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Language Requirements for Permanent Residency and Citizenship in China, Japan, and South Korea

#requirement#language#permanent

A little while ago I wrote about language requirements for permanent residency (PR) and naturalization in popular European destinations, and today we're looking at East Asia!

The CEFR scale (A1-C2) is irrelevant in Asia; Japan, South Korea, and China each have their own unique benchmarks and philosophies when it comes to language requirements for permanent status. Here's a breakdown:

Country Permanent Residency Requirement Citizenship Requirement^(1)
Japan General Path: None; Fast Track: JLPT N2/N1**^(2)** Conversational^(3)
South Korea*^(4) KIIP Level 5 KIIP Level 5
China None None

^(1) This table assumes you're a foreign-born expatriate that qualifies for naturalization. Exceptions for asylum seekers or other unique cases may exist.

^(2) Japan offers two routes for PR. The general 10-year residency path has no formal language requirement, though a basic ability to function in society is expected. However, the Highly-Skilled Professional (HSP) points system offers a fast-track to PR in as little as 1-3 years. In this system, passing the JLPT N2 or N1 exams gives you a significant points boost.

^(3) There is no mandatory test listed in the official documentation, but showing up to the interview with no working knowledge of Japanese is unlikely to make a good impression.

^(4) South Korea uses the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP). To be eligible for permanent residency you must complete the program up to its final stage, Level 5, with 50 hours of courses. For citizenship, that requirement increases to 70 hours of courses.

What stands out to me:

  • South Korea's KIIP program is a clear and standardized requirement for both PR and citizenship.
  • Japan offers a strategic choice: a longer path to PR with no language requirement, or a faster, points-based route where high-level Japanese proficiency is explicitly rewarded.
  • China values high-level economic or strategic contributions, not linguistic or cultural integration. For the vast majority of foreigners, PR and naturalization are not realistic.