The Japanese government just announced that on April 15, 2026, the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa (one of the most common work visas for foreign nationals) will be revised to include a Japanese language requirement. Under the new system, foreigners need to have Japanese language skills equivalent to the N2 level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, or the B2 level of the CEFR standards.

However, the Japanese language requirements for work visas apply only to roles that already require Japanese proficiency, rather than to all applicants under the 技人国 (gijinkoku) visa category. Either way, how are these revisions actually going to work, who is this change for, and why is the Japanese government making these revisions in the first place?

This information is based on ongoing developments and should not be considered legal advice. We are not legal experts or an official immigration authority. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the Residence Status: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services page provided by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

The JLPT N2 is Now Required for One of the Most Common Work Visas

The Immigration Services Agency officially stated on its website that Japan will require proof of Japanese proficiency for the gijinkoku visa. They’ve decided that Japanese proficiency needs to be at the CEFR B2 level, which is considered to be equivalent to the JLPT N2. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. You only need to submit a JLPT N2 certificate if your application falls under category 3 or 4 (employment at SMEs).
2. Passing the JLPT N2 (CEFR B2) is not a strict requirement since the website outlines that alternative proof of proficiency could be accepted.
3. Any new requirement will apply only to applicants entering Japan on a 技人国 (Gijinkoku) visa for the first time. Foreign nationals already in Japan on student visas who transition directly into this visa category could be exempt.
4. Language requirements would only apply to jobs where Japanese is actually used.

So, let’s unpack what all that means.

What is the Engineering, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services Visa?

Before we discuss the exact revisions, we need to understand the exact visa that is being affected. The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, known in Japanese as 技術・人文知識・国際業務 (Gijutsu, Jinbun Chishiki, Kokusai Gyoumu), is one of the most common work visas for foreign professionals in Japan. It is often abbreviated as 技人国 (Gijinkoku).

The gijinkoku is a flexible, wide-reaching work visa allowing foreigners to engage in a variety of industries that fall under engineering, humanities, or international services. Below is a breakdown of typical roles covered by the gijinkoku visa.

Engineering/Technical Roles	Humanities	International Services
Software engineering, data scientist, digital designer, developers	Marketing, human resources, sales, general affairs, and finance	Translation & interpretation, international sales, public relations, language teaching

Basically, almost anything can fall under these broad categories, from software, marketing, consulting, creative, to even English teaching. So, it might be easier to define what this visa is not:

• It is not a blue-collar labor visa
• It is not meant for factory or construction work
• It is not meant for hospitality or food service work (waiter, bartender, etc.)

Currently, the visa requires either a bachelor’s degree or some years of work experience in an industry relevant to the visa’s permitted work scope. To receive the visa, you do not need any Japanese language ability.

What are Category 3 or 4 Applications for the Gijinkoku Work Visa

Categories 3 and 4 are typically small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have existed for some time and have submitted their statutory withholding tax records for the previous year. Category 4 includes newly established companies (startups) or very small businesses with limited financial history.

So, how likely is it for foreigners to work in SMEs? The majority of foreigners are employed at small companies, over 36% work at companies with under 30 employees, and almost 20% work in companies employing between 30 and 99 employees, according to the Immigration Services Agency. With so many foreigners working for SMEs, they will need to have the JLPT N2 qualification if their job requires Japanese.

However, keep in mind, you are deemed to have JLPT N2 if you have:

・Graduated from a Japanese university, completed a specialized or advanced course at a Japanese college of technology or vocational school.
・Completed compulsory education in Japan and graduated from a Japanese high school

So, if you have already studied in Japan at a university, you do not need JLPT N2; however, the system will make it harder for overseas applicants to come to Japan if they are hired by smaller firms, or if they did not attend a Japanese higher education institution.

Why is Japan Making These Revisions?

What the gijinkoku visa is, the type of work it permits, and its eligibility criteria lead us directly into why Japan is going to make revisions to its language requirements. The government believes that many foreigners enter the country with the gijinkoku visa but end up working in sectors that do not fall under its permitted scope. So, the government feels that the visa’s lack of language proficiency requirements is partly to blame for this.

There are currently 468,068 gijinkoku visa holders according to the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Welfare (MLHW), making it the second most common visa after the permanent resident visa. With the number of foreign workers the visa brings into the country, Japan wants to ensure that all the foreigners meet qualifications while preventing visa holders from working in sectors not allowed under the gijinkoku work criteria. So, requiring proof of Japanese ability could bar candidates who don’t have that baseline qualification, as well as allow in more foreigners, more likely to integrate into Japanese society. 

So, it’s for this purpose that the JLPT N2 is going to be required for getting the visa. Additionally, the fact that the revisions are only for category 3 and 4 applications means small companies are the main target. With so many foreigners being employed by SMEs, they need to ensure these companies (with fewer financial records) are also complying. So the new policy also includes restrictions that will bar any company from hiring foreign workers for 5 years if they have any labor or harassment violations.

Recent policy discussions in Japan have also focused on tightening requirements for permanent residency. Specifically, government panels and ruling party officials are considering introducing a Japanese language requirement for permanent residency applicants as part of broader immigration reforms.

