- Test fee
- THB 1,260net price
- ID to bring
- Passport
- Test length
- 60 min · about 50 questions
- On-screen translation
- Thai
- Score for SSW (i)
- 200 or higher (A2)
The JFT-Basic in Thailand
Thailand has one of the smaller JFT-Basic populations and some of the best results. The Japan Foundation counted 254 test-takers in April–May 2026, 280 in June–July and 320 in August–September, all in Bangkok.
| Test period (2026) | Test-takers | Result |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | 254 | 49.2% reached A2 |
| June–July | 280 | 51.8% reached A2 |
| August–September | 320 | 18.1% A1 · 25.0% A2.1 · 44.4% A2.2 |
In the latest period, 44.4% reached A2.2 (200 or more), above the world average of 41.3%. Some Thai candidates have already studied for the JLPT. The JLPT is also accepted as the Japanese test for SSW (N4 is the level usually cited), so if you hold that certificate you may not need the JFT-Basic at all. Our JFT-Basic vs JLPT N4 comparison helps you choose.
How much does the JFT-Basic cost in Thailand?
Prometric's fee page lists THB 1,260, marked as the net price. Unlike India and Pakistan, it doesn't publish a gross price for Thailand. Prometric's payment page adds two details:
- the fee shown on screen may differ by less than ±1 baht;
- the amount deducted is the exam fee excluding VAT.
In practice, expect to pay about THB 1,260.
How to pay in Thailand
Thailand has three methods on Prometric's payment page:
- Visa or Mastercard credit, debit or prepaid card with 3D Secure;
- online banking: if you book on a computer, have your smartphone ready to scan a QR code at the payment step. The payee name may show something other than "Prometric", which is normal;
- voucher, bought in advance. Prometric lists no voucher sales counter in Thailand, and its Voucher Express channel sells only to companies and organisations, so individuals usually get vouchers through a school or agency.
QR payment through your banking app is the easiest option for most Thai candidates. Make sure your app is logged in and has enough balance before you start booking, because the booking screen has a time limit.
Where is the test centre?
Prometric's overseas schedule (updated 15 October 2026) lists one centre: Bangkok. The address is on your Confirmation Letter. Check the live schedule before booking.
Candidates from the north, north-east and south must travel. An overnight bus or an early flight to Bangkok is common for exams. Choose an afternoon session if you travel the same morning.
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 8:00 AM in Thailand.
- 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). Thai holidays such as Songkran don't change the deadline. The registration guide walks through every screen.
What ID do you need?
Your passport only. Your Thai national ID card is not accepted. Bring the original, valid passport and your Confirmation Letter. The name, passport number and date of birth must match your Prometric ID exactly. Enter your name as it appears in the passport's English lines, not a romanisation you use elsewhere. See the exam day guide.
Thai on screen
The instructions appear in English, with a Your Language button that shows a Thai translation. The Japanese being tested is not translated. There are about 50 questions, a single 60-minute clock, and listening clips that play at most 2 times. Your score appears at the end; the official result is on Prometric My Page within 5 business days. If you score under 200, you can rebook after 45 days.
From JFT-Basic to SSW: Thailand's procedure
Thailand's SSW rules focus on contract checks and a departure permit. The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) summarises them:
Hiring: direct or through a certified agency
A Japanese employer can hire you directly, without an agency. Thai law forbids Japanese companies from coming to Thailand to recruit in person, though. Alternatively, the employer