- Test fee
- LKR 12,000
- ID to bring
- Passport
- Test length
- 60 min · about 50 questions
- On-screen translation
- English instructions
- Score for SSW (i)
- 200 or higher (A2)
Sri Lanka: one centre, thousands of candidates
Sri Lanka has a single JFT-Basic centre, in Colombo, and a lot of demand for it. The Japan Foundation counted 1,780 test-takers in Sri Lanka in April–May 2026, 2,529 in June–July and 2,360 in August–September. All of them sat in the same city.
Because one centre serves the whole island, seats run out. In September 2026 Prometric announced additional sessions at the Colombo centre. More sessions help, but they don't change the basic rule: book on opening day if you need a particular date.
How Sri Lankan candidates score
| Test period (2026) | Test-takers | Result |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | 1,780 | 43.6% reached A2 |
| June–July | 2,529 | 45.4% reached A2 |
| August–September | 2,360 | 21.0% A1 · 25.3% A2.1 · 32.1% A2.2 |
In the most recent period, 32.1% of Sri Lankan test-takers reached A2.2 (200 or more), the level used for SSW. The world figure was 41.3%. A quarter more scored 175–199, the A2.1 band. If you land there, you are close: a focused month on listening and reading speed, then a retake after 45 days, is a realistic plan.
How much does the JFT-Basic cost in Sri Lanka?
The fee is LKR 12,000, according to Prometric's fee page. Payment options for Sri Lanka:
- Visa or Mastercard credit, debit or prepaid card with 3D Secure;
- voucher, bought in advance. Individuals can buy one in cash at Prometric's Colombo sales counter, the Australian College of Business & Technology. Bring the exact amount (no change is given) and a valid ID. Schools and agencies can also buy vouchers in bulk online.
There is no e-wallet and no bank transfer option for Sri Lanka. Because Prometric charges the card from Japan, the card must be enabled for online payments abroad. Test it with a small foreign online purchase well before booking day.
Where is the test centre?
Prometric's overseas schedule (updated 15 October 2026) lists one centre: Colombo. The Confirmation Letter you print after booking gives its full address. Check the live schedule before booking in case Prometric adds a centre.
If you live far from Colombo:
- book an afternoon session if one is available, so you can travel the same morning;
- otherwise plan to arrive the day before. Arriving late can mean losing the seat and the fee;
- bring your passport and Confirmation Letter in a waterproof bag in the monsoon months.
When does booking open in Sri Lanka?
For the next test period, Prometric gives:
- Booking opens: 25 November 2026, about 10:00 AM Japan time. In Sri Lanka that is about 6:30 AM.
- Booking closes: 12 January 2027.
- Test dates: 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Each booking must be made at least 3 business days before the test, or four for weekend and holiday tests. Prometric counts Japanese business days. Poya days do not move the deadline. The registration guide covers the Prometric ID and the booking screens.
What ID do you need?
Your passport only. Your NIC (national identity card) and driving licence are not accepted. The passport must be the original and valid, and the name, passport number and date of birth must match your Prometric ID exactly. Many Sri Lankan names are long. Copy them into the Prometric ID exactly as they appear in the passport, in the same order.
On test day
The instructions appear in English. Sinhala and Tamil are not among the translation options, so you work from the English text. The Japanese you are tested on is the same for every country: about 50 questions, one 60-minute clock, and listening clips that play at most 2 times. You see your score when you finish; the official result is on Prometric My Page within 5 business days. The exam day guide covers check-in.
From JFT-Basic to SSW: Sri Lanka's procedure
Japan and Sri Lanka signed an SSW Memorandum of Cooperation. The Immigration Services Agency's summary of the Sri Lankan side has five steps:
Contract (agency optional)
Under Sri Lanka's rules, a Japanese employer may recruit through a sending agency or hire you directly. Either way, you sign an SSW employment contract.Certificate of Eligibility
The employer applies to Japanese immigration for your COE and posts you the original.Visa
You apply for the SSW visa at the Embassy of Japan in Colombo with the COE.SLBFE registration
You register online with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) as a migrant worker.Pre-departure orientation
You attend a pre-departure orientation, about two days long.
Sri Lankans already in Japan who change to SSW there also register online with the SLBFE. For questions on the Sri Lankan side, the ISA refers employers to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo.
You also need the skills test for your field. Nursing care needs a second Japanese test as well. See the SSW visa guide.
Keep your result safe
The JFT-Basic result has no expiry date, but Prometric keeps the data online for only 5 years. Print the official score report as soon as it appears, and keep a PDF copy in your email. An agency or employer will ask for it, and Japanese immigration needs proof of your Japanese level with the visa paperwork. If you used an agency's email address to register, ask for your own copy straight away. The result guide shows how to find and print it.
A plan for Sri Lankan learners
English instructions are an advantage: you can read every question prompt quickly and spend the time on the Japanese. Start with Irodori, the Japan Foundation's free course, follow our study plan, and take a timed mock test two weeks before your date.
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.