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On September 30, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency announced “Regarding the Start Date for Confirmation of Japanese Language Proficiency Level ‘B1 or Higher’.” This is the first time a specific date has been provided for when Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals will be required to have Japanese language proficiency equivalent to B1 or higher according to the “Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education.”
The conclusion is that B1 or higher proficiency will be required for Applications for Certificate of Eligibility filed on or after April 1, 2027. However, for Applications for Change of Status of Residence and Applications for Extension of Period of Stay filed within Japan, it is “currently under consideration” and has not yet been decided.
The target groups are Specified Skilled Worker (ii) foreign nationals, and for Specified Skilled Worker (i), those in the job categories of bus transportation and taxi transportation (automobile transportation industry) and transportation staff (railway industry). This article will clarify what has been decided and what remains undecided in this announcement, for both foreign nationals and personnel in accepting companies.
The content of this announcement is summarized by application type as follows:
| Target | Application for Certificate of Eligibility (calling from overseas) | Application for Change of Status of Residence / Application for Extension of Period of Stay (within Japan) |
|---|---|---|
| Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (all sectors) | B1 or higher proficiency required for applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 | Currently under consideration (to be announced later) |
| Specified Skilled Worker (i): Automobile Transportation Industry (bus transportation / taxi transportation categories) | B1 or higher proficiency required for applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 | Currently under consideration (to be announced later) |
| Specified Skilled Worker (i): Railway Industry (transportation staff category) | B1 or higher proficiency required for applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 | Currently under consideration (to be announced later) |
For Applications for Certificate of Eligibility for Specified Skilled Worker (ii), the reason given is that a part of the “Ministerial Ordinance Specifying the Criteria under Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” (the so-called Landing Criteria Ordinance) will be revised and come into effect on April 1, 2027.
💡 Key Point: What has been decided this time mainly concerns the timing for newly calling individuals from overseas (Certificate of Eligibility). The handling of cases where individuals already in Japan change from (i) to (ii), or when renewing a (ii) Status of Residence, has not yet been decided.
The Basic Policy for the Specified Skilled Worker system and the Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD) system, decided by the Cabinet on March 11, 2025, stipulates the following for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) foreign nationals:
This announcement specifies the ‘start date for confirmation’. Furthermore, for Specified Skilled Worker (i), the basic policy indicates that A2 equivalent or higher is the standard.
As of October 3, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency’s sector-specific pages show that the Japanese language requirements for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) vary by sector.
This means that even in sectors where a Japanese language test was not previously required, B1 equivalent or higher will be necessary for Application for Certificate of Eligibility from April 1, 2027, onwards.
⚠️ Note: This announcement does not specify which test or score will be used to confirm B1 equivalent or higher. The basic policy states that it will be ‘confirmed by tests, etc., specified in the sector-specific operational policy’. If you plan to apply for Specified Skilled Worker (ii), please check for further updates for each sector.
According to the announcement, following the Cabinet decision on January 23, 2026, regarding the sector-specific operational policies for the Specified Skilled Worker system and the Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD), the Japanese language proficiency level for the following job categories has been changed from ‘Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N3 or higher)‘ to ‘B1 equivalent or higher‘.
For these two categories as well, B1 equivalent or higher will be required for Application for Certificate of Eligibility from April 1, 2027, onwards. Application for Change of Status of Residence and Application for Extension of Period of Stay are ‘currently under consideration’.
| Sector / Job Category | Japanese Language Test Listed on Sector Page |
|---|---|
| Railway sector (Transport Staff) | ‘Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) B1 equivalent or higher’ or ‘Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N3 or higher (only if assessed as CEFR B1 equivalent or higher)’ |
| Railway sector (4 categories other than Transport Staff) | JFT-Basic A2.2 equivalent or higher or JLPT N4 or higher |
| Automobile Transport sector (Taxi/Bus) | Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N3 or higher) |
| Automobile Transport sector (Truck) | Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese or Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N4 or higher) |
The railway sector page already specifically indicates the tests to confirm B1 equivalent or higher. It is noteworthy that passing JLPT N3 alone is not sufficient; it is ‘only if assessed as CEFR B1 equivalent or higher’.
On the other hand, the table on the automobile transport sector page remains ‘Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N3 or higher)’ as of October 3, 2026. For specific tests to confirm B1 equivalent or higher, it will be necessary to check future updates to the sector pages and operational guidelines.
