Do You Need N5 to Enter a Japanese Language School? How Japanese Ability (A1 Level) Is Confirmed at Admission, and How Tests and Interviews Work

Before applying to a Japanese language school, many people wonder, "Can I get in if I have not studied any Japanese at all?" and "Do I need JLPT N5?" To put it simply, what the Immigration Services Agency checks is not "that you have passed N5" itself. If you enter a Japanese language institution and study under the "Student" status of residence, the system is that your Japanese ability at the A1 level or above is confirmed either by a test certificate or by an interview. This guide explains that system and how to prepare.

We checked the official pages listed below on 13 November 2026. How the system is applied can change, and conditions differ by school. Before you apply, always check the application guidelines of the school you want to attend and the latest guidance from the Immigration Services Agency. This guide does not guarantee admission or a visa.

First, what to know

• The Immigration Services Agency confirms, by a test or an interview, that people entering a Japanese language institution have Japanese ability at or above A1 of the "Japanese Language Education Reference Framework."
• JLPT N5 is one of the tests accepted as A1 level or above. Other tests are also accepted.
• Even without a test certificate, the confirmation can be made if the school judges at an interview that you are at the A1 level or above.
• The school carries out the confirmation, and the method is written in a document (the various confirmation forms). Schools may add their own admission conditions.
• This confirmation became mandatory for applications for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from students expected to enter in October 2026 or later, and for applications to extend the period of stay or change status of residence from 1 July 2026 (Immigration Services Agency).

What level of Japanese is A1?

The "Japanese Language Education Reference Framework" is a standard that shows Japanese ability in six levels, from A1 to C2. A1 is the most basic level. The Immigration Services Agency asks people entering a Japanese language institution for this A1 level or above.

This confirmation is described as one guide for judging a person's intention and ability to study in Japan. A Japanese language school is a place where you will learn Japanese, but at the time of admission you are expected to have an introductory level of ability.

Which tests are accepted?

The Immigration Services Agency's page lists the following two tests as proof of A1 level or above.

• Being certified at A1 or above in the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic).
• Being certified at N5 or above in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).

In addition, "for the time being," several tests are listed as regarded as A1 level or above. The table below shows some of them. The official page also lists the STBJ Standard Business Japanese Test (350 points or more), the JPT Japanese Proficiency Test (315 points or more) and JPT Elementary test (68 points or more), and the Japanese Online Test (JT5 or above), among others.

The condition "for the time being" also applies. The list can change, so before you take a test, check on the Immigration Services Agency's latest page whether that test and score are listed. The tests you can take and the venues may be limited depending on your country or region. Check the test dates, how to apply and the fees on the official website of each organizer.

If you have no test, the school confirms by interview

If you have no test certificate, there is a method in which the school holds an interview and confirms whether you are at the A1 level or above. The Immigration Services Agency's Q&A (as of 19 May 2026) says the following.

• If the school judges at an interview that you are at the A1 level or above, "150 hours or more of Japanese study history" is not required.
• However, the school must write specifically on the confirmation forms "how it judged that the person is at the A1 level or above" at the interview. An interview record may be attached.
• The judgment is to confirm that the person is at a level that could pass an A1-level test. As an example of an appropriate method, it mentions giving 10 questions, either from a test or of the same level, and checking from the rate of correct answers whether the person is at or above the minimum passing level.

As an example of what to write, the Immigration Services Agency asks schools to state specifically that they confirmed by an objective method, such as "A1-level questions were given in Japanese, and the person answered X of X questions correctly (the selection standard is X correct answers)." It also asks schools to confirm Japanese ability by interview as far as possible even for people who have a test certificate. In other words, an interview is not something that ends with "we talked, and it seemed fine." The format of the interview (in person or online, and what you are asked) differs by school. Ask the school when you apply.

Is 150 hours of study history alone not enough?

