Surge in Foreign Workers: Japanese Language Test Registrations Explode Amidst Increasing Difficulty
Japan is beginning to struggle with a surge in applicants for Japanese language proficiency tests, driven by an increasing demand for foreign labour and student visas. Consequently, the government has requested that Japanese language schools consider alternative examinations to the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
The spike in applicants has made it difficult for organisers to provide sufficient examination venues and ensure smooth test administration. The number of applicants for the JLPT in Japan and abroad reached a record 943,671 for the July 2026 examination period. Registration for the December session even closed earlier than scheduled.
To provide context, the number of applicants rose from 426,225 in 2022 to 698,062 in 2023, then to 793,701 in 2024, and 904,472 in 2025. When calculated annually, the scale is even larger; in 2025, the total number of JLPT applicants reached 1.94 million, the highest since the exam was introduced.
Japanese language proficiency has become a prerequisite for entering Japan. This increase occurs as Japan becomes more reliant on foreign workers while expanding the use of Japanese language proficiency as a requirement for working and residing in the country. Since 2025, the government has begun implementing broader language requirements for various residency statuses.
From April 2026, certain applicants under the ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services’ category will also be required to demonstrate language proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 if their job requires such skills. The JLPT itself consists of five levels, ranging from N5 (basic) to N1 (highest). The JLPT N2 can be used as evidence of such proficiency. The exam is held twice a year and is widely used by foreigners for educational, professional, and residency purposes.
As demand surges, it is straining administrative capacity. Registration for the December 2026 session closed early because examination venues were no longer sufficient. The Japanese government has subsequently asked approximately 100 state-certified Japanese language educational institutions to consider alternative tests, such as the Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT).
The Japanese Immigration Services Agency has issued similar requests to around 800 other Japanese language schools. Organisers of the J.TEST (Test of Practical Japanese) have even warned that registration for the November session may close before the deadline.
The issue remains that not all alternative tests can replace the JLPT for every requirement. The government itself acknowledges that the JLPT remains the only examination covering all levels of Japanese proficiency required for various purposes. This means that as language proficiency becomes a stricter requirement for entering the Japanese labour market and society, the demand for certification is growing faster than the testing system’s capacity.
The JLPT is a five-level examination managed by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. It is widely used to meet language requirements for residency permits for both work and study.
In a letter dated 11 September to approximately 100 state-certified Japanese language educational institutions, the Japanese Ministry of Education requested that schools consider alternative exams, including the BJT. The Immigration Services Agency has made similar requests to around 800 other language schools.
Organisers of J.TEST, which is held six times a year, are also feeling the pressure of capacity constraints, with the potential for November session registrations to close ahead of schedule.
Yoshihisa Saito, an associate professor at Kobe University specialising in foreign resident policy, believes this surge in applicants should have been predictable following the government’s implementation of language requirements for residency permits. He noted that exam results can determine the lives of applicants; therefore, the government must ensure that examinations are conducted responsibly and remain accessible to all participants.