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Working in Japan without Japanese, and the level you need

Can you work in Japan without speaking Japanese? Yes — there are more jobs for foreigners who speak little or no Japanese than ever before. But honestly: without Japanese the choice is narrow, the pay is often lower, and for some statuses of residence Japanese is an official requirement. Which jobs work without it, which level each visa needs, and which test to take.

Which level you need

JLPT official site

Checked against the websites of the Immigration Services Agency, the JLPT, the Japan Foundation and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on October 7, 2026 · Work visas · Japanese language schools

B2 for language-based Engineer/Specialist jobs at category 3–4 employersN2 / BJT 400

Japanese for Specified Skilled Worker (i)N4 or JFT-Basic

For Designated Activities No. 46 (Japanese university graduates)N1 / BJT 480

HSP points for N1 (10 for N2)15 points

In short

Language and work in five lines

Below we look at three jobs that foreigners often take in Japan even with basic Japanese, and what matters in each. But first — what the law says.

  • For a work visa, education or experience matter more than language. Japanese is an official requirement only in a few cases — they are listed below.
  • Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務) from April 15, 2026: for language-based work with people at a category 3 or 4 employer you need level B2 in the language you work in (for Japanese — N2 or BJT 400+).
  • Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) (i) needs Japanese — JFT-Basic (A2) or JLPT N4 — plus a skills test, unless you completed Technical Intern Training (ii), which exempts you from the Japanese test.
  • Spouses of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and long-term residents may do any job — they need Japanese only for the work itself.
  • Without Japanese the pay is usually lower and the choice smaller. The higher your level, the more vacancies you can apply for and the easier it is to change jobs.

Honestly

What a job without Japanese really means

You can find a vacancy that needs no Japanese. The questions are: on which status of residence, and with what prospects.

Job Usual status of residence Language by law What matters
English teacher at a private school or company Engineer/Specialist (international services, 国際業務) no Japanese needed A university degree or 3 years of experience; whether the B2 rule covers teaching, and what proof a native speaker needs, is not spelled out by immigration — ask the employer
Language teacher at a Japanese school Instructor (教育) no Japanese needed Work at an elementary, junior high or high school, or a similar school
IT developer with English as the working language Engineer/Specialist (engineering, 技術) no Japanese needed A relevant degree, 10 years of experience, or an IT qualification on the Ministry of Justice’s list instead of the degree
Hotel front desk, work with guests Engineer/Specialist B2 in the working language at a category 3–4 employer Simple floor work does not qualify for this status
Factory, construction, hotel, elderly care Specified Skilled Worker (i) JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 Plus a skills test for the sector; for care work also the Care Japanese test (介護日本語評価試験). In food service, new applications are currently suspended (since April 13, 2026)
Any job Spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident, long-term resident no restrictions The status does not restrict the kind of work
Part-time job Student, Dependent (家族滞在) none set Up to 28 hours a week with permission

Jobs without Japanese usually go to people whose English is native or professional and who have a degree. If your English is basic too, the realistic path is to learn Japanese: N3–N2 already widens the choice a lot. Employer categories 1–4 depend on whether the company is listed or public and on how much income tax it withholds (see the B2 rule below) — ask the employer which category it is in.

Job 1

1. Teaching English

Teaching English in Japan is, for most people, the fastest way into a job. There are few restrictions and plenty of work. You can live on an English teacher’s pay outside the most expensive areas. And because there are many vacancies for English teachers, you can often take extra classes to earn more, or move between schools and agencies as you gain experience. In a way it is like freelancing.

Not speaking Japanese can be an advantage: many employers prefer that no Japanese is used in class, especially with children.

Pay: there are no official statistics for English teachers. As a guide, the average monthly pay of foreign workers on professional and technical statuses is ¥313,200, before overtime and bonuses (MHLW wage census, 2025). More about pay: salaries in Japan.

Live within your means: transport, health care, food and utilities can be kept modest. But be careful if you have debts at home — managing money on a teacher’s salary can become stressful.

Be proactive: if your status allows it, look for corporate clients — this may need some Japanese or a strong network of referrals, but it pays better. Note: extra work outside your main job must fit your status of residence, and paid work outside it needs permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可).

