One of the most common questions Nexora receives is: "I have N4 — is that enough for Tokutei?" The short answer is yes, on paper — but reality is more complicated.
What is the JLPT and why does it matter?
The JLPT (日本語能力試験 — Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) is the international standard Japanese proficiency exam, administered by the Japan Foundation and JEES. It is held twice a year in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (July and December).
The levels, from lowest to highest: N5 → N4 → N3 → N2 → N1
The minimum JLPT level for each purpose
- N5: Understands simple sentences, ~800 words — Not sufficient for any work visa
- N4: Basic communication, ~1,500 words — Sufficient for Tokutei Ginou (alternative: JFT-Basic)
- N3: Practical listening comprehension, ~3,750 words — Ideal for workers, and necessary for many office roles
- N2: Reads complex documents — Required for the Engineer/Specialist visa and for coordinator roles at Japanese companies
- N1: Near-native — Management positions, interpreting, and fully Japanese-speaking workplaces
Is N4 enough? A realistic assessment
Case 1: Jobs with little communication (factories, agriculture)
N4 is usually enough. The work is mainly hands-on and colleagues will show you what to do. You need to understand safety instructions and communicate basic points with your supervisor. Many people with N4 do well in factories in Aichi and Gifu.
Case 2: Food service and hotels
N4 is just barely enough, and it will be hard going. Japanese customers speak quickly and use complex polite language (keigo). We recommend reaching N3 before you go.
Case 3: Nursing care (介護)
N4 is the minimum, but in practice care facilities usually require N3 or above, because you must communicate with elderly residents and understand their health needs and condition.
JFT-Basic is the faster route
If you want to go soon and do not yet have N4, JFT-Basic (the Japan Foundation Test) is the better option:
- Computer-based, with results immediately after the test
- Held more often than the JLPT (in some places monthly)
- Focused on practical communication rather than the JLPT's academic approach
- Accepted in place of N4 for every Tokutei Ginou industry
JLPT test dates in Vietnam, 2024–2025
- Session 1, 2024: 7 July 2024 — passed
- Session 2, 2024: 1 December 2024 — registration opens in September
- Session 1, 2025: July 2025 — registration opens in April
Nexora's advice: If you are at N5, aim for N4 and JFT-Basic in parallel (roughly 4–6 months of study). If you are already at N4, push on to N3 before you leave — you will have far more options and much less of a shock when you arrive in Japan.