Tourists no longer allowed to take JLPT in Japan from 2026

From 2026, applicants in Japan without residence cards will generally be barred from taking the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in the country. Tourists visiting Japan will no longer be allowed to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in the country from 2026, organizations that administer the exam have announced. The administrators said applicants in Japan will, in principle, be required to hold a mid-to long-term residence status or special permanent residency under the country's residence management system, and must provide a residence card number and expiration date when applying. The JLPT is the largest scale Japanese-language test in the world. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.