Which Japanese exam certificate should you take in 2026?

For general proficiency, use the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), jointly administered by the Japan Foundation and JEES. Levels run from N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced). The test covers language knowledge, reading and listening; it does not include a speaking section. Results now also carry CEFR reference indications on newer score reports. Universities, scholarships and many employers still ask for a named JLPT level rather than “any Japanese course.”

For certain work and study immigration checklists, the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) measures everyday communication roughly at CEFR A1–A2. It is computer-based, usually offered monthly, and returns results quickly. Japan Foundation guidance links JFT-Basic to pathways such as Specified Skilled Worker (i), Employment for Skill Development and some Japanese-language education institution student enrolments. It is not a substitute for every JLPT job screen.

For workplace communication proof, the BJT (Business Japanese Proficiency Test) from the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation scores 0–800 across levels J5 to J1+. Some employers and immigration eligibility reviews treat BJT alongside JLPT evidence. Confirm the exact score band your checklist names.

Build level through municipal classes, language schools and daily routines first: Learn Japanese. Hardness context: How hard is Japanese. Script load sits behind every reading section: Read kana and kanji. Employers may name N2 or a BJT band rather than “any Japanese course”: Japanese for work. Students should ask the faculty which certificate they accept: International student community.

Residence titles and citizenship remain separate files: Apply for a residence permit. City English does not replace a named certificate when a checklist demands one: English in Japan.