Tourists visiting Japan will no longer be allowed to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in the country from 2026, organizations that administer the exam have announced.

The administrators said applicants in Japan will, in principle, be required to hold a mid- to long-term residence status or special permanent residency under the country¡¯s residence management system, and must provide a residence card number and expiration date when applying.

The JLPT is the largest scale Japanese-language test in the world.

It is run by Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) and the Japan Foundation, and has been used since 1984 to certify the language ability of non-native speakers, covering listening and reading. A total of 1.47 million people took the JLPT in 2024, the highest number since its introduction.

The exam is held across all 47 prefectures in Japan as well as in dozens of overseas locations, typically in July and December, though some countries conduct it only once a year. Some countries have also temporarily suspended testing, such as Wales, Portugal and Fiji.

Until 2025, anyone whose native language is not Japanese could take the exam in Japan, including short-term visitors and those on tourist visas.

But from 2026, applicants without residence cards will generally be barred, even if they are in the country at the time of the test.

JEES told The Japan Times that the change was driven by administrative problems linked to overseas applicants using Japanese addresses without permission or submitting invalid phone numbers.

These made it difficult, and in certain cases, impossible, to deliver test vouchers and official score reports to examinees or to contact them directly.

¡°For the proper administration of the exam, this additional eligibility condition has been introduced,¡± the organization said.

Under the JLPT system, applicants register through the MyJLPT portal, pay a testing fee and receive a mailed test voucher with their assigned venue. Scores are later released online, with paper score reports sent to all examinees and certificates mailed to those who pass.

While the new policy closes the door to almost all short-term visitors, organizers said several groups without residence cards will remain eligible to take the exam in Japan.

These include people who have acquired Japanese nationality but whose native language is not Japanese, individuals granted provisional stay in Japan, those covered by U.S.-Japan and United Nations forces agreements, and holders of ¡°Diplomat¡± or ¡°Official¡± residence statuses.