Not September 7: Registration in Japan for the December 2026 JLPT N3, N4 and N5 Has Already Closed

Anyone planning to take the December 2026 Japanese-Language Proficiency Test should check their application status immediately.

Wasn’t the deadline supposed to be September 7?

The originally published application period for the second JLPT in Japan in 2026 was from August 24 until 5:00 p.m. on September 7.

In practice, applications for N3, N4 and N5 closed at noon on August 27—only about three days after registration opened and more than 11 days before the scheduled deadline. The examination will be held on December 6, 2026.

JEES had already warned that the rapid increase in applicants was making it difficult to secure enough test sites. It stated that registration could close during the official application period if venue capacity became unavailable.

Any website, social-media post or FAQ that still says “all JLPT levels can be registered for until September 7” or “N3, N4 and N5 are currently open” is now out of date and should be corrected immediately.

What should N3, N4 and N5 applicants do now?

Applicants who have already completed both registration and payment can continue preparing for the examination as planned.

People who still hope to take N3 should monitor the official JEES “Important News” page. Registration may reopen in Tokyo or Osaka, but there is no guarantee that it will happen or that enough places will become available.

The current official notice does not mention additional registration for N4 or N5. Applicants should be cautious about unofficial claims of “extra places” and should not pay unknown third parties for supposed application services.

N1 and N2 applicants should not wait until September 7

N1 and N2 are not included in the August 27 closure notice.

Their published application deadline remains 5:00 p.m. on September 7. However, JEES has warned that registration may close within the application period because of test-site availability.

A published final date does not guarantee that seats will remain available until that date. Applicants should complete the MyJLPT application and payment as soon as possible rather than simply creating an account and postponing the final steps.

After N2, BJT is another possible route

For learners whose goal is not only a JLPT certificate but also employment in a Japanese company, business communication, meetings, telephone calls, email, keigo and understanding indirect workplace language, the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test can provide a separate practical route.

The BJT is not an automatic substitute for JLPT N1 or N2 in every situation, and the two tests do not measure exactly the same abilities.

The BJT measures current communicative proficiency in Japanese business settings, including the ability to process information and respond appropriately. Its result is reported on a continuous scale from 0 to 800 rather than as a single overall pass or fail.

N2 applicants should first complete their current JLPT application. They can then use a BJT assessment and a 10-day, 30-day or 90-day business-Japanese plan to connect exam study with practical workplace goals.

Studying for work in a Japanese company? See how the BJT differs from the JLPT

What to do now

• N1 or N2 applicants should complete their application immediately instead of waiting for the final date.
• N3 applicants should monitor JEES for a possible reopening in Tokyo or Osaka.
• People who missed N3, N4 or N5 should continue studying and select their next examination or learning route according to their actual goals for daily life, work, immigration or education.

The central lesson from this early closure is simple:

An application deadline is the latest possible date. It is not a guarantee that places will remain available until that date.

For decisions involving examinations, immigration or education, always check the latest official information.