Do You Need a 150-hour Japanese Study Certificate for a Student Visa?

2025/03/26

If you’re planning to study Japanese in Japan on a long-term basis, you’ll need to obtain a student visa. One requirement that often confuses prospective students is the need to prove your Japanese level before you apply. Understanding all Japanese language school requirements, including language prerequisites, can help you better prepare your application.

This article explains what happened to the 150-hour Japanese study certificate in 2026, what replaced it, and what other requirements you’ll need to meet for your student visa application.

Is a 150-hour Japanese Study Certificate Required?

A 150-hour Japanese study certificate is no longer accepted on its own as proof of your Japanese level for a student visa application.

Instead, you can satisfy this student visa requirement in one of two ways:

1. Passing a recognized Japanese language proficiency exam, such as the JLPT N5
2. Passing an interview or level check conducted by the school you are applying to

The 150-hour Japanese study certificate still has value as supporting evidence of your preparation and can strengthen your application, but it no longer replaces proof of your actual Japanese level.

Note that self-study or planned study hours are not accepted by immigration authorities.

What Changed for the 150-hour Japanese Study Certificate in 2026

On 10 April 2026, the Immigration Services Agency issued a notice to Japanese language schools revising the way they check applicants’ Japanese proficiency. 

In its view, a 150-hour Japanese study certificate shows how long an applicant studied rather than what they can actually do. 

Schools are therefore now expected to confirm the real level, either through an official exam certificate such as the JLPT N5, or by conducting an interview in Japanese themselves. 

	Before 2026	From 2026
Accepted proof	150-hour study history or exam certificate	Exam certificate or school interview
Role of the 150-hour Japanese Study certificate	Primary proof of level	Supporting document
Who verifies your level	Immigration, from documents	The school, directly
Level expected	A1 / JLPT N5	A1 / JLPT N5 (unchanged)

When Does the 150-hour Japanese Study Certificate Stop Being Accepted?

The change is being rolled out in two stages, depending on how you apply.

• If you are applying from abroad through a Certificate of Eligibility, the new rules concern you if you plan to enroll from October 2026 onwards.
  
• If you are already in Japan and changing your status of residence or extending your stay to enter a language school, they apply to any application submitted from 1 July 2026.

If you are already enrolled and simply renewing at the same school, you are generally not expected to produce a new exam certificate. 

When Do You Need to Prove Your Japanese Level?

You need to prove your Japanese level whenever your studies require a student visa. In practice, this covers the following situations.

Long-Term Study Programs

Long-term programs are where proof is always needed. If you’re applying for a Japanese language program lasting 6 months or longer, you’ll need to show your level as part of the application. Understanding how to strengthen a Japan visa reapplication is especially important if you have been previously rejected, as documented progress demonstrates both preparation and commitment.

Short-term study programs or study trips lasting less than 90 days typically don’t require a student visa, and therefore don’t require proof of Japanese ability. You can enroll in these as a complete beginner.

All Nationalities and Age Groups

All nationalities and all age groups are concerned. A limited exemption exists for graduates of foreign universities from certain countries and regions, but the list is not publicly available and interpretation varies between regional immigration offices. Do not assume you qualify,  check with your school before planning your application around it.

In practice, applicants from countries with traditionally low visa rejection rates, such as the United States, Canada and European nations, should expect to prove their Japanese level like everyone else.

Mature Students

Mature students are covered by the same rules. There has been some confusion, particularly among applicants over 30, about whether this applies to them. It does: the requirement covers all age groups seeking a student visa for language study.

Some language school agents emphasise it more for older applicants because immigration officers scrutinise these files more carefully, looking for genuine study intent and strong motivation. A recent exam result or a strong interview is the clearest way to answer that scrutiny.

Requirements for Student Visa Applications

Beyond the Japanese language study requirement, there are several other important elements to your student visa application.

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

The first step in obtaining a student visa is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility through your chosen Japanese language school. The school will submit this application to the Immigration Bureau on your behalf.

Key documentation for the COE application includes the below.

• Application form with your personal information
• Photograph (4cm × 3cm)
• Copy of your passport
• Proof of Japanese language ability (recognized exam certificate or school interview result)
• Academic background documents (diplomas, transcripts)
• Letter explaining your purpose of study
• Documents verifying your financial resources

The processing time for a COE is typically 2-3 months, so plan your application well in advance of your intended start date.

Accepted Proof of Japanese Language Study

To satisfy the language study requirement, you can submit one of the following.

Japanese Language Proficiency Exams

Twelve exams are currently recognized by immigration as evidence of approximately N5 (A1) level.

• JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) : N5 level or higher
• BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test : Score of 300 or higher
• J.TEST Practical Japanese Test : Level F or above (250+ points)
• NAT-TEST : Level 5 or above
• STBJ Standard Business Japanese Test : Score of 350 or higher
• TOPJ Practical Japanese Proficiency Test : Beginner Level A or above
• J-cert Daily Life and Vocational Japanese Test : Beginner Level or above
• JLCT Japanese Proficiency Test for Foreigners : “JCT5” or above
• PJC Bridge : “C-” or above
• JPT Japanese Language Proficiency Test : Score of 315 or higher, or 68 on the Elementary Test
• JT5 : Pass (online test)
• S-JEP Sundai Japanese Proficiency Test : Score of 300 or higher

Your School’s Level Check

If you don’t hold one of these certificates, the school you are applying to can assess your level directly, including online.

Each school sets its own format, but the result is documented in detail for immigration, typically how many questions you answered correctly from JLPT N5 practice material.

Supporting Study Records

Alongside one of the two above, some schools also ask for documentation of your prior Japanese study. Accepted forms typically include:

• Transcript of records from a high school, college, or university
• Certificate from an accredited Japanese language school in your home country
• Completion certificate from a recognized online Japanese course
• Documentation from private lessons with qualified teachers

Self-study alone is not accepted as proof of level. Understanding how to plan your Japanese studies before applying is essential when preparing your application.

Timeline for Application

Most applications to study at a Japanese language school should begin between 6-12 months before your chosen study term. This allows sufficient time to the below.

1. Reach the Japanese level your school expects, around N5
2. Apply to your chosen language school
3. Wait for the Certificate of Eligibility processing
4. Apply for your student visa once the COE is issued
5. Make travel and accommodation arrangements

For April enrollment, which is the main intake period in Japan, you should ideally begin preparations the previous summer or fall.

Financial Requirements for Student Visa Applications

The Japanese Immigration Bureau carefully examines the financial aspects of student visa applications to ensure applicants can support themselves during their studies without financial difficulty.

Minimum Financial Resources

You must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover.

• Tuition fees for at least one year at your language school
• Living expenses (approximately ¥120,000 per month)
• Return airfare or funds for return transportation

For a typical one-year program, this means showing access to roughly:

• ¥600,000 to ¥800,000 for annual tuition fees
• ¥1,440,000 for annual living expenses (¥120,000 × 12 months)
• ¥100,000 to ¥200,000 for miscellaneous expenses

In total, you should be prepared to demonstrate access to approximately ¥2,000,000 to ¥2,500,000 for a one-year program. For longer programs, the financial requirements increase proportionally.

Financial Sponsors

Many students rely on financial sponsors, typically parents or close family members. If someone is sponsoring your education, you’ll need to provide the following.

• Proof of your relationship to the sponsor (birth certificate, family registry)
• Your sponsor’s bank statements (showing sufficient funds)
• Income certificate or tax documents demonstrating the sponsor’s financial stability
• A letter of financial support outlining their commitment

The ideal sponsor is a parent or immediate family member with stable employment and sufficient income to support both their own expenses and your education in Japan.

Documentation Standards

• Officially issued by financial institutions or government authorities
• Translated into Japanese or English by certified translators
• Recently issued (typically within the last 3 months)
• Showing consistent, stable funds (not just a recent large deposit)

Immigration officials are particularly wary of suspicious banking activity, such as large, unexplained deposits shortly before application, as this may suggest temporary funds arranged solely for visa purposes.

Country-Specific Considerations

Applicants from certain countries with higher visa rejection rates may face stricter financial scrutiny. For applicants from countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, the financial requirements might be higher than the following.

• Bank balances of approximately ¥1,500,000 or more for family-sponsored students
• A longer history of fund availability (12+ months of bank statements)
• More detailed documentation of the source of funds
• Self-supporting applicants may need to show approximately ¥9,900,000 (covering four years of study)

Avoiding Common Financial Mistakes

To improve your chances of visa approval, you should do the following.

• Ensure your financial documents show a history of stable funds, not just recent deposits
• Provide clear proof of the relationship between you and your sponsor
• Make sure all financial documents are properly translated and authenticated
• Present a realistic financial plan that accounts for all expenses during your stay
• Be prepared to explain any unusual financial circumstances

By carefully addressing both the Japanese language requirement and the financial aspects of your application, you can significantly improve your chances of successfully obtaining a student visa for your language studies in Japan.

Reaching N5 level is the part that takes the longest, and the part you have the most control over. Nihongo Online School’s structured 150-hour Japanese Foundation Program brings complete beginners to approximately JLPT N5 in about six months, combining 50 hours of one-to-one lessons with 100 hours of guided self-study. Because every lesson is speech-centered, you prepare for the exam and for your school’s interview at the same time, and you finish with a Certificate of Completion documenting your study record.

Remember that thorough preparation and attention to detail are key to navigating the process smoothly.