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Multilingual Japanese exam guide

Find the right Japanese exam, in your own language.

Specified Skilled Worker, Engineer/Specialist, study abroad — the exam and level you need depend on your residency status. Compare the levels, schedules, fees and testing countries of the major Japanese exams on one screen.

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Work as a Specified Skilled Worker (i)JFT-Basic A2 or above (pass), or JLPT N4 or above (＋ the field's skills test)See the exams for this goal →Move from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled WorkerSatisfactory completion of Technical Intern Training (ii) ＝ same field: Japanese exam waived / otherwise JFT-Basic A2 or above, or JLPT N4 or aboveSee the exams for this goal →Get a job under Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International ServicesJapanese ability at roughly CEFR B2 (any one of the items below is accepted)See the exams for this goal →Obtain the Business Manager status of residenceJapanese ability at roughly CEFR B2 or above (Japanese nationals and special permanent residents excluded)See the exams for this goal →Study abroad — Enrol at a Japanese-language institutionA test proving roughly A1 or above on the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education (see below). The most common is JLPT N5 or above.See the exams for this goal →Study abroad — Vocational and specialised training schoolsOne of: JLPT N1・N2 / EJU Japanese 200 or above / BJT 400 or above / JPT 525 or aboveSee the exams for this goal →

The full path to SSW (i) — Japanese test, skills test and application — in one guide. SSW guide →

14
exams listed
CEFR
mapped to A1–C2
12
languages (rolling out)
Free
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Major Japanese exams

The exams that map directly to residency statuses. See all exams →

Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)The world's largest test certifying Japanese ability for non-native speakersThe Japan Foundation / Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) ／ Twice a year (July & December)N1N2N3N4N5
JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese)Judges everyday Japanese for work (≈CEFR A2); meets the Specified Skilled Worker requirementThe Japan Foundation ／ Year-round (CBT; varies by country)A1A2.1A2
Examination for Japanese University Admission (EJU)Assesses Japanese and basic academic skills for admission to Japanese universitiesJapan Student Services Organization (JASSO) ／ Twice a year (June & November)日本語理科総合科目数学
Japanese NAT-TESTMeasures Japanese ability for study and work; level design aligned with the JLPTSenmon Kyouiku Publishing Co., Ltd. ／ 6 times a year (even months)1級2級3級4級5級

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