Tourists now barred from taking language proficiency test in Japan

Visitors to Japan will no longer be permitted to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test in the country beginning this year.

Japan Educational Exchanges and Services said that, as a general rule, applicants will be required to hold mid- to long-term residency or special permanent resident status under the country’s residency system. They must also indicate their residence card number along with its validity date when submitting their application, the Japan Times reported.

This marks a major change, as the test was previously open to short-term visitors and tourists on temporary visas.

The change came after issues with overseas applicants who used unauthorized Japanese addresses or provided incorrect phone numbers, making it hard to send test vouchers, official score reports, or contact examinees.

“For the proper administration of the exam, this additional eligibility condition has been introduced,” the organization told the outlet.

The change does not apply to other groups who are not required to hold residence cards, including naturalized Japanese citizens who are non-native speakers, people on provisional residence, those covered by U.S.-Japan or United Nations forces agreements, and holders of "Diplomat" or "Official" residency status.