JLPT Philippines: Where, When, Fees and How to Register
How to take the JLPT in the Philippines: host institutions in Manila, Cebu and Davao, fees by level, the application window, results, and JFT-Basic for SSW.
Information only, not legal advice. Verify with the DMW and the Embassy of Japan before you act.
Key Takeaways
- In the Philippines, you register for the JLPT through the official JFMO application site, and the application window is short. The window for the December 2026 test ran from August 25 to September 7, so it is already closed.
- The December 2026 fee is P 2,200 for N1 and N2, and P 1,800 for N3, N4 and N5. You pay the fee, then upload your payment slip or official receipt in the application form. Always check the fee on the newest announcement.
- For SSW (the Specified Skilled Worker visa), the JLPT is one of two choices: you need JLPT N4 or higher, or JFT-Basic.
What the JLPT is and who runs it in the Philippines
The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) measures the Japanese skills of people whose first language is not Japanese. It has five levels, from N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest). The Japan Foundation and the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) run the test.
In the Philippines, the Japan Foundation Manila (JFMO) publishes the official announcement for each test. In each city, applications and the test are handled by a local host institution. A host institution is the local organization that takes your application and runs the test in that city.
The official JLPT FAQ tells overseas applicants to contact the local host institution in their city before they apply. Do this first. Your host institution is the one to ask about anything the website does not answer.
Where you can take it: Manila, Cebu and Davao
JFMO lists three test cities for N1 to N5, each with its own host institution. The official overseas list also shows Manila, Cebu and Davao for both the July and December tests. Cagayan de Oro is on that list, but it shows no test in July or December.
| City | Host institution | Address listed by JFMO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manila | The Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation, Inc. (PJFF) | 6th Floor, Electra House Building, 115-117 Esteban Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City | pjff.jlpt.manila@gmail.com, jlpt.manila@pjff.ph |
| Cebu | Japanese Association Cebu, Inc. (JAC) | 5th/F Clotilde Commercial Center, M. L. Quezon Ave, Casuntingan, Mandaue City, 6014 Cebu | jac.jlpt.cebu@gmail.com |
| Davao | Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (MKD) | Angliongto Ave., Lanang, Davao City | mkd.jlpt.davao@gmail.com |
The Davao host also lists these phone numbers: (082) 233-0013, (082) 233-0081 and (082) 285-6146.
These are the host institutions' addresses. The room where you sit the test may be announced separately, so check your admission documents and your host institution's notice. We do not list exam rooms here for that reason.
When the test is held
The JLPT is held twice a year, in July and in December. For 2026, the official dates are July 5 and December 6, both Sundays.
The December 6, 2026 test is the second 2026 test. The 2027 dates, fees and application periods were still not announced yet, as shown on the JFMO page when we checked on October 9, 2026. Watch the JFMO JLPT page for the next announcement, and do not trust a date that is only a guess.
Fees by level and how long each test takes
These fees are for the December 2026 test. The difference between the two groups is P 400.
| Level | Fee (December 2026) | Language knowledge and reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|
| N1 | P 2,200.00 | 110 min | 55 min |
| N2 | P 2,200.00 | 105 min | 50 min |
| N3 | P 1,800.00 | 30 min (vocabulary) and 70 min (grammar and reading) | 40 min |
| N4 | P 1,800.00 | 25 min (vocabulary) and 55 min (grammar and reading) | 35 min |
| N5 | P 1,800.00 | 20 min (vocabulary) and 40 min (grammar and reading) | 30 min |
The times can change, and the listening time varies a little with the length of the recording. Fees can also change from test to test, so read the fee on the current announcement before you pay.
You cannot take only some sections. You must take every section to get a pass or fail result, and you cannot retake just the section you missed.
Which level to choose
Here is what each level means, based on the official level summary.
- N5: You can understand basic Japanese to some degree. This includes hiragana, katakana and basic kanji, and slow, short conversations.
- N4: You can understand basic Japanese. You can read short texts on familiar topics written with basic words and kanji, and follow slow everyday conversation.
- N3: You can understand Japanese used in everyday situations to some degree. It links the easier levels (N4 and N5) and the harder levels (N1 and N2).
- N2: You can understand everyday Japanese and Japanese in a wider range of situations.
- N1: You can understand Japanese used in a wide range of situations, including abstract and complex writing such as newspaper editorials.
How to register, step by step
The application window is the part that catches people. The window for the December 6, 2026 test ran from August 25, 10:00 a.m. to September 7, 11:59 p.m., a total of 13 days. JFMO also warns that if there are too many applicants, registration may close without notice before the deadline. So do not wait for the last day.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Contact your local host institution (Manila, Cebu or Davao) before you apply. |
| 2 | Watch the JFMO JLPT page for the application period of the test you want. |
| 3 | When the window opens, go to the application site at https://jlpt-apply.jfmo.org.ph/ and fill in the form. |
| 4 | Pay the registration fee for your level, the way the form explains. |
| 5 | Upload your payment slip or your Official Receipt in the form to finish the application. |
A payment slip is the paper or file that shows you paid. An Official Receipt is the receipt issued by the host institution. These are the only two documents the JFMO page lists. The page says the ways to pay are explained inside the application form, so follow the form and not advice from other people.
