Which test does a Nepali applicant actually need? A practical country-by-country map for students, workers, trainees and migrants — with the crucial difference between visa requirements and admission requirements explained for each route.
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student / Language School | Japanese | JLPT or other school-accepted evidence may be requested; no universal JLPT level applies to every student visa. Student visa centers on admission + Certificate of Eligibility (COE). |
Admission Program |
| Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) | Japanese | JFT-Basic or JLPT N4+ depending on route | Program |
| SSW additional | — | Sector-specific skills examination (e.g., Kaigo, Construction, Agriculture) | Skills |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| University / D-2 | Korean / English | TOPIK for Korean-taught study; English test where required by institution/program | Admission |
| Language school / D-4 | Korean | Korean is the subject of study; TOPIK is not universally required before entry | Program |
| EPS employment | Korean | EPS-TOPIK is the core Korean-language examination in the EPS process | Program Visa |
| EPS additional | — | Skill & Competency Test / selection procedures may follow the language test | Skills |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| University – German taught | German | Program-specific language proof; many German-taught programs require around B2 or higher (TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat) | Admission Visa |
| University – English taught | English | IELTS/TOEFL or other accepted evidence depending on institution | Admission |
| Ausbildung (vocational training) | German | Commonly B1/B2 depending on occupation, employer and route | Program Visa |
| Language course | German | Intensive German course route has its own visa requirements | Program |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student – degree level+ | English | CEFR B2. Approved SELT may be used; a compliant higher-education provider may assess English itself | Visa |
| Student – below degree | English | CEFR B1 | Visa |
| Skilled Worker | English | Current immigration rules generally use CEFR B2, subject to route-specific rules and exceptions | Visa |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student | English | Approved English test evidence may be required, with exemptions depending on course/applicant | Visa Program |
| Skilled / Work | English | Visa-specific level such as Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient or Superior English | Visa |
| Accepted tests | English | Current approved list includes IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, OET, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and MET, subject to rules | Visa |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| University / College | English / French | Institution-specific test such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL, PTE, CAEL or approved equivalents | Admission |
| Immigration / PR | English / French | Common tests include IELTS General, CELPIP General, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada, depending on route | Visa Program |
| Post-graduation work (PGWP) | English / French | Current PGWP rules include CLB/NCLC language thresholds depending on program | Visa |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student | English | English evidence can depend on course/provider and visa circumstances | Admission Program |
| Skilled residence | English | Approved test/evidence may be required; route-specific minimums apply | Visa |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| French-taught higher education | French | DELF, DALF, TCF or institution-accepted evidence depending on program | Admission |
| English-taught higher education | English | IELTS/TOEFL or institution-accepted evidence | Admission |
| Nepal application process | French / English | Nepal uses the Études en France (Campus France) process for applicable public higher-education applications | Program Visa |
| Route | Language | Exam / Requirement | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-1 student | English | Usually a university/program admission requirement: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo or institution-specific test Do not label IELTS as a universal F-1 visa requirement. |
Admission |
| Graduate / professional | English | Additional exams may include GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT or program-specific tests | Admission |
German certificates or English tests depending on program; work/vocational routes have occupation-specific German requirements.
AdmissionProgramLanguage proof depends on canton, institution and program — German, French, Italian or English.
AdmissionItalian-taught: CILS, CELI, PLIDA or university-accepted evidence. English-taught: IELTS/TOEFL/PTE.
AdmissionSpanish-taught: DELE/SIELE or institution evidence. English-taught: IELTS/TOEFL/PTE.
AdmissionPortuguese proficiency (CAPLE certifications) for Portuguese-taught; institution-specific English evidence otherwise.
AdmissionEnglish-taught: IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge. Dutch-taught: NT2 or accepted Dutch evidence.
AdmissionIELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Cambridge or other institution-approved English evidence.
AdmissionEnglish tests for English-taught programs; Finnish/Swedish for relevant programs.
AdmissionEnglish tests such as IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge for English-taught programs; Swedish for Swedish-taught.
AdmissionIELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge or Danish proof depending on program.
AdmissionEnglish test or Norwegian proficiency depending on program.
AdmissionIELTS/TOEFL or institution-specific evidence; Polish may be required for Polish-taught study.
AdmissionCzech or English proof depending on program; some programs have entrance exams.
AdmissionEnglish test or institutional assessment depending on program.
AdmissionIELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge or institution-approved English evidence.
AdmissionIELTS/TOEFL or institution-specific evidence; some institutions/routes may use other tests.
AdmissionIELTS/TOEFL/PTE or institution-specific evidence for English-medium programs.
Admission| Exam | Language | Primary country | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| JLPT | Japanese | Japan | Student admission / SSW-related routes |
| JFT-Basic | Japanese | Japan | Specified Skilled Worker |
| TOPIK | Korean | South Korea | University / other programs |
| EPS-TOPIK | Korean | South Korea | EPS employment |
| TestDaF | German | Germany | University / language proof |
| DSH | German | Germany | German university admission |
| Goethe-Zertifikat | German | Germany / other | Program/visa evidence where accepted |
| telc | German / European | Germany / Europe | Program/visa evidence where accepted |
| IELTS | English | Global | Admission and selected visa routes |
| TOEFL iBT | English | Global | Admission and selected visa routes |
| PTE | English | Global | Admission and selected visa routes |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | English | Global | Admission / selected visa routes |
| OET | English | Global | Healthcare and selected migration routes |
| DELF / DALF | French | France / global | Admission / language evidence |
| TCF | French | France / global | Admission / immigration routes |
| TEF Canada | French | Canada | Canadian immigration / selected routes |
| CELPIP | English | Canada | Canadian immigration / selected routes |
| CLB / NCLC | English / French | Canada | Benchmark framework (thresholds, not an exam) |
| DELE / SIELE | Spanish | Spain / global | Admission / program evidence |
| CILS / CELI / PLIDA | Italian | Italy | Admission / program evidence |
| CAPLE | Portuguese | Portugal | Admission / program evidence |
Last verified September 2026. Immigration rules change — always confirm with the destination country's official immigration authority, embassy, or test provider before applying.
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