- Test fee
- INR 3,540INR 3,000 + 18% GST
- ID to bring
- Passport
- Test length
- 60 min · about 50 questions
- On-screen translation
- English instructions
- Score for SSW (i)
- 200 or higher (A2)
The JFT-Basic in India: small, growing, and harder than it looks
India is a young JFT-Basic market. The Japan Foundation counted 396 test-takers in India in April–May 2026, 522 in June–July and 535 in August–September. That is small next to Nepal's 12,000, but it is rising.
Results in India are below the world average. In August–September 2026, 33.6% of Indian test-takers reached A2.2 (200 or more), against 41.3% worldwide. In June–July, 36.2% passed the A2 line. Indian candidates read English well, which helps with the instructions, but the test rewards fast reading of hiragana, katakana and kanji, and that only comes with practice. If you plan to sit soon, take a free practice test first to see how close you are.
Indian results by test period
| Test period (2026) | Test-takers | Result |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | 396 | 32.8% reached A2 |
| June–July | 522 | 36.2% reached A2 |
| August–September | 535 | 20.9% A1 · 27.9% A2.1 · 33.6% A2.2 |
From August 2026 the Japan Foundation reports A1 and A2.1 as well as A2.2, which is why the last row has three numbers. The A2.1 group (scores of 175–199) is the one to watch: more than a quarter of Indian test-takers land there, a few correct answers short of the SSW line. If that is you, you can sit again after 45 days, and the score guide explains how the bands work.
How much does the JFT-Basic cost in India?
Prometric lists INR 3,000 net and INR 3,540 gross. The difference is 18% GST: the price you pay by card at booking includes it. So budget INR 3,540.
Payment options for India, from Prometric's payment page:
- Visa or Mastercard credit, debit or prepaid card with 3D Secure. The card must allow international online transactions, because Prometric charges from Japan;
- voucher. Prometric notes that voucher purchases fall under reverse charge: the buyer pays the 18% GST to the tax authority after buying. That matters for institutes buying vouchers for students, not for individuals paying by card.
There is no UPI, no net banking and no e-wallet option listed for India. If your debit card fails, the usual fix is to enable international usage in your bank app before booking day.
Where are the JFT-Basic test centres in India?
Prometric's overseas schedule (updated 15 October 2026) lists three centres:
| Region | City | Centre name on Prometric |
|---|---|---|
| North (Delhi NCR) | Gurugram, Haryana | Gurgaon |
| South | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| North-east | Guwahati, Assam | Guwahati |
The same three cities appear in every FY2026 implementation report (which spells it Gurugram). Your Confirmation Letter gives the exact address. Always check the live schedule before you book; Prometric adds and moves centres.
Distance is the big issue in India. A candidate from Kerala, Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh will usually go to Bengaluru. One from West Bengal, Bihar or Odisha chooses between Guwahati and Gurugram. Book a test time that lets you arrive rested, and plan the trip before you pay.
When can you book in India?
For the next test period, Prometric gives:
- Booking opens: 25 November 2026, about 10:00 AM Japan time, which is about 6:30 AM IST.
- Booking closes: 12 January 2027.
- Test dates: 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Book at least 3 business days before the test (four for tests on weekends and Japanese holidays). India's seat demand is lower than Nepal's or Myanmar's, but the three centres have limited seats, so book early in the period if you need a weekend. Step-by-step help is in the registration guide.
What ID do you need?
Your passport only. Not Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID or a driving licence. It must be the original and valid. The name, passport number and date of birth must match your Prometric ID exactly. Indian passports sometimes show a single name with an empty surname field, or split names in unexpected ways. Copy them into the Prometric ID exactly as in the passport's machine-readable zone.
On test day
The screen shows instructions in English. The Your Language translations cover 13 languages, and no Indian language other than Bengali is among them, so plan to work from English. The test has about 50 questions in four sections, with one 60-minute clock. Your score appears at the end; the official result is on Prometric My Page within 5 business days. If you score below 200, you can rebook after 45 days. See the exam day guide.
From JFT-Basic to SSW: India's procedure
India and Japan have an SSW Memorandum of Cooperation. India's side of the process is lighter than in most sending countries. The Immigration Services Agency's summary says:
Agency is optional
Under India's rules, a Japanese employer may hire through a sending agency or directly. No licensed-agency requirement applies to SSW.Contract and COE
You sign an SSW contract; the employer applies to Japanese immigration for your Certificate of Eligibility and posts you the original.Visa
You apply for the visa at the Embassy of Japan in India with the COE.eMigrate (optional)
Workers and employers can register on eMigrate (emigrate.gov.in), the government's overseas employment system, but for SSW the ISA reports it is optional.
For questions about the Indian side, the ISA refers employers to the Embassy of India in Tokyo. You still need the skills test for your field: see the SSW visa guide.
Planning the whole move, not just the test? Our SSW visa cost calculator helps you add up what going to Japan on SSW should cost, from the JFT-Basic fee onwards, and the salary calculator estimates your take-home pay once you are there.