Japan now requires N2 language proficiency proof for engineer/specialist work visa

2026/04/15

As of April 15, 2026, Japan updated the requirements for its Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. For the first time, applicants may now be required to prove their Japanese language ability before entering the country. 

This is not a blanket rule, it applies to specific company types, specific job profiles, and specific application procedures. 

Find out whether your profile is impacted and how to prepare.

Is JLPT N2 now mandatory for the Japan Engineer/Specialist work visa?

JLPT N2 is now mandatory for obtaining the Japan Engineer/Specialist work visa, but only under specific conditions. Whether you are affected depends on three factors: your employer’s tier, your role’s language requirements, and your application type.

What	How it works
Visa affected	The Gijinkoku visa (技人国), also known as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Who triggers the requirement	Applicants hired by smaller, less-established companies (Categories 3 & 4)
What you need to show	Evidence of Japanese ability if your job involves speaking or writing in Japanese
The bar to clear	CEFR B2, the same standard as JLPT N2
When it applies	New COE applications, status changes, and renewals
Who gets a pass	Employees of large/listed firms (Categories 1 & 2); Japanese school or university graduates; students already in Japan switching visa status
Live from	April 15, 2026

The requirement only applies when the role genuinely involves Japanese-language communication. 

Source : https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/992157b137cee0bd8989bb36ff5e68e10cf0ea0e 

Which Japan work visa is concerned by the new language requirements?

The visa directly concerned by the new requirements is the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, in Japanese, 技術・人文知識・国際業務, commonly shortened to Gijinkoku or 技人国. It is one of the most commonly issued work visas in Japan. 

This update does not affect any other visa category : 

• Highly Skilled Professional visa
• Specified Skilled Worker visa
• Business Manager visa
• Intra-Company Transferee visa
• Technical Intern Training status 

All follow separate requirements, none of which were modified in April 2026.

Which job categories are affected ?

The job categories affected cover the three domains of the Gijinkoku visa:

Field	Role Examples
Engineering & Tech	Backend/frontend developers, data engineers, UX designers, system architects, IT project leads
Business & Humanities	Finance, HR, operations, corporate planning, domestic sales, procurement, marketing
International & Language	Cross-border trade, interpreting, translating, language instruction, overseas PR, global account management

If the job description states that Japanese is required for daily operations, proof of language ability will be expected at the visa application stage. 

For engineers, it depends entirely on language use on the job : those attending meetings in Japanese, producing Japanese documentation, or embedded in Japanese-speaking teams will likely need to demonstrate proficiency.

Which company types are concerned ?

The company types concerned are specifically Category 3 and 4 organizations under Japan’s immigration classification system.

Company tier	Who falls here	Language rule applies ?
Category 1	Stock-listed companies, government bodies, public agencies	No
Category 2	Private companies whose annual payroll withholding tax reached ¥10M+ last fiscal year	No
Category 3	Private unlisted companies below the ¥10M withholding threshold	Yes
Category 4	Startups, newly incorporated businesses, sole traders	Yes

Category 1 and 2 employers, listed corporations, major tech groups, large consulting firms, public bodies, are exempt. 

Category 3 and 4 cover the vast majority of Japan’s SMEs: regional businesses, startups, and family-owned companies.

To check your prospective employer’s category, ask their HR team or consult the company’s withholding tax summary (源泉徴収の合計額) from the previous fiscal year.

Who is concerned by the language requirement to obtain a work visa in Japan?

The people most directly concerned by the new Japanese language proficiency proof requirement are foreign nationals currently living outside Japan, seeking a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to enter Japan for the first time, for a Japanese-language role, at a Tier 3 or 4 company.

Three concrete examples:

• A marketing professional in Germany, hired by a Tokyo SME for a Japanese-language client-facing role, needs JLPT N2 before receiving a COE.
• An IT engineer hired by an Osaka startup for an English-only role with no Japanese client contact is unlikely to be affected.
• A Waseda University graduate transitioning directly to employment does not need a language certificate.

Who is exempt from this new rule?

Several profiles are explicitly exempt from the Japanese language proficiency proof requirement :

• Categories 1 & 2 employers: No language documentation required, regardless of role or background.
• Graduates of Japanese institutions: A diploma from a Japanese university, junior college, technical college, vocational school, or high school replaces any test requirement.
• Long-term residents: 20 or more years of continuous residence in Japan qualifies as proof.
• International students transitioning after graduation: Students on a Student visa changing status to Gijinkoku directly after graduating from a Japanese institution are currently exempt.

Accepted language proficiency tests for the Japan Engineer/Specialist work visa

The accepted tests go beyond JLPT N2. The ISA requires CEFR B2 and multiple forms of evidence qualify.

What you can submit	What to know
JLPT N2 or above	The most widely recognized certificate accepted by employers, universities, and immigration bodies
BJT with a score of 400+	Computer-based, available year-round, focused on professional Japanese
Degree from a Japanese university	Undergraduate or postgraduate replaces any test requirement
Certificate from a Japanese vocational or technical school	Specialized or advanced course completion qualifies
Full secondary education completed in Japan	Compulsory schooling plus high school graduation
20+ years of continuous residency in Japan	Long-term presence accepted as proof of language integration

Other CEFR B2-aligned exams, NAT-TEST, JLCT, J-CAT,  may also qualify, since the benchmark is the level rather than the specific test. JLPT N2 remains the safest choice: it is explicitly named in ISA documentation and accepted across all professional and institutional contexts.

How to prepare for the JLPT N2 requirement for the Japan engineer work visa

Preparing for the JLPT N2 requirement for the Japan Engineer work visa comes down to choosing the right pathway for your situation. 

For young students aiming to live and work in Japan 

Students with time to plan ahead have two solid options. The most thorough is enrolling in a Japanese university or vocational school, the only route that grants a full exemption from the JLPT N2 requirement. A diploma from an accredited Japanese institution replaces any language test and opens direct access to Japan’s new-graduate hiring system (shūkatsu). 

For those seeking a shorter commitment, a language school in Japan (3 months to 2 years) offers full immersion on a Student visa. Note that a language school diploma does not grant a JLPT exemption, you will still need to pass the exam, but the immersion environment makes it significantly easier.

Online Japanese language program for adult professionals

For professionals preparing from abroad or around a work schedule, Nihongo Online School offers structured online Japanese classes targeting both JLPT certification and professional Japanese.

• No relocation required : study from anywhere, at your own pace
• Curriculum from N5 to N1, with targeted N2 preparation
• One-on-one lessons with qualified teachers
• Structured 2-hour-homework after each lesson
• Business Japanese integrated if needed to prepare for Japanese work environment

To reach the JLPT N2 level, plan for the following timeline:

• From N5/N4: 18 to 24 months
• From N3: 9 to 12 months
• From strong N3: 6 months of focused preparation

Nihongo Online School also provides full support to help you present your language skills and JLPT certification on your resume, prepare for interviews, and secure a position in Japan.

Book a free trial lesson