Which Japanese tests count for the main Japan visa rules?
Four main immigration rules, four lists of Japanese tests. Which tests and scores each accepts, from JLPT N2 and BJT 400 to N1 and BJT 480.
Short answer
Each Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) rule has its own list, and JLPT N2 or BJT 400 is on three of the four main ones: Business Manager, Highly Skilled Professional points (10 points) and, from 15 April 2026, the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services rule for category 3 or 4 employers and language-based jobs. That Engineer rule also counts EJU Japanese 200 and JPT 525. The Designated Activities status for graduates of Japanese universities asks for JLPT N1 or BJT 480, which also gives 15 Highly Skilled Professional points.
Four main rules, four lists
Japanese immigration rules do not share one list of accepted tests. Each rule names its own proofs and its own level, so a test that counts for one visa may not count for another. The table shows four ISA rules we checked against the ISA pages on 10 November 2026. Other statuses, such as Specified Skilled Worker, have their own rules and are not covered here.
Tests and scores by visa
| Visa or system | Who needs it | Tests that count |
|---|---|---|
| Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services 技術・人文知識・国際業務 | Applications from 15 April 2026: employer in category 3 or 4, job that mainly uses language ability (ISA's examples: translation and interpreting, hotel front desk). B2 in the language of the job | JLPT N2 or higher, BJT 400+, EJU Japanese 200+, JPT 525+ |
| Business Manager 経営・管理 | Since 16 October 2025: the applicant or a full-time employee needs B2 Japanese. Renewals: transition to 16 October 2028 | JLPT N2 or higher, BJT 400+ |
| Designated Activities for graduates of Japanese universities | The applicant | JLPT N1, BJT 480+ |
| Highly Skilled Professional points | Optional bonus points | N1 or BJT 480+: 15 points. N2 or BJT 400+: 10 points, but not for someone who already gets bonus 7 (a Japanese degree) or bonus 8 (N1-level Japanese) |
For the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services rule, the B2 proof is about the language your duties use. If the job is in English, a Japanese test does not help. Who the rule covers, and which applications need the proof, is in the Engineer visa guide.
Proofs that are not a test
Three of the rules accept something other than a test score:
- Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services: 20 years or more in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident; a degree from a Japanese university, or the specialised or advanced course of a Japanese college of technology or vocational school; Japanese compulsory education plus high school.
- Business Manager: 20 years or more in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident; graduation from a Japanese university or other higher-education institution; Japanese compulsory education plus high school. Details in the Business Manager guide.
- Designated Activities for graduates: if you majored in Japanese at a university outside Japan, ISA asks for that university's diploma or graduation certificate instead of a score.
B2 and N1 are different bars
The Engineer and Business Manager rules ask for B2, and JLPT N2 or BJT 400 meets it there. JLPT N1 or BJT 480 matters for the Highly Skilled Professional bonus of 15 points and for the Designated Activities status for graduates. So you do not need 480 for the Engineer or Business Manager rules. Why BJT 400 sits next to N2 is explained in Is a BJT score of 400 the same as JLPT N2?
The tests in one line each
- JLPT
- The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. Five levels, N1 to N5; N1 is the most difficult.
- BJT
- The BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test, run by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (Kanken) at Pearson VUE test centres. A score from 0 to 800, no pass or fail.
- EJU
- The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students. ISA counts 200 or more in Japanese, as the total of reading, listening and listening-reading.
- JPT
- The JPT Japanese Proficiency Test. ISA counts a score of 525 or more.
- CEFR B2
- A level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The Business Manager rule refers to it through Japan's Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education.
How to choose your proof
- Find the rule you apply under and read its own list. Do not assume a test that counts for a friend's visa counts for yours.
- Check what you already have. A Japanese degree or schooling in Japan may already meet the Engineer or Business Manager rule.
- If you need a test result soon, BJT can be sat on almost any day a test centre is open, and you leave with a score report. How BJT and JLPT compare on dates and results is in BJT or JLPT for your visa.
- If an employer asks for JLPT by name, take JLPT, whatever the visa rule accepts.
This article is general information, not legal advice. It covers four main ISA rules; other statuses, such as Specified Skilled Worker or permanent residence, are not covered here. Visa decisions depend on your whole application. Check the Immigration Services Agency pages below or ask an immigration specialist (gyōseishoshi).
Questions people ask
What Japanese test do I need for a Japan visa?
It depends on the rule you apply under. JLPT N2 or a BJT score of 400 meets the Business Manager rule and, for applications from 15 April 2026 with a category 3 or 4 employer and a language-based job, the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services rule, while the Designated Activities status for graduates of Japanese universities asks for JLPT N1 or BJT 480.
Is there an alternative to the JLPT for a Japan visa?
Yes, for the rules that name it. The BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test is on the Business Manager, Designated Activities graduate and Highly Skilled Professional lists, and on the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services list where the April 2026 rule applies. You can sit it on any day a test centre is open.
What is the difference between JLPT and JPT for a visa?
Both are on ISA's list for the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services rule, JLPT at N2 or higher and JPT at 525 or more. The Business Manager list names JLPT but not JPT, so check which rule you apply under.
Do J-Test or NAT count for the Engineer visa?
They are not on ISA's list for the April 2026 Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services rule, which names JLPT, BJT, EJU and JPT. They are not on the Business Manager list either.
Does BJT 480 count for more than BJT 400?
For two rules, yes. A score of 480 or more adds 15 Highly Skilled Professional points instead of 10, and it meets the Designated Activities rule for graduates of Japanese universities. For the Engineer and Business Manager rules, 400 already meets B2.
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