaller employers sponsoring the standard professional work visa must submit proof of language ability at CEFR B2 where the role involves dealing with people in a language. For Japanese, N2 or above meets that level.
What it means for a foreign employer
- N1 or N2 is the real bar for senior roles. Most foreigners in Japan plateau at a conversational level below it, and candidates below that line are routinely passed over, even by companies that say they cannot find people.
- Do not filter on the certificate alone. A strong N2 candidate who has spent years running meetings in Japanese can outperform an N1 holder in the role. Screening a whole slate out on one line can cost you the best person.
- Test what the job needs. Because the JLPT never tests speaking, run part of the interview in Japanese, or ask for a written task, if the role depends on it.
- N2 is increasingly accepted by Japanese companies. Domestic employers short of people are now hiring foreigners with N2 for roles that once required near-native Japanese, which widens the competition for the same candidates.
Sources
- Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, JLPT overview and level descriptions.
- JLPT, summaries of the July 2025 and December 2025 tests (applicant numbers).
- Immigration Services Agency, Highly Skilled Professional points table (special additions for Japanese ability), and additional documents for work visa applications from 15 April 2026.