What Language Requirements Are Actually Being Proposed?

Japan will revise the eligibility criteria for the gijinkoku visa to require applicants to possess Japanese at the CEFR B2 level, which is approximately equivalent to the JLPT N2. 

However, there are some important caveats you should keep in mind:

1. Applicable Only to Roles Needing Japanese

These changes are only applicable to roles that require Japanese language ability. Since the gijinkoku visa is so flexible and covers a wide range of roles, certain positions such as English teaching (often covered by the gijinkoku), recruitment, inbound marketing, and certain engineering/technical roles likely wouldn’t be applicable for the new language requirement changes if no Japanese is required.

2. Revisions Likely Won’t Apply to Visa Status Changes or Renewals

The revisions also won’t be applied to foreigners seeking to change their visa status, such as university students changing their visa to the gijinkoku or current workers who are renewing their visa. So, if you’ve just changed jobs and will be needing to renew your visa, you won’t need to rush to pass the N2. The revision is mainly targeted at foreigners entering Japan for the first time and requiring a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

3. JLPT N2 is One of Many Accepted Documents Proving Japanese Skills

The biggest elephant in the room is whether the JLPT N2 certificate will actually be a strict requirement for visa eligibility. It seems the government just wants proof of language ability at the CEFR B2 standard, which they feel is equivalent to the N2. So, an N2 certificate would be sufficient proof of language ability, but it doesn’t have to be the only one. Others include:

• A score of at least 400 on the Business Japanese Test (BJT)
• Graduating from universities in Japan, or completing advanced or specialized courses at vocational/technical colleges
• Residing in Japan for 20 years or more as a medium-to-long term resident
• Completing compulsory education in Japan and completing high school

About the JLPT N2 or CEFR B2

The N2 is the second-highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), an exam that evaluates Japanese language abilities. The N2 is considered sufficient for working in Japanese, meaning you can engage in complicated dialogue, read articles, conduct meetings, and meet the diverse language demands of a working setting in Japanese.

However, the policy will stipulate submitting documents proving you’re at the CEFR B2 level, which officially corresponds to the N2. The CEFR, or the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, is a global standard that measures language proficiency. According to the website, the B2 level means you can comfortably communicate with native speakers as well as understand concrete and abstract texts and discussions. You can also produce detailed writings on a range of subjects you are knowledgeable about. 

There is no test for the CEFR specifically, so Japan considers the N2 to be an indicator of being at the CEFR B2 level. But note that the JLPT N2 will not be the only certificate the government will consider, as mentioned above.

Who Will Need the JLPT N2 Under These New Revisions?

As mentioned, not every person seeking the gijinkoku visa will be subject to the new revisions. The main target of the revision is foreigners who are still living in their home country and need a COE. The revisions will be part of the eligibility requirements for receiving the COE, which is needed for granting the gijinkoku visa. However, these revisions are only applicable to job descriptions requiring Japanese language skills. 

Here are some typical roles that could require Japanese and fall under the gijinkoku qualifications:

• Client-facing positions, such as consulting or sales
• Domestic marketing positions
• Translation and interpretation between Japanese and English
• Any company where all operations are conducted in Japanese

So, let’s break down who does and does not apply for the Japanese language requirements when seeking the gijinkoku visa:

Applicable Visa Seekers	Non-applicable Visa Seekers
Visa seekers working in positions requiring Japanese skills	Visa seekers working in positions where Japanese skills are not needed
Visa seekers living outside of Japan and coming for the first time	Foreign residents seeking to change their status of residence
Visa seekers needing a COE	Foreign residents seeking to renew their visa
Visa seekers being employed by small companies (categorized as 3 or 4 applications on the ISA website)	Foreign residents employed by larger companies (defined as category 1 or 2 applications on the ISA website)

Client-facing and Other Roles Requiring JLPT N2 for the Visa

Client-facing roles will probably need Japanese the most, but what do these roles actually entail? In English teaching, you are dealing with “clients” who could be your students or the parents whom you need to speak to directly, sometimes even in Japanese. However, these roles probably won’t expect you to have a JLPT N2 for the job since Japanese is not a core part of the role’s responsibilities. The Job Description will need to clearly state that Japanese language skills are necessary, but often, the extent to which is not clearly defined. So, in these cases, you would need to clarify what is needed and if you would need to submit proof of language abilities to immigration.

Most of the time, roles needing a high level of Japanese will clearly state that candidates should possess at least the JLPT N2 skill level, whether you have the certificate or not. But with the new revisions, you might need to submit certification to immigration. Usually, these roles involve speaking with Japanese stakeholders, which often includes external clients or business partners. In client-facing roles, you would need to engage with Japanese clients to discuss products, help with inquiries, or make recommendations. Since you often need to explain complicated details, respond to questions, and help clients make big decisions, your Japanese would need to be sharp.

“Client-facing” is not the only role needing high Japanese proficiency. A role involving internal stakeholders, where you have to speak, train, or participate in meetings with your colleagues and fellow employees, would require excellent Japanese. Also, translation and interpretation roles would need high proficiency, ideally a bi-lingual level, in Japanese as well as the target language. These roles are quite common across Japanese industries, especially with SMEs, since they often need resources for localization.

