- Test fee
- JPY 10,000
- ID to bring
- Passport + Residence Card
- Test length
- 60 min · about 50 questions
- On-screen translation
- English instructions
- Score for SSW (i)
- 200 or higher (A2)
Who takes the JFT-Basic in Japan?
Japan is the only country where the JFT-Basic is mainly taken by people who already live in the country. Typical candidates are:
- international students at language schools or vocational colleges who want to switch to SSW (特定技能) after graduating;
- technical intern trainees who did not complete Technical Intern Training (ii), and so are not exempt from the Japanese test;
- dependants and other residents who want a work status of their own;
- short-term visitors who come to Japan for a few weeks and sit the test while here.
The Japan Foundation counted 2,504 test-takers in Japan in April–May 2026, 2,531 in June–July and 2,316 in August–September. Results in Japan are among the best of any country, which makes sense for people who hear Japanese every day:
| Test period (2026) | Test-takers | Result |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | 2,504 | 62.1% reached A2 |
| June–July | 2,531 | 57.5% reached A2 |
| August–September | 2,316 | 15.4% A1 · 23.7% A2.1 · 53.6% A2.2 |
The reports also show a gap between applicants and test-takers in Japan: 2,754 booked in August–September, but 2,316 sat the test, so about 16% didn't show up. That is a much higher no-show rate than overseas. If you can't make your date, change the booking before the change deadline rather than losing the JPY 10,000.
How much does the JFT-Basic cost in Japan, and how do you pay?
The fee is JPY 10,000. Japan has more payment options than any other country:
- credit, debit or prepaid card: Visa, Mastercard, JCB or AMEX, and Prometric asks you to use a card with 3D Secure;
- PayPay, the QR-code e-wallet;
- voucher: in Japan these go through Voucher Express, which sells to companies and organisations. Schools and employers sometimes buy them for students or staff. Prometric lists no voucher sales counter in Japan.
Where are the test centres in Japan?
Prometric's Japan schedule (updated 30 October 2026, covering November 2026 to January 2027) lists 11 centres in 10 prefectures:
| Region | Prefecture | Centre name on Prometric |
|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | Hokkaido | Sapporo MN Building |
| Tohoku | Miyagi | Sendai |
| Kanto | Tokyo (23 wards, east) | Ochanomizu Sola City |
| Kanto | Tokyo (23 wards, west) | Nishi-Shinjuku/Tocho-mae |
| Chubu | Ishikawa | Kanazawa |
| Chubu | Aichi | Nagoya Ekimae |
| Kansai | Osaka | Nakatsu |
| Chugoku | Hiroshima | Hiroshima Sangyo Bunka Center |
| Shikoku | Kagawa | Takamatsu |
| Kyushu | Saga | Saga |
| Okinawa | Okinawa | Naha Minatomachi |
Not every centre runs every day. Prometric's page marks the days each centre holds the test, says the grid "may differ from the actual dates", and warns that a full session cannot be booked even on the day. Check the Japan schedule before you book.
There is no centre in Fukuoka, Kobe, Yokohama or Saitama on the current list. Candidates in Kyushu go to Saga; Kanto residents go to one of the two Tokyo centres.
When can you book?
Booking works in the same test periods as overseas. For the next one, Prometric gives:
- Booking opens: 25 November 2026, at about 10:00 AM JST.
- Booking closes: 12 January 2027.
- Test dates: 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Each booking must be made, and any change completed, at least 3 business days before the test (four for Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese public holidays). In Japan this matters most around the New Year holidays, when several business days disappear at once. The registration guide walks through each screen.
What ID do you need in Japan?
Prometric's Japan rule is passport + Residence Card (在留カード), both originals:
- Passport: the original, valid passport. Prometric's Japan page says it must be issued by a government or region designated by the Minister of Justice.
- Residence Card: the original card. If you don't have one (for example on short-term stay), your residence status must be shown in your passport, usually the landing permission sticker or stamp. Staff decide at the centre whether you are eligible.
- Renewing your card? Bring the card being renewed. If the back has no application-in-progress stamp, also bring the application confirmation email that shows your application number, and show it at reception.
- Name match: the name, passport number and date of birth must match your Prometric ID exactly.
Copies and phone images are not accepted. Without valid ID and a Confirmation Letter you cannot sit the test, and the fee is not refunded.
The Confirmation Letter in Japan
Prometric's September 2026 notice for Japan says you need one Confirmation Letter per exam (bring all of them if you take more than one test that day). A printout, a screenshot, or the letter shown after logging in are all accepted. Login can fail when the site is busy, so bring a printout or screenshot. Have it ready at reception. See the exam day guide for the rest of check-in.
After the test: changing to SSW inside Japan
Your score appears on screen when you finish, and the official result is on Prometric My Page within 5 business days. With a score of 200 or more, plus the skills test for your field and a job offer, you or your employer apply to the regional immigration services bureau for a change of status of residence to SSW. If you score below 200, you can sit again after 45 days. The retake calculator gives the first possible date.
People from countries with an SSW agreement may also have home-country steps even when they change status in Japan. Vietnamese residents need a recommendation list from their embassy, and Filipino and Nepali workers need an exit document from home when they visit. The SSW visa guide covers the whole process.