Native speaker or not: since April 15, 2026, if your job is mainly language-based work with people and your employer is in category 3 or 4, immigration asks for proof of B2 in the language you work in. Its examples are translation, interpreting and front-desk work; whether a teaching job counts, and what proof a native speaker needs, is not spelled out, so ask the employer or immigration. More on the jobs and the visas: teaching English in Japan.

Job 2

2. Hospitality: hotels and restaurants

Jobs in hospitality are relatively easy to find, especially in large cities, if you are looking for a part-time job. Some key points:

Vacancies are in hotels (business and luxury), resorts, conference centers and of course izakaya, sushi bars and restaurants all over the country. Some hospitality jobs come with very good benefits, especially in tourist areas such as Hokkaido.

A little Japanese helps: some places need basic Japanese if you deal with guests. Jobs for non-Japanese staff, however, are more often tasks without customer contact. Learning Japanese opens many doors, at work and in life.

Hospitality can help you learn Japanese: working in it, you improve your Japanese over time — useful if you plan to stay in Japan long term.

It is competitive: Japan has many vocational schools for hospitality careers, so you compete with local graduates. Language skills can give you an edge, especially in roles with tourists.

Your visa in a hotel. Students and spouses on the Dependent status work in hotels and restaurants only as a part-time job — up to 28 hours a week with permission. Full-time work means either Specified Skilled Worker (a lodging skills test plus JFT-Basic or N4) or Engineer/Specialist for work with guests in a foreign language (front desk, interpreting). For the second, a category 3–4 employer needs proof of B2 in your working language since April 15, 2026. More: restaurants, hotels and retail.

Job 3

3. Working in IT

IT jobs in Japan are growing too, especially jobs that need no Japanese. Experience requirements vary: some companies hire former teachers who moved into IT through local bootcamps. Some companies recruit from abroad and set up remote work with Japanese teams.

Timing matters: sign a contract early. In Japan age can affect your job prospects, even in IT. Don’t put it off if you are serious about working in Japan, especially in tech.

Pay: IT salaries in Japan are usually lower than in the US or Western Europe, but living costs can make up for part of the difference. There are no official figures for foreign IT specialists; as a guide, the average starting salary of a Japanese university graduate is ¥262,300 a month before overtime and bonuses (MHLW, 2025); pay for IT jobs: IT jobs in Japan.

Networking: tech specialists can start networking before they move. Use platforms such as LinkedIn to connect with professionals in Japan and follow vacancies.

Experience: experience matters, but newcomers can gain it in Japan through bootcamps, meetups and associations. Find a supportive community and use every chance to learn and grow.

Your visa in IT. A developer needs the Engineer/Specialist visa: a relevant degree, 10 years of experience, or an IT qualification on the Ministry of Justice’s list instead of the degree. This status does not require Japanese. Working remotely from abroad for a Japanese team does not give you a visa for Japan; if you are already in Japan, see remote work from Japan.

Other jobs

Other jobs that often need little or no Japanese

  • Construction and manufacturing
  • Bartending
  • Writing (editing or content)
  • Recruiting
  • Reception at international clinics, law offices and similar
  • Overseas sales (exports, hotels and travel)
  • Marketing (especially e-commerce)

Check the visa before you apply. For a foreigner, construction and manufacturing usually mean Specified Skilled Worker (so JFT-Basic or N4); bartending is a student’s part-time job or work for spouses of Japanese nationals and residents (students may not work in businesses licensed under the adult entertainment law, 風俗営業, which covers many bars); editing, recruiting, marketing and overseas sales mean Engineer/Specialist with a suitable degree.

The bottom line

You can work in Japan without Japanese, but the longer you live in an English-only bubble, the harder everyday life becomes. So although a job without Japanese is possible, the richest and most interesting life in Japan includes learning the language. Many people start with a Japanese language school.

Level

Which Japanese you need for which job

The second column is what the law requires (exact); the third is what employers usually expect (a guide — every company is different).

