JLPT vs JFT-Basic vs NAT

Last checked: 2026-11-06

Take the JLPT if you need the widely listed N-level, the JFT-Basic if you need a fast A1 to A2 result for life or work in Japan, and check first before you rely on the NAT. All three test Japanese, but they differ in schedule, range and official uses.

The three tests compared

	JLPT	JFT-Basic	NAT-TEST
Range	N5 to N1	A1, A2.1 and A2.2 (A2)	Levels 5 to 1
Format	Paper, multiple choice	Computer, about 50 questions in 60 minutes	Paper. Computer sessions also exist
How often	Twice a year, once in some cities	Monthly, as a rule	More than 12 times a year*
Fee in Japan	7,500 yen	10,000 yen	6,000 yen
Results	About two months	On screen after the test, official notice within 5 business days	Not checked
Does it expire?	Never	No, but the data is kept online for 5 years	Not checked
Retakes	At the next test	After 45 days. Not allowed once you score 200 or more	Not checked
Listed on the JLPT advantages page	Yes	No	No

*From the NAT April 2026 results summary. It says level 1 runs three times a year (February, June and October), and that this may change by test center. NAT's older English about page still says six times a year. Fees: JLPT for July 2026, JFT-Basic as listed by Prometric, NAT for the Tokyo site. All were seen on the date above.

JFT-Basic fees outside Japan

Country	Fee
Indonesia	IDR 550,000
Philippines	PHP 2,010
Vietnam	VND 870,000
India	INR 3,540 gross
Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Uzbekistan	USD 36

The test also runs in Bangladesh, Japan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. If your country is not on this list, you cannot take it at home. Japanese nationals cannot take it, and Indonesian and Myanmar nationals have age limits.

How close is NAT to the JLPT?

Very close by design. NAT says each level corresponds to the JLPT level with the same number. When we compared the two official pages, the overall pass marks matched at every level (100, 90, 95, 90 and 80). The section times we checked for levels 1 to 5 matched as well.

But that link is NAT's own statement. The JLPT advantages page does not mention NAT, and a NAT result is not a JLPT result. If a school or agency asks for "N2", ask whether it accepts NAT level 2 before you pay. Paid NAT fees in Japan are not refunded, and you can change the date once.

What the official pages say about visas

Specified Skilled Worker (i): JLPT N4 or higher meets the language rule. Prometric says this exempts you from the JFT-Basic for that status. The JFT-Basic can also be used for it. Check which level your program requires.
Employment for Skill Development: the JFT-Basic can be used. Prometric says JLPT N5 or higher gives an exemption for "Training and Employment", which appears to be the same status under another English name.
Student status at a Japanese language school: the JFT-Basic can be used, and JLPT N5 or higher meets the language rule.

Passing does not guarantee a visa. See which JLPT level you need for Japan.

Which test should you take?

This is our own decision rule.

You need N2 or N1: take the JLPT, since the JFT-Basic stops at A2. See what each level means.
You need A2 by a near date: look at the JFT-Basic, if it runs in your country.
You have no deadline and want a recognized level: plan for the JLPT. See how to register.
You want a low-cost practice run: NAT is the cheapest of the three in Japan and copies the JLPT's structure. Treat it as practice unless your school accepts it.

Worked example: you need a result by March 2027

This is our own example, from November 6, 2026. The December 2026 JLPT is closed in many places, and its results come out around February. The next JLPT is in July 2027, and results come around late August. So if you did not register for December, the JLPT cannot help. The JFT-Basic gives a result on the day, and the BJT gives one right after the test. NAT runs often, but we did not check how long its results take. Whichever you choose, confirm first that the person asking accepts it.