JLPT Results and Certificates: When They Come Out and How to Use Them
JLPT results usually come out around two months after the test. If you took the July test, expect results around late August; for the December test, around late January, though exact dates depend on where you sat the exam. Many test-takers can check their results online first, and paper documents arrive later through the local test centre. Everyone gets a score report showing their scores by section; those who pass also receive a certificate of proficiency. Here’s how to read your results and use your certificate for jobs, visas and study.
When and how results arrive
- Online results: In Japan, and in many other countries, you can view your result on the official JLPT website using your registration details. Check what your local host institution says about online results.
- Paper documents: Your score report and, if you passed, your certificate are sent by the local test centre. Outside Japan, this can take a few weeks longer than the online results.
- Keep your test voucher and registration details safe until you have your documents. You’ll need them to log in and to ask about lost post.
Always check the official JLPT website and your local host institution for this year’s dates, since they vary by country.
Reading your score report
Your report shows a scaled score for each section and a total. To pass, you need both:
- A total score at or above the pass mark for your level, and
- At least the minimum score in every section. A very low score in one section means failing overall, even with a high total.
The report also gives a rough percentage of correct answers in some sub-areas, such as vocabulary and grammar, as a reference. Use it to see where to focus next time. If you didn’t pass, see failed the JLPT? How to pass next time.
Score report vs certificate
| Document | Who gets it | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Score report | Everyone who took the test | Pass or fail, section scores and total |
| Certificate of proficiency | Those who passed | The level you passed |
| Certificate of result (on request) | Past test-takers who apply | An official confirmation of a past result, useful if you lose your documents or an employer asks for one |
Using your certificate
- Job applications: Write the level and the year passed on your résumé, for example 日本語能力試験N2 合格（2026年12月）. See how to write a rirekisho. Many employers ask for N2 or above; see what level of Japanese you need to work in Japan.
- Visas and immigration: Higher JLPT levels can count towards certain visa categories, such as points under Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional system. Check the current rules with the Immigration Services Agency.
- Study: Universities and language programmes may ask for a JLPT level for admission or placement. See studying abroad in Japan.
- Translations: If an organisation outside Japan needs your certificate translated, ask what kind of translation it accepts before you order one.
Does a JLPT certificate expire?
The certificate itself has no expiry date. In practice, some employers and schools prefer a recent result, or ask you to prove your current level in an interview. If your result is several years old and your Japanese has slipped, a refresher course before job interviews is a good idea.
What next?
Passed? Decide whether to aim for the next level or to focus on speaking, which the JLPT doesn’t test. See JLPT N2 or N1: which should you aim for? Didn’t pass? Your section scores tell you exactly where to focus. Either way, a tutor can build a plan around your score report and the next test date.