Job or status By law What employers usually expect
Student’s part-time job none set N4–N3 for work with customers, less for kitchen and warehouse work
Specified Skilled Worker (i) JFT-Basic (A2.2, 200+ points) or JLPT N4; for care work also the Care Japanese test; not needed after Technical Intern Training (ii) N4–N3
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) no Japanese test in most fields; JLPT N3 for food service and fishery depends on the job
Engineer/Specialist: IT, engineering none set from English without Japanese to N2 — depends on the company
Engineer/Specialist: work with customers, interpreting (categories 3–4) B2: JLPT N2+ or BJT 400+, or a degree from a Japanese university or vocational college (専門学校, senmon gakkō) N2–N1
Office of a Japanese company none set N2 or higher; N1 at traditional firms
Designated Activities No. 46 (Japanese university graduates) JLPT N1 or BJT 480+ N1
Language school (for the Student visa) A1 — e.g. JLPT N5 or JFT-Basic A1 (other tests or an interview also accepted) —

What the levels mean, in the JLPT’s own words: N5 — you can read typical expressions and sentences in hiragana, katakana and basic kanji and follow everyday and classroom conversations; N4 — you can read passages on familiar daily topics in basic vocabulary and kanji and follow daily conversations spoken slowly; N3 — you can read specific everyday texts and follow conversations at near-natural speed; N2 — newspaper and magazine articles, and conversations and news at nearly natural speed in a variety of situations; N1 — logically complex and abstract writing, and lectures and news at natural speed. Full descriptions: JLPT level summary.

Tests

JLPT, BJT and JFT-Basic: which to take

Test What it tests How it is held What it is useful for
JLPT — Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験) General Japanese, levels N5–N1 Twice a year in Japan — July and December (some cities abroad hold only one of them) The best-known test; N2 = B2 for Engineer/Specialist; N1 and N2 give HSP points
BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJTビジネス日本語能力テスト) Business communication in Japanese, a score On a computer at a test center, almost every day; a retake only after 3 months BJT 400+ = B2 for Engineer/Specialist; 480+ = No. 46 and 15 HSP points
JFT-Basic — Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese Japanese for life and work; from August 2026 three bands: A1 (145–174 points), A2.1 (175–199) and A2.2 (A2, 200–250) On a computer at a test center, as a rule every month; in Japan and 13 countries — Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam Specified Skilled Worker (i) (A2.2, 200+ points, instead of N4 — A2.1 is not enough); A1 for a language school

Fees and schedules are on the official test websites and change — check there. In Japan the JFT-Basic fee is ¥10,000.

Engineer/Specialist

The CEFR B2 rule from April 15, 2026

  • Who it applies to: applications for the Engineer/Specialist status filed from April 15, 2026, if the employer is in category 3 or 4 and the work is mainly language-based work with people: interpreting, customer service, for example a hotel front desk.
  • Which language: the one you work in. If you serve guests in English, you need B2 in English; in Japanese — B2 in Japanese.
  • What counts as B2 in Japanese: JLPT N2 or higher, or a BJT score of 400+. Without a certificate, B2 is accepted for graduates of a Japanese university, college of technology (高専) or vocational college (専門学校), people who completed Japanese compulsory education and high school, and people who have lived in Japan for 20 years or more. A language-school certificate does not count.
  • If you are already in Japan: in the same job you don’t need to prove B2; if after a job change or new duties your work becomes mainly language-based, you will need the proof when you extend your period of stay.
  • Employer category: 1–2 — large and listed companies and those withholding ¥10,000,000 or more of tax a year; 3 — others that file the annual withholding report; 4 — all the rest, for example new companies.

Details: Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa.

Plan

How to get to N2

The JLPT publishes no official number of study hours per level. A realistic path looks like this:

  1. Basics up to N5Hiragana and katakana, basic grammar and words. You need A1 (JLPT N5 or JFT-Basic A1) for a language school in Japan anyway.
  2. A language school in JapanA Student visa lets you study at a language school for up to 2 years — with a part-time job of up to 28 hours a week on the side, where you use Japanese every day. Compare schools or see the long-term program.
  3. Exams on a scheduleThe JLPT is held in July and December: set a goal for every session, from N4–N3 towards N2.
  4. Japanese for workBusiness phrases, a resume and interviews in Japanese. Take the BJT if you need a result on any day, not only in July or December.

