Checked on 23 September 2026 against the JLPT site for test-takers in Japan run by Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES), the official JLPT site (jlpt.jp), and the Immigration Services Agency’s official pages.
The short answer
- The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) measures and certifies the Japanese of people whose first language is not Japanese. It runs twice a year; in 2026 the dates are 5 July and 6 December.
- Registration in Japan for the December 2026 test has already closed. N1 and N2 closed at noon on 31 August, and everything closed on 3 September, before the official 7 September deadline, because the test sites filled up.
- The fee in Japan is 7,500 yen including tax. You apply through MyJLPT on the JEES website. Once your application is accepted, there are no refunds for any reason.
- To pass, your total score must reach the pass mark (100 for N1, 90 for N2, and so on) and every section must reach its own minimum, usually 19 points.
- December results appear on MyJLPT in late January 2027, with the paper notice in late February. The certificate schools and employers ask for costs 1,000 yen and takes one to two weeks or more to arrive.
Knowing this, if you missed December you can decide your next move today, and if you got a seat you can avoid the steps that cost people their exam. You can also count back from a job or school deadline to see which sitting you actually need.
Early September, a friend messages you: “Did you sign up for N2?” The deadline is 7 September, so you open the site without hurrying. N2 is already greyed out. You ask a Japanese coworker whether an exam can close before its own deadline, and they shrug. Japanese people do not take this test. They have never seen the registration page.
- Can I still register for the December 2026 JLPT in Japan?
- JLPT December 2026 test dates in Japan: exam on 6 December, voucher by 20 November
- How to register for the JLPT in Japan: MyJLPT, online only
- How much is the JLPT fee in Japan?
- What do N1 to N5 mean?
- What is the JLPT passing score?
- When are JLPT results released?
- How do I get a JLPT certificate?
- JLPT for a visa: where Immigration names a level
- What if I break the rules?
- I missed the December JLPT. What now?
- Which one are you?
- FAQ
- Summary
- Related reading
Can I still register for the December 2026 JLPT in Japan?
No. On 3 September JEES posted that “the application for the 2nd JLPT in 2026 (December) has closed.”
The official window was 24 August to 7 September, 17:00. But from the first day JEES warned that it “may close applications even during the period due to test site constraints.” This is what happened.
- 31 August (Mon), 12:00: N1 and N2 closed, with no reopening
- 2 September, 10:00: N3 reopened for test sites in Tokyo and Osaka only. Osaka closed at 10:41 and Tokyo at 11:20
- 3 September: all levels closed
JEES gives the reason as “a sharp increase in the number of applicants” making test sites “extremely difficult” to secure. For the July 2026 test there were 376,028 applicants in Japan, and N2 applicants in Japan were up 64.3% on the previous July (official preliminary figures on jlpt.jp).
There is also a rule on who can sit the test in Japan. In 2026 it is, in principle, for non-native speakers who are mid- to long-term residents or special permanent residents. If you are here as a tourist or on another short stay without a residence card, you cannot take it in Japan.
JLPT December 2026 test dates in Japan: exam on 6 December, voucher by 20 November
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| From 16 September | Emails to people whose eligibility needs checking |
| From 17 November (Tue) | Test voucher visible on MyJLPT |
| By 20 November (Fri) | Test voucher arrives by post |
| 6 December (Sun) | Test day. N1 and N2 start at 9:10, N3 to N5 at 15:10 |
| 7–25 December | Corrections to your name or details on the voucher (1,000 yen after this window) |
| Late January 2027 | Results on MyJLPT, under “Test Result and Certificate Issuance” |
| Late February 2027 | Official results notice by post, with the certificate of proficiency if you passed |
The date that matters most is the email from 16 September (subject: “[JLPT] Confirmation of Eligibility”). If you get it, you must upload a photo proving your eligibility to the designated site by the deadline in the email. If you do not, or the photo does not confirm your eligibility, you cannot sit the test and the fee is not refunded. Check your spam folder.
Your test site is on the voucher, and it may be in a neighbouring prefecture. If the voucher does not arrive, you can print it from MyJLPT.
How to register for the JLPT in Japan: MyJLPT, online only
Registration in Japan is online only, and works on a smartphone.