Until now, 150 hours or more of Japanese study history could be used to show Japanese ability at the A1 level or above. The Immigration Services Agency says that after the effective dates described above, confirmation by a test certificate or an interview will be mandatory. A record of study hours remains as one item to write on the confirmation form, but it does not replace a test or an interview.

A record of Japanese study may be written in the "document check" column of the confirmation form. The Immigration Services Agency's Q&A says that even if this column is blank, that alone is not taken as a reason to doubt the person's Japanese ability. On the other hand, it also says it is desirable to confirm Japanese ability by multiple methods where possible. Your study history can help in an interview with the school and in your explanation when you apply. If you studied on your own, you may also write the period and hours you studied.

Conditions differ by school

Separately from the confirmation required for a "Student" status of residence application, a school may set its own admission conditions. Study in Japan (JASSO) also says that features and admission requirements differ by school and advises contacting the school you want to attend. Check the following points in the application guidelines or by asking.

• Is a Japanese test certificate required, or only desirable?
• If you have no test, does the school hold an interview? When and how is it held?
• Is a certificate of study history required?
• Do the conditions or deadlines differ for each intake (April, July, October, January, etc.)?

For how to make first contact with a school, there are example messages in "How to apply to Japanese language schools without an agent."

Should you take N5?

Whether N5 is "required" depends on the school and on your situation. Even so, taking it as preparation can help in the following ways.

• With a test certificate, it is easier for the school to confirm your Japanese ability.
• It becomes easier to follow classes after you enter.
• It is easier to explain your own Japanese ability at an interview.

Preparing for the test and the differences between levels N1 to N5 are explained in the JLPT guide. When you move on to a university or vocational school after a Japanese language school, you take classes in Japanese, so Japanese ability at B2 or above of the "Japanese Language Education Reference Framework" is required (Immigration Services Agency). The A1 at admission is the starting point of that long road. When choosing a school, also look at whether it has classes that fit your goals for further study or work. For paths after a Japanese language school, also see How to go on to a university or vocational school after a language school.

Within the flow up to applying

The check of Japanese ability takes place at the very beginning of the flow from applying to a school to applying for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE). If you are confirmed by a test certificate, the school submits that certificate with the residence-status application documents. People from the countries and regions in the appendix table published by the Immigration Services Agency who have graduated from a foreign university or similar are not required to prove their Japanese ability. Check with the Immigration Services Agency's page and your school whether this applies to you. The overall flow of the COE and the student visa is summarized in the COE and student visa guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I enter a Japanese language school without studying any Japanese?

The Immigration Services Agency confirms, by a test or an interview, that people entering have Japanese ability at the A1 level or above. Whether you can apply without having studied at all differs by school. Before you apply, start introductory study such as hiragana, and ask the school you want to attend what preparation it requires.

Can I not apply unless I have passed JLPT N5?

Passing N5 is not always required. If you have no test certificate, there is a method in which the school judges at an interview that you are at the A1 level or above. However, some schools do ask for a test certificate. Check the application guidelines.

Is a test other than N5 acceptable?

The Immigration Services Agency's page lists JFT-Basic (A1 or above) and JLPT (N5 or above), and, "for the time being," several other tests regarded as A1 level or above. Before you take a test, check whether that test and score are listed on the latest page, and whether the school you want to attend accepts that certificate.

If I study 150 hours, do I not need a test or an interview?

Previously, 150 hours or more of study history could be used to show it, but the Immigration Services Agency says that after the effective dates, confirmation by a test certificate or an interview will be mandatory. Study hours are one item written on the confirmation form, but they do not replace a test or an interview. Ask the school which method it will use to confirm.

What will I be asked at the interview?

It differs by school. The Immigration Services Agency's Q&A does not set out the interview procedure in detail, but it asks for confirmation by an objective measure. It is safer to prepare so that you can give a simple self-introduction and answer basic questions.

What to do next

While you start studying Japanese, compare intake times, costs and locations in the list of Japanese language schools. The points to consider when choosing are summarized in How to choose a Japanese language school. You can contact schools, but this site does not guarantee admission or a visa. This site is free to use.