If you need a Special Testing Accommodation (STA), apply online first and then contact your host institution right away about the process. STA means special test arrangements for people who need them, such as people with disabilities.
As of October 9, 2026, the December 6 application has already ended. If you missed it, wait for the next announcement on the JFMO page and check your host institution's notice.
After the test: results and certificates
Everyone who takes the test gets a Score Report. People who pass also get a Certificate of Proficiency. A Score Report is the notice of your scores. A Certificate of Proficiency is the paper that proves you passed.
To pass, you need two things: the overall pass mark and the minimum mark in each score section. The overall score is out of 180, and the pass marks are:
- N1: 100 points
- N2: 90 points
- N3: 95 points
- N4: 90 points
- N5: 80 points
For the section minimums, N1, N2 and N3 each have three sections worth 60 points, and you need at least 19 points in each. N4 and N5 have two sections. You need at least 38 out of 120 in "language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar) and reading", and at least 19 out of 60 in listening. If you skip a section, that level shows no score for it and you fail.
For overseas applicants, the Score Report is sent through the local host institution, around October for a July test and around March for a December test. If it has not arrived by the end of that month, contact the host institution in the city where you took the test. Some places also let you check results online for a limited time. For the July 2026 test, online results could be viewed from August 27 to October 31 (Japan time), and the dates and the content you can see depend on where you took the test.
A few more points from the official pages:
- The JLPT certificate never expires, but a company or school may set its own time limit.
- If your name or birth date is wrong, it can be corrected only if you report it within one year of the test date (for overseas applicants).
- Starting with the December 2025 test, the Score Report shows a reference CEFR level. CEFR is a European scale that describes language ability from A1 to C2.
- Reissuing a certificate or score certificate costs money.
JLPT or JFT-Basic for SSW?
SSW (Specified Skilled Worker) is a Japanese visa for jobs in sectors that need more workers. For SSW (i), you need a skills test for your sector, which tests job skills. You also need a Japanese test: either JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher.
The two tests work differently. The JLPT is held twice a year, with a short application window and a Score Report that arrives months later. JFT-Basic is the Japan Foundation's basic Japanese test: in the Philippines it costs PHP 2,010 (as of September 2026), takes about 60 minutes on a computer, and a score of 200 or higher means A2. Read JFT-Basic Explained: What A2 Means and How to Pass It for the full details. To book it yourself, see How to Apply for JFT-Basic and Skills Tests Yourself (No Fixers).
Some cases are different. Nursing care needs JLPT N4 plus the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test. Taxi, bus and railway work needs N3 or higher. People who finished Technical Intern Training (No. 2) in good standing are exempt from these tests, but they need the skills test if they change sectors. For the full list, see SSW Japan Requirements for Filipinos (2026): Full Checklist. You can also find more test information on our /tests page.
FAQ
Q: Can I still register for the JLPT in the Philippines this year?
No, the application for the December 6, 2026 test ended on September 7, 2026. The JLPT is held in July and December, and Manila, Cebu and Davao are listed for both months. But the 2027 dates, fees and application period had not been announced on the JFMO page when we checked on October 9, 2026. Watch the JFMO page and ask your host institution.
Q: How much does the JLPT cost in the Philippines?
For the December 2026 test, it was P 2,200 for N1 and N2 and P 1,800 for N3, N4 and N5. The fee for later tests has not been announced, so check the current announcement before you pay.
Q: Is the JLPT the only Japanese test I can use for SSW?
No, for SSW (i) you can pass JFT-Basic instead of JLPT N4 or higher. Nursing care and some transport jobs have extra rules, so check your sector on the official SSW site before you choose a test.
Summary
The JLPT in the Philippines runs through local host institutions in Manila, Cebu and Davao, with the application made on the JFMO site during a short window. The December 2026 window is closed, and the 2027 details are not announced yet. For SSW, JLPT N4 and JFT-Basic both count, so pick the one whose dates fit your plan.
Sources
- JFMO JLPT page (Japan Foundation Manila): https://jfmo.org.ph/jlpt/
- JFMO JLPT application site: https://jlpt-apply.jfmo.org.ph/
- JLPT official site: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/
- JLPT overseas test cities list: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/overseas_list.html
- JLPT FAQ: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/faq/index.html
- JLPT test sections and times: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/guideline/testsections.html
- JLPT level summary: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/about/levelsummary.html
- JLPT pass or fail and score reports: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/guideline/results.html
- JLPT online results and delivery: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/guideline/results_online.html
- Specified Skilled Worker support site (Immigration Services Agency of Japan): https://www.ssw.go.jp/en/about/step/
About this guide
Free, honest guide to working and studying in Japan
- ●Every rule is checked against DMW and Immigration Services Agency sources
- ●Written in plain English, with Tagalog where it matters
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