Specified Skilled Worker (No. 2 and some No. 1 fields): Japanese "B1 or equivalent" to be required from April 2027
Pre-launch information — may change
- What changes
- Checking for Japanese at "B1 or equivalent" begins.
- From
- For COE applications filed on or after April 1, 2027. How change-of-status and extension applications are handled is still under review and will be announced later.
- Who
- Specified Skilled Worker (ii) applicants. For No. 1, the requirement in road transport (bus, taxi) and railway (transport staff) changed from JLPT N3 or higher to "B1 or equivalent".
- What to do
- If you plan to apply in these fields, check the Agency's guidance for which tests count as B1 and the required results. The page names no specific test.
The basis is the Cabinet meetings of March 11, 2025 (basic policy for SSW and Employment for Skill Development) and January 23, 2026 (field-specific operating policies). For No. 2, an amendment to the related ministerial ordinance takes effect on April 1, 2027. The announcement does not name which tests meet "B1 or equivalent".
Read the announcement by Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗
Related pages
Update history
- Posted
Source: Timing for confirming Japanese proficiency at "B1 or equivalent" (published 2026-10-01) ・ Last checked: 2026-10-12