Deadlines, and what happens if you miss them

What When If you miss it
JLPT twice a year — July and December; register in advance the next attempt is half a year later
BJT almost any day at a test center a retake only after 3 months
B2 certificate for Engineer/Specialist when you apply for the visa, a change of status, or an extension after a job change without it, an application for language-based work at a category 3–4 employer does not meet the requirements

Visa

Language and your status of residence

Linked to your visa.

  • By law Japanese is needed for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (JFT-Basic or N4, unless you completed Technical Intern Training (ii)), for language-based work on the Engineer/Specialist status at a category 3–4 employer (B2) and for Designated Activities No. 46 (N1 or BJT 480+).
  • HSP points: N1 gives 15 points, N2 gives 10 — not on top of N1 or a Japanese degree (BJT 480 and 400 count the same) — see the Highly Skilled Professional visa.
  • Language does not replace education: Engineer/Specialist still needs a degree, experience or an IT qualification on the Ministry of Justice’s list that fits the job.
  • Changed to language-based work? You will need proof of B2 when you extend your period of stay.

Work visas · Engineer/Specialist · Designated Activities No. 46

FAQ

Questions about Japanese for work

Can’t find your question? Write to us — a real person replies.

Ask us a question

Can I get a job in Japan without speaking Japanese?

Yes, but the choice is narrow. Jobs without Japanese are mostly English teaching, IT in international teams, some hotel and tourism roles and work in foreign companies. They usually go to people with native or professional English and a university degree. For most other jobs, and for a better choice and pay, you need at least N3–N2.

For most work visas the law sets no language level: what matters is a degree or experience that fits the job. Japanese is required for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (JFT-Basic A2.2 or JLPT N4, unless you completed Technical Intern Training (ii)), for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) in food service and fishery (JLPT N3), for Designated Activities No. 46 (N1 or BJT 480+) and, since April 15, 2026, for language-based work with people in Japanese on the Engineer/Specialist status at category 3 or 4 employers (B2: N2 or BJT 400+).

Since April 15, 2026, if your employer is in category 3 or 4 and your work is mainly language-based work with people, such as interpreting or a hotel front desk, you must prove CEFR B2 in the language you work in. For Japanese that is JLPT N2 or higher or BJT 400+. Graduates of a Japanese university or vocational college, and a few other groups, are exempt. A language-school certificate does not count.

Possibly, but immigration does not say so clearly. The rule covers mainly language-based work with people at category 3 or 4 employers, and B2 is required in the language you work in. The Immigration Services Agency gives translation, interpreting and front-desk work as examples; it does not say whether language teaching counts or what proof a native speaker needs, so ask your employer or immigration. In the same job you already hold, nothing changes until your duties change; after a job change to such work, you need the proof when you extend your period of stay.

The JLPT is the best-known test and is used for most purposes, but it is held only in July and December. The BJT measures business Japanese, can be taken almost any day on a computer, and its scores of 400 and 480 are used by immigration. JFT-Basic is a monthly computer test for everyday Japanese; A2.2 (200 points or more) is the alternative to N4 for Specified Skilled Worker (i), while A2.1 is not enough, and it is held in Japan and 13 countries including India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Yes. JLPT N1 or BJT 480+ gives 15 points, and so does a degree from a university abroad with Japanese as the major. N2 or BJT 400+ gives 10 points, but not on top of N1 or a degree from a Japanese university.

The JLPT publishes no official hours. A common path is the basics up to N5 at home, then up to 2 years at a language school in Japan with a part-time job where you use Japanese every day, taking the JLPT in July and December from N4–N3 towards N2. It depends a lot on your native language and how much you study.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Rates, limits and deadlines on this page were checked against the official websites of the Immigration Services Agency, the JLPT, the BJT, the Japan Foundation and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on October 7, 2026. Amounts are in Japanese yen. When a rule changes we update the page and the date above.

This page is general information. Immigration decides whether you meet the language requirement of a status of residence — check the Immigration Services Agency website. Test fees and dates change: check the official test websites.

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