kakikukeko

Language school admission: "150 hours of study" alone is no longer accepted as proof

Posted
Announced
Applies
From 1 July 2026 (change/renewal) / October 2026 (Certificate of Eligibility)
Source
Immigration Services Agency of Japan
What changes
Proving A1-level ability only with "150+ hours of study" is no longer accepted; a test certificate or an interview is required.
From
Certificate of Eligibility applications from October 2026 (autumn intake); change/renewal applications from 1 July 2026.
Who
People entering Japanese language institutions.
What to do
Plan an accepted test such as JLPT N5 or JFT-Basic A1 early.

Read the announcement by Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗

Related pages

JLPTJFT-BasicStudy abroad — Enrol at a Japanese-language institution

Update history

  • Posted

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (published 2026-01-23) ・ Last checked: 2026-10-01