Impact on the Japanese Job Market & How to Prepare

So, what do these revisions mean for companies hiring and sponsoring foreign workers? Hiring companies will need to comply by ensuring that job descriptions clearly disclose language requirements, and the interview process will also need to thoroughly screen the candidates to determine if they actually meet the language demands of the role. 

This means if you apply for a role, you will need to submit proof of language abilities to both your job and the Japanese embassy in your home country for your COE. The Japanese job market might have a higher barrier to entry as the government now requires proof of language proficiency via certifications like the JLPT N2, and companies might become stricter about language screening. On the other hand, this change could potentially decrease the pool of candidates, making the job market in Japan less crowded. 

The Japanese government also wants to use the revisions to crack down on employers that have engaged in unfair labor practices or have harassed employees in the past. So, any companies with violations won’t be able to hire foreign employees for at least 5 years.

So, how can you prepare for getting a job in Japan that requires Japanese and showing proof of language skills for your visa? Here’s what you will need to know:

1. Start Preparing for Japanese Language Tests

While other exams and qualifications will be accepted for the gijinkoku visa, we highly recommend getting the JLPT N2. It has already been cited as sufficient for getting the visa and is considered equivalent to the CEFR B2. It is also the most accepted certification for Japanese language proficiency for companies, government agencies, and universities. Whichever exam you choose, just ensure it is considered to be equivalent to the CEFR B2 level.

To get started on preparing for the N2, consider joining JLPT prep courses at Coto Academy!

2. Get the Certificate

Once you pass the exam, you will need to be sure you download and print the certification, which you will need to submit to the Japanese embassy for your COE. Additionally, you might need to show proof of your language proficiency to the hiring company. They probably won’t ask for the certificate, since they will test your Japanese during the interview, but it might be good to have an extra copy or a digital one ready in case they ask for it.

3. Prepare for Japanese Interviews

Preparing for Japanese interviews will be just as essential as preparing for the JLPT, since you need the company to hire and sponsor you to come into Japan. While the Japanese you studied for the JLPT will be handy, it’s best to prepare specifically for Japanese job interviews by practicing responses to common interview questions, mastering your 自己紹介 (jikoshokai) or self-introduction, and brushing up your Japanese keigo. With practice, you will get the hang of how interviews work in Japanese, like interviews anywhere else, always be confident, and be yourself!

4. Apply & Submit the Documents for the COE

As mentioned, we are still getting updates on how the process will work with the new revisions. The current process generally goes as follows:

• Once you land a job, you will need to submit all necessary immigration documents to your employer
• Your employer will submit documents on your behalf for the COE
• Once you receive your COE, you go to the Japanese embassy of your home country to apply for the visa by submitting your COE, passport, and other documents.
• Once everything is approved, you will have to pick up your passport and visa
• Upon arriving in Japan, your passport will get the official visa page, and you will receive a residence card

Final Verdict: Will the JLPT N2 be Required for Working Visas?

Since the government will add language requirements for the gijinkoku visa, the JLPT N2 is probably the safest for proving your language abilities are equivalent to the CEFR B2. However, alternative documents can be used as proof as well. Additionally, the planned revisions only apply to roles with job descriptions specifically requiring Japanese language skills. It will not apply to people already in Japan who are planning to renew or change their visa residence status. 

The new revisions will be effective by April 15, 2026, but we recommend keeping an eye out for the news to stay up-to-date and inform any life-changing decisions.

If you are planning on getting a job in Japan that requires Japanese skills, we highly recommend taking our JLPT preparation courses at Coto Academy! The course will break down the exam piece by piece, allowing a chance to understand the test’s sections, structure, and questions inside and out. If you’re worried about getting the certificate to meet the new language requirements, sign up today to be sure you’re ready to pass!

FAQ:

Will you need a JLPT N2 for working in Japan?

The Engineering, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services visa is the only work visa that will start requiring language proficiency equal to CEFR B2, which is equal to the JLPT N2. However, the N2 is not the only accepted certification, and this requirement only applies to overseas applicants who will work in jobs requiring Japanese.

What visa will start requiring Japanese language skills?

Japan plans to revise language requirements for the Engineering, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services visa, which is a work visa meant for college graduates to work in jobs related to their field of study or experienced professionals.

What type of work is covered in the Engineering, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services visa?

The visa generally covers white-collar work and technical roles such as data science, software engineering, technical engineering, marketing, sales, design, creative, finance, accounting, translation, interpretation, and language education.

What language level is the JLPT N2?

The JLPT N2 is considered to be equivalent to the CEFR B2, which is the global standard measure for language proficiency. Both of these levels indicate a high level, not necessarily complete fluency, of language proficiency. By this level, you express yourself comfortably with natives and explain details of a variety of different areas in which you are knowledgeable.

Read more:

What to Know About Japan’s New Foreign Worker System Starting 2027

Tourists Can No Longer Take the JLPT Exam In Japan From 2026

The Engineer’s Guide to Breaking Into Japan’s Tech Market