MMoving to Japan

Can anyone confirm if the “150 hours of study / N5 requirement for 30+” is actually true for student-visa applicants?

  • November 28, 2025

I'm instersted in enrolling in Language School. I found a 3-year-old post saying that applicants over 30 need to show either:

  • 150+ documented hours of Japanese study, or
  • a passed JLPT N5 certificate

Supposedly this is because immigration wants proof older students are serious.
Is this still accurate in 2025?

Here’s my situation:

  • I’m 31
  • I’m a full-time college student in the U.S. (Japanese major)
  • About to start elementary Japanese in January
  • Not working except for a small work-study campus job
  • My mom is my financial sponsor (she already pays my $1,800 rent so I can study)
  • My girlfriend, who I will marry will come with me on a dependent visa
  • She’s in online school and gets about $11k/year in financial support

Questions:

  1. In 2025, do applicants over 30 actually need documented 150 hours of Japanese or N5 to get approved?
  2. Does immigration accept beginner-level college coursework as part of the 150 hours?
  3. Will immigration have a problem with my mom being my financial sponsor?
  4. Does my lack of recent full-time employment matter if my sponsor is stable?
  5. Will having a dependent affect the application?
  6. Does immigration want to see like 2,000,000 yen LIQUID in savings at the time of entry?

Looking for real experiences from people who applied recently (2023–2025), or anyone who works with language schools.

Thanks guys I'm just starting to research this.

by goatsbIood