JLPT Exam Dates 2026 and Test Centres in India
Key Takeaways
- The JLPT 2026 exam dates are Sunday 5 July 2026 and Sunday 6 December 2026.
- Outside Japan, registration is around March to April for the July test and around August to September for the December test; each city's host sets the exact dates and fee.
- India has eight JLPT test cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Karur and Santiniketan, which holds only the July test.
- Online results for the July 2026 test opened on 27 August 2026; the paper score report and certificate come through the host, around September to early October for July and around March for December.
- If your city's December 2026 registration has closed, the next session is July 2027.
Table of Contents
The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) is held twice a year. The 2026 exam dates are Sunday 5 July 2026 and Sunday 6 December 2026, and in India the test runs in eight cities.
This page lists the 2026 dates, the registration and results timeline for each session, and the Indian test centres with their host institutions. Every date comes from the official JLPT site, jlpt.jp, read in October 2026. For the levels, exam pattern and pass marks, see our JLPT exam guide for India.
What are the JLPT exam dates for 2026?
| Session | Test date | Held in India |
|---|---|---|
| First test (July) | Sunday 5 July 2026 | All eight cities |
| Second test (December) | Sunday 6 December 2026 | Seven cities (not Santiniketan) |
Both sessions fall on the first Sunday of the month. The Japan Foundation had not published the 2027 dates when this page was updated; we will add them once jlpt.jp lists them.
What is the JLPT timeline for each session?
Outside Japan, the JLPT’s overseas test process follows the same pattern every year. The exact registration dates are set by the host institution in each city.
| Step | July session | December session |
|---|---|---|
| Registration with your city’s host | Around March to April | Around August to September |
| Test Voucher (admission ticket) from the host | Before the test, in early July | Before the test, in early December |
| Test day | Sunday 5 July 2026 | Sunday 6 December 2026 |
| Online results | From 27 August 2026 | Date announced on jlpt.jp |
| Score report and certificate, through the host | Around September to early October | Around March |
The online result date for the July 2026 test is from the online results page, which also lists the date for each December test once it is set. The timing of the paper results is from the overseas process page and the JLPT FAQ.
Where are the JLPT test centres in India?
The official list of overseas test cities (as of 11 September 2026) names eight cities in India. You register with, and sit the test through, the host institution of your city.
| City | Host institution | July 2026 | December 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Mombusho Scholars Association of India (MOSAI) | Yes | Yes |
| Mumbai | Japanese Language Teachers’ Association, Pune (JALTAP) | Yes | Yes |
| Pune | Japanese Language Teachers’ Association, Pune (JALTAP) | Yes | Yes |
| Bengaluru | Bangalore Nihongo Kyooshi-kai (BNK) | Yes | Yes |
| Chennai | ABK-AOTS Dosokai, Tamil Nadu Centre | Yes | Yes |
| Kolkata | The Indo-Japan Welfare and Cultural Association | Yes | Yes |
| Karur | Japanese Language Teachers Association | Yes | Yes |
| Santiniketan | Visva-Bharati | Yes | No |
The host tells you the exact test venue in your city, the reporting time and the ID to bring. JALTAP runs both Mumbai and Pune, so check which of its venues your Test Voucher names.
Is JLPT registration open now?
Registration for each session closes months before the test. The December test is usually registered in August and September, so by late October that window has usually passed. If your city’s December 2026 registration has closed, the next session is July 2027, and its registration is likely to open around March to April 2027.
The registration dates and fee are set by each host, so follow your host’s own notice rather than a third-party list.
Which JLPT session should you book?
Count back from the date you need the result.
- For a university application: a July test gives an online result by late August, and a December test gives a paper certificate around March. Check whether your university accepts the online result or asks for the certificate.
- For a scholarship: check the scholarship’s own deadline. Our MEXT scholarship application guide and guide to Japan scholarship options cover the main schemes.
- If you are aiming for a higher level: the two sessions are five months apart, so you can sit one level in July and the next in December.
If you are planning a degree in Japan and want help with programmes, language requirements or scholarship deadlines, talk to our Japan admissions team.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the JLPT exam in 2026?
On Sunday 5 July 2026 and Sunday 6 December 2026.
When is the JLPT held in December 2026?
On Sunday 6 December 2026. In India it is held in seven cities; Santiniketan holds only the July test.
Has the JLPT 2027 date been announced?
Not yet. The Japan Foundation had not published the 2027 dates when this page was updated. Both 2026 tests fall on the first Sunday of July and December.
When does JLPT registration open in India?
Outside Japan, registration is around March to April for the July test and around August to September for the December test. The host institution in each city sets the exact dates, so follow its notice.
Which cities in India have a JLPT test centre?
New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Karur and Santiniketan, according to the official list of overseas test cities.
Who conducts the JLPT in Delhi?
The Mombusho Scholars Association of India (MOSAI) is the host institution for New Delhi.
Who conducts the JLPT in Mumbai and Pune?
The Japanese Language Teachers’ Association, Pune (JALTAP) hosts the JLPT in both Mumbai and Pune.
When will I get my JLPT Test Voucher?
Your host institution sends the Test Voucher before the test: in early July for the July session and in early December for the December session.
When are JLPT July 2026 results released?
Online results for the July 2026 test opened at 10:00 a.m. Japan time on 27 August 2026. The score report and certificate come through your host institution, around September to early October.
When will the JLPT December 2026 results come out?
The online result date is announced on jlpt.jp’s online results page. The paper score report and certificate come through your host institution around March.
Can I take the JLPT twice in a year?
Yes. Most Indian cities hold both the July and December tests, so you can sit one level in July and the same or a higher level in December.
