- Test fee
- PKR 10,788
- ID to bring
- Passport
- Test length
- 60 min · about 50 questions
- On-screen translation
- English instructions
- Score for SSW (i)
- 200 or higher (A2)
Pakistan: a centre with almost no candidates
Pakistan is the quietest JFT-Basic country of all. The Japan Foundation's FY2026 reports counted 3 test-takers in Pakistan in April–May, 3 in June–July and 5 in August–September. Compare that with more than 12,000 in Nepal.
| Test period (2026) | Applicants | Test-takers | Reached the SSW level |
|---|---|---|---|
| April–May | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| June–July | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| August–September | 7 | 5 | 0 (1 A1, 3 A2.1) |
With numbers this small, the pass rates mean nothing statistically. What the numbers do tell you:
- Seats are not the problem. You are unlikely to compete for a seat in Islamabad.
- Payment is the problem. Pakistan is a voucher-only country, and that step stops many people before they book.
- Local test-prep support is thin. Few Pakistani candidates means few local classes and study groups. Plan to study with free online material and timed practice. Our free practice test is a good first check.
How much does the JFT-Basic cost in Pakistan?
Prometric's fee page lists PKR 9,300 net and PKR 10,788 gross. It doesn't explain the difference (the gross figure is 16% higher, the pattern of a tax line), so budget PKR 10,788. Ask the voucher seller which price applies when you buy.
Voucher only
Prometric's payment page lists only one method for Pakistan: a voucher. There is no card payment and no e-wallet. A voucher is a prepaid ticket. When you book, you choose the date, centre and time, then enter the voucher number and its expiry date instead of a card.
Where to get one:
- SKANS School of Accountancy, Islamabad. It is the only voucher sales counter Prometric lists for Pakistan. Prometric's counter rules: cash only, bring the exact amount (no change), bring valid ID, and give the names of everyone who will use the vouchers if you buy for others. Counters close on local holidays;
- Voucher Express, Prometric's online channel, which sells only to companies and organisations. A school or recruiter in Pakistan can buy vouchers there for its students.
Buy the voucher before you start booking. You can't hold a seat and pay later. Check the voucher counter list for changes before you travel to buy one.
Where is the test centre?
Prometric's overseas schedule (updated 15 October 2026) lists one centre: Islamabad. All FY2026 implementation reports name Islamabad as the only Pakistani test city. Your Confirmation Letter gives the address. Candidates from Lahore, Karachi or Peshawar must travel; from Karachi, that usually means a flight or an overnight journey, so plan the trip and a hotel night. Check the live schedule before you book.
When does booking open?
For the next test period, Prometric gives:
- Booking opens: 25 November 2026, about 10:00 AM Japan time, which is about 6:00 AM in Pakistan.
- Booking closes: 12 January 2027.
- Test dates: 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Book at least 3 business days before your test (four for weekend and Japanese holiday tests). Eid holidays in Pakistan don't change Prometric's deadlines, but they do close the voucher counter, so buy early. The registration guide shows every step.
What ID do you need?
Your passport only. Your CNIC is not accepted. Bring the original, valid passport and the Confirmation Letter. The name, passport number and date of birth must match your Prometric ID exactly. If your passport lists your father's name separately, don't add it to your own name in the Prometric ID. Copy the passport's name fields exactly.
On test day
The instructions appear in English. Urdu is not among the translation languages, so you work from English. The test has about 50 questions in four sections and one 60-minute clock. Your score shows on screen when you finish, and the official result appears on Prometric My Page within 5 business days. If you score under 200, you can retake after 45 days, but you'll need another voucher. See the exam day guide.
From JFT-Basic to SSW: Pakistan's procedure
Japan and Pakistan have an SSW Memorandum of Cooperation. The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) describes two hiring routes and one compulsory step for you:
Route A: direct hire through the BE&OE portal
The Japanese employer sends its company details and the job to the Community Welfare Attaché at the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo. Approval takes about two days. The job then goes on the portal run by the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BE&OE), where Pakistani job seekers can apply.Route B: through a licensed OEP
The employer can recruit through an Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP) licensed by the BE&OE. The embassy and BE&OE check the employer first, then authorise the OEP. BE&OE publishes the list of active OEPs.Contract, COE and visa
You sign the SSW contract, the employer gets your Certificate of Eligibility, and you apply for the visa at the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan.Protector of Emigrants
Before you leave, you submit your documents to a BE&OE Protectorate of Emigrants office and register to work abroad.
Pakistanis already in Japan who change to SSW there must also register with the Protector of Emigrants if they visit Pakistan and return. For the skills test in your field, see SSW fields.
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.