- Register on MyJLPT on the JEES website and get a MyJLPT ID (you can do this at any time)
- Log in and choose your level and test area on the “JLPT Application” screen
- Pay the fee by credit card, bank transfer via Pay-easy, or at a convenience store
- Keep the application acceptance number
You enter your residence card number and expiry date when you apply. If your card is being renewed, use your current card’s number and bring proof of the renewal on test day.
You can apply for one level only. During the application period you can change level or test area; after it closes you cannot.
How much is the JLPT fee in Japan?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Test fee (in Japan) | 7,500 yen including consumption tax |
| Certificate of Result and Scores | 1,000 yen per copy |
| Certificate by express post | 500 yen extra |
| Certificate sent abroad (EMS) | 1,000 yen extra |
| Late voucher correction, or correcting the results notice | 1,000 yen |
Once your application is accepted, the fee is not refunded, even if you applied for December before your July result came out and then passed in July. Receipts can be issued from MyJLPT.
What do N1 to N5 mean?
The JLPT tests reading and listening. There is no speaking or writing section. The official guidelines describe each level like this.
| Level | Official summary (shortened) | CEFR shown if you pass |
|---|---|---|
| N1 | Understands Japanese used in a wide range of situations; can read newspaper editorials | B2 to C1 |
| N2 | Everyday Japanese, plus Japanese in a wider range of situations to a certain degree | B1 to B2 |
| N3 | Everyday Japanese to a certain degree | A2 to B1 |
| N4 | Basic Japanese | A2 |
| N5 | Some basic Japanese | A1 |
The CEFR label started with the December 2025 test and appears only for people who pass. For N2, a total of 90 to 111 shows B1, and 112 or more shows B2.
If your job needs spoken Japanese, the level alone will not cover it. For workplace speech, see when to use keigo and when to go casual. For kanji, Japanese school drills cover 1,026 characters for free.
What is the JLPT passing score?
Every level is scored out of 180. You need both of these.
- A total at or above the pass mark: N1 100, N2 90, N3 95, N4 90, N5 80
- Every section at or above its minimum: for N1 to N3, each of the three sections (out of 60) needs 19. For N4 and N5, Language Knowledge and Reading (out of 120) needs 38, and Listening needs 19
The official site is blunt: if any section is below its minimum, you fail “no matter how high” your total. A near-perfect reading score will not save an 18 in listening.
The numbers are also not simple sums. The JLPT uses scaled scores based on item response theory, calculated from your pattern of right and wrong answers. More correct answers do not always mean a much higher score.
When are JLPT results released?
December 2026 results appear on MyJLPT in late January 2027. JEES will post the exact date and time in late January. The official results notice goes to everyone by post in late February, with the certificate of proficiency attached if you passed.
If you sat the July test, results have been on MyJLPT since 27 August, and the notices are scheduled to be posted on 25 September.
A JLPT pass does not expire. The official FAQ adds that some companies and schools set their own limits, so check with whoever is asking.
How do I get a JLPT certificate?
What schools, employers and Immigration usually want is the “Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Certificate of Result and Scores”. It shows pass or fail and your score in each section.
- Log in to MyJLPT and click “Test Result and Certificate Issuance” (for tests from July 2012 onwards)
- Pay the fee: 1,000 yen per copy, plus 500 yen for express
- In Japan, it ships one to two weeks after your payment is confirmed (excluding weekends and holidays)
If you are in a hurry, watch the calendar. From late January to March and late August to October, just after results come out, it takes longer than usual. Express only speeds up delivery; it does not shorten the time before shipping. If you applied on a paper form in 2019 or earlier, you need a separate Certificate Issuance ID.
JLPT for a visa: where Immigration names a level
These are the places where the Immigration Services Agency’s own pages name a JLPT level.
- Specified Skilled Worker (i): Japanese is shown with the JF Japanese Basic Test (JFT-Basic) or JLPT N4 or above (N3 or above for taxi and bus driving and for railway transport staff). Nursing care also requires the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test
- Highly Skilled Professional points: N1 gives 15 points, N2 gives 10 (N2 points do not apply if you already scored for a Japanese degree or for N1). You need 70 points in total
- Designated Activities for graduates of Japanese universities: you submit a copy of your N1 certificate of results (or BJT 480 or above) as proof of Japanese ability
- Going on to higher education: the guide for university study in Japanese is N2 or above. For vocational schools, N1 or N2, or at least a year at a Japanese language school, among other options
The sector requirements for Specified Skilled Worker are in the three routes to work without a degree, and school-after-language-school choices are in the four roads after language school.
