Japan revised its Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence on 1 October 2026.
One of the new points concerns Japanese-language ability.
From 1 April 2027, the Immigration Services Agency will consider whether a permanent residence applicant has Japanese ability equivalent to B1 level under the Japanese Language Education Framework.
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What does B1 mean?
B1 is an intermediate level of Japanese.
In practical terms, it generally means being able to understand the main points of everyday communication and deal with familiar situations in daily life and work.
For reference, under the JLPT’s CEFR mapping, B1 generally corresponds to either a passing N3 score of 104 or above, or an N2 score in the 90–111 range.
However, this mapping is only a general reference. The JLPT primarily assesses language knowledge, reading and listening, and does not directly assess speaking or writing.
The important point is that the revised guideline refers to B1-equivalent ability, rather than requiring every applicant to hold one specific Japanese-language qualification.
Does everyone need B1-level Japanese?
No.
The guideline states that B1-level Japanese will not necessarily be considered in every case.
For example, exceptions may apply to:
- certain highly skilled foreign professionals and their family members;
- applicants who have completed at least six years of primary or secondary education in Japan; and
- certain children of permanent residents born in Japan, where the parent raising the child has B1-level Japanese ability.
Therefore, the new rule should not be understood as a universal requirement that every applicant must pass a particular Japanese-language examination.
When does this apply?
The Japanese-language provision will generally apply to permanent residence applications submitted on or after 1 April 2027.
Applicants planning to apply from that date onwards should therefore consider their Japanese-language ability as part of their preparation.
What should applicants do?
The key point is that Japanese-language ability will become a formal consideration in permanent residence applications from April 2027.
However, whether the requirement applies, and how B1-equivalent ability should be demonstrated, may depend on the applicant’s individual circumstances.
If you are unsure whether this requirement applies to you, or how your Japanese ability may be assessed, please feel free to contact our office to discuss your situation.
This article is based on the Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and revised on 1 October 2026.