Japanese Language Requirements by Status of Residence (as of January 2026)

① Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) – Type 1 — Japanese Language Ability Is Required

📌 Mandatory Requirement: Passing a Japanese Language Test (JLPT or Equivalent)

In principle, applicants must meet one of the following Japanese language requirements:

• Pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher, or
• Pass the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) at A2 level or above

These tests are required to prove basic communication ability in a working environment, such as:

Communicating basic information related to work and daily life

Understanding simple instructions

📌 Special Exception

Applicants who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in good standing
may be exempt from taking a Japanese language test (JLPT/JFT-Basic).

② Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) – Type 2 — apanese Language Test Is Generally Not Required

📌 Japanese Language Tests Are Not a Legal Requirement

• For Specified Skilled Worker (Type 2), passing a Japanese language test is not required under the immigration system.
• This status is generally obtained by transitioning from SSW Type 1, and work experience and technical skills are the main evaluation factors.

※ In some industries, practical Japanese communication ability may be desirable for actual work operations.
However, this is not a formal requirement under the immigration system.

③ Business Manager Visa — Japanese Language Ability Is Clearly Required (2025 Revision)

📌 Revision Effective from October 16, 2025

Under the revised rules effective October 16, 2025, either the applicant or a full-time employee must possess a sufficient level of Japanese language ability.

This requirement is now explicitly mandatory under the immigration policy for the Business Manager visa.

📌 Reference Standards (CEFR-Based Examples)

Japanese language ability may be recognized as sufficient if it is equivalent to one of the following:

• CEFR B2 level or higher (Upper-intermediate level)
• JLPT N2 or higher
• BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test: 400 points or higher
• Completion of Japanese compulsory education and high school, or an equivalent educational background in Japan

※ These are reference examples, and assessment is made comprehensively.

📌 Practical Meaning of This Requirement

This requirement reflects the government’s view that advanced business-level Japanese communication skills are necessary.

It is intended to cover situations such as:

• Communication with government offices and administrative authorities
• Business negotiations with clients and partners
• Human resource management and internal company operations

In other words, the applicant (or a key full-time staff member) must be able to operate and manage a business in Japan independently in Japanese.

④ Permanent Residence — No Formal Japanese Language Requirement at Present (Possible Future Revisions Under Discussion)

📌 Current Status (As of January 2026)

As of January 2026, Japanese language ability is NOT included as a statutory requirement for Permanent Residence (PR) in Japan.

📌 Important Recent Developments to Watch

• According to recent reports, the Japanese government is considering introducing a Japanese language requirement for permanent residence,
  with a target timing around April 2027.
• The specific level and implementation details have not yet been decided.

However, discussions suggest that the required level may be:

• A level that allows daily life and social participation in Japan, and
• Potentially around JLPT N2 or an equivalent level (as a reference example).

⑤ Highly Skilled Professional (Points-Based System)

📌 Japanese Language Ability Is Not Mandatory, but It Is a Positive Scoring Factor

Japanese language ability itself is not a mandatory requirement for the Highly Skilled Professional (points-based) status.

However, it is advantageous because it is treated as a point-granting factor under the scoring system.

Applicants may receive additional points by demonstrating Japanese proficiency through:

Other recognized equivalent assessments.

JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test),

BJT (Business Japanese Proficiency Test), or

⑥ Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services — No Specific Japanese Language Requirement

📌 No Statutory Japanese Language Requirement, but Practical Ability Is Expected

There is no statutory Japanese language requirement for this visa category.

However:

In particular, for positions involving internal operations or customer-facing communication,
Japanese ability at around JLPT N2 level or higher is practically advantageous.

Applicants are expected to have sufficient Japanese ability to perform their job duties effectively.

⑦ Dependent Visa and Other Residential Statuses — No Japanese Language Requirement

📌 No Legal Japanese Language Requirement

There is no legal requirement regarding Japanese language ability for these statuses.

However:

From the perspective of daily life in Japan, having general Japanese language skills can greatly reduce everyday difficulties.

Basic Japanese ability helps with:

Shopping and transportation

School and childcare matters

⑧Summary: Japanese Language Requirements by Status of Residence(As of January 2026)

Status of Residence	Legal Japanese Language Requirement	Key Points
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) – Type 1	Required (JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic A2 or higher)	In practice, N3 or higher is often preferred for workplace communication
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) – Type 2	Generally not required	Practical workplace communication skills are expected
Business Manager Visa	Required (e.g. CEFR B2 / JLPT N2 level)	Japanese is required for business management and administrative procedures
Permanent Residence	Not required at present (possible future introduction under discussion)	Practical Japanese ability is increasingly emphasized as an evaluation factor
Highly Skilled Professional (Points-Based)	Not required (points bonus available)	Japanese ability is advantageous for strengthening evaluation
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services	Not required	Japanese ability is important in practice, especially in the workplace
Dependent (Family Stay)	Not required	Japanese ability affects ease of daily life

⑧ Practical Advice (Current Situation and Future Outlook)

✅ For Specified Skilled Worker (SSW), pass the required language test as early as possible

SSW has clear and mandatory language requirements, so it is important to prepare and obtain a pass certificate such as JLPT or JFT-Basic in advance.

✅ For the Business Manager visa, advanced practical Japanese ability is now essential

What is required is not just vocabulary knowledge, but the ability to conduct business conversations, handle documents, and communicate effectively in professional settings.

✅ For permanent residence, it is wise to prepare for possible future language requirements

Having proof such as JLPT N2 or equivalent results could be advantageous when applying.

Even though Japanese ability is not currently a legal requirement, it may become an evaluation factor in the future.

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