📌 [Update, October 25, 2026] The Immigration Services Agency has since updated its automobile transport sector page (the version “as of October 9, 2026”). For taxis and buses, the Japanese-language column now reads “Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) (N3 or higher) (only if assessed as CEFR B1 equivalent or higher),” with the note that B1 equivalent or higher is required but its handling will be announced separately. In addition, “Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) A2.2 equivalent” or “Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) (N4)” is accepted only where the accepting organization has taken the measures listed under “conditions specifically imposed on accepting organizations” on that page: condition 9 (preparing a Japanese language learning plan) plus condition 10 (having a person who assists communication with passengers and others ride along); for buses, condition 11, a measure for routes in remote island and peninsula areas, may be used instead of condition 10. However, the operational guidelines list “the work is not chartered bus work” as the first requirement for this route, so chartered bus drivers need B1 equivalent or higher. For details, please see Taxi and Bus Drivers under SSW: Japanese B1 or A2.2 + Conditions.
💡 Key Point: The truck transport category is not included in this change.
In this announcement, for both Specified Skilled Worker (ii) and (i), it is stated that Application for Change of Status of Residence and Application for Extension of Period of Stay are “currently under consideration and will be announced later.”
In practice, the following individuals fall into the category where procedures have not yet been decided:
At present, it is not stated whether B1 will be required for changes/extensions or if it will remain unnecessary. It is realistic to wait for further announcements and make early plans for Japanese language study and examination taking, rather than stopping preparations based on speculation or rushing into action.
There are times when applications for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test are concentrated. For information on how to choose a test and alternative tests, please refer to “Surge in Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Applications | Alternative Tests by Status of Residence.”
Those planning to come to Japan from overseas as Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
Those wishing to work as bus/taxi drivers or railway transport staff
Those working as Specified Skilled Worker (i) in Japan and aiming for Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
For the differences between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii) themselves, please refer to “Differences between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii) | Explanation of the latest target fields in 2026.”
The announcement states that B1 equivalent or higher will be required for “applications on or after April 1, 2027.” For applications before that date, the requirements for each field at that time are likely to apply. However, please check the latest information for the requirements of individual fields at the time of application.
The handling of Application for Extension of Period of Stay is “currently under consideration and will be announced later,” and has not been decided at this time. Please check for further announcements from the Immigration Services Agency.
Not uniformly. For example, for transport staff in the railway sector, JLPT N3 or higher is stated to be “limited to cases where B1 equivalent or higher of CEFR is determined.” The specific test and result required for confirmation are determined by each sector, so please check the sector’s description.
The announcement this time states that the categories for Specified Skilled Worker (i) are the bus transport and taxi transport categories within the automobile transport industry, and the transport staff category within the railway sector. The truck transport category is not included.
The basic policy for the Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD) states that a Japanese proficiency equivalent to A2 or higher is generally required by the end of the Employment for Skill Development. This is a different standard from the B1 equivalent or higher for Specified Skilled Worker (ii). The overall picture of the Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD) is explained in “What is the Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD)? Explaining the differences from Technical Intern Training, starting April 2027.”
💴 Estimated Fees: Support fees for Application for Certificate of Eligibility, Application for Change of Status of Residence, etc., for Specified Skilled Worker are listed in the “Fee Schedule.”
As an Administrative Scrivener Corporation in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, our office assists with Status of Residence procedures, including Specified Skilled Worker.
Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.
📞 To book a phone consultation: 0985-68-0851
Before you submit, let us take a look.
Free Immigration Pre-Submission Check ›
For those who will apply for a status of residence at the Immigration Services Bureau by themselves. Before you submit, we check your application form and supporting documents and tell you about any missing documents and points to watch. We accept checks online (Google Meet, about 20 minutes) or via LINE.
・Eligible: applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay (applications for permanent residence are accepted only from residents of Miyazaki Prefecture). Naturalization is not covered.
・Online (Google Meet): once per application. Replies via LINE: available for the same application until you submit it.
・Our guideline for replies via LINE is, in principle, within 2 business days (we are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; replies may take longer when we are busy).
・Please send copies of your documents by LINE or email. For your residence card, send the front side only; please do not send the side showing your My Number.
・What we tell you is our office’s opinion. It does not guarantee approval; the outcome depends on the decision of the Immigration Services Bureau.
・We only point out missing documents and points to watch. We do not prepare or rewrite your application documents for you or draft text for them, and we do not tell you whether your application is likely to be approved (if you would like to engage us, we will introduce the Self-Prep Course, the Light Plan and the Standard Plan).
・If we find that a document contains information that is not true, or that the application is not your own (or a family member’s), we will decline the check.
This article is written based on publicly available information as of October 2026. The Japanese language proficiency requirements and confirmation methods for Specified Skilled Worker are determined by each sector through sector-specific operational policies and guidelines, and may be subject to change or addition in the future. The handling of Application for Change of Status of Residence and Application for Extension of Period of Stay is stated to be under consideration at the time of writing this article. For actual applications, please confirm with official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.
Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