Employers may look at your level whatever the visa says. Of people working on the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status, 60.2% read at N2 or above, according to the survey on how foreigners find jobs in Japan.
What if I break the rules?
- Applying with someone else’s photo, or someone else’s address without permission: you cannot sit the test
- Applying for two levels: your eligibility may be cancelled
- Arriving after the start: you cannot sit the first section, and later sections will not be scored
- Missing any section: you fail, and every score shows as “**”
I missed the December JLPT. What now?
After the deadline, no application is accepted for any reason. The next test will be in 2027, but as of 23 September its dates and registration window are not yet on the JEES site. For reference, registration for the July 2026 test ran from 17 March to 7 April.
What you can do today is register on MyJLPT, which is open all year. Have your residence card and a clear face photo ready so you can apply on the day registration opens. In 2026, N1 and N2 filled within a week.
If you have a deadline, you may not need to wait for the JLPT. Immigration’s pages also accept JFT-Basic for Specified Skilled Worker, the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test for Highly Skilled Professional points (480 counts like N1, 400 like N2), and 200 or more on the Japanese section of the EJU for higher education.
Which one are you?
- You got a December seat — check for the eligibility email, spam folder included. Put 17 November in your calendar to check your voucher and start time on MyJLPT.
- You missed December — register on MyJLPT today. If a job or school deadline is coming, look up the dates of the alternative test accepted for that purpose, such as BJT or JFT-Basic.
- You sat in July and need to send your result — order the Certificate of Result and Scores from “Test Result and Certificate Issuance” on MyJLPT. Choose express if the deadline is close.
- You are not sure which level to take — start from what you need it for: N4 for Specified Skilled Worker, N2 for university, N1 for Highly Skilled points or the graduate Designated Activities status. Find your line in the list above today.
FAQ
Q. Can I still register for the December 2026 JLPT in Japan?
No. Registration in Japan closed on 3 September. N1 and N2 closed at noon on 31 August and will not reopen. The next test will be in 2027, and its dates have not been announced yet.
Q. How much is the JLPT fee in Japan?
7,500 yen including tax, payable by credit card, Pay-easy bank transfer or at a convenience store. Once your application is accepted, it is not refunded for any reason.
Q. What is the JLPT passing score?
Out of 180: N1 100, N2 90, N3 95, N4 90 and N5 80. You must also reach every sectional minimum: 19 in each section for N1 to N3, and 38 in Language Knowledge and Reading plus 19 in Listening for N4 and N5.
Q. When are the December 2026 JLPT results released?
On MyJLPT in late January 2027. The official results notice, with the certificate of proficiency if you passed, is posted in late February.
Q. How do I get a JLPT certificate in Japan?
Order it from “Test Result and Certificate Issuance” on MyJLPT. It costs 1,000 yen per copy, plus 500 yen for express. In Japan it ships one to two weeks after payment is confirmed, and longer just after results are released.
Q. Can I use the JLPT for a Japanese visa?
In some cases. Specified Skilled Worker (i) accepts N4 or above (N3 for some categories) or JFT-Basic, Highly Skilled Professional points give 15 for N1 and 10 for N2, and the Designated Activities status for graduates of Japanese universities asks for N1 or BJT 480.
Summary
Registration in Japan for the December 2026 JLPT is over. N1 and N2 filled within a week of opening. If you got a seat, do not miss the eligibility email or the November voucher.
You pass on the total and on every section, and results come in late January. The certificate costs 1,000 yen and takes longer in busy months. If you missed out, register on MyJLPT now, and depending on your goal, compare BJT or JFT-Basic too.
Official sources: JEES, JLPT (for test in Japan) / JEES, the 2nd JLPT in 2026 (December) test guide / JEES FAQ, application procedure / JEES, certificate issuance / JLPT, scoring sections, pass or fail and results / JLPT, CEFR reference levels / Immigration Services Agency, Specified Skilled Worker Q&A (Japanese) / ISA, Highly Skilled Professional point table (Japanese) / ISA, Designated Activities for graduates of Japanese universities (Japanese) / ISA, Japanese ability for entering higher education (Japanese). Checked on 23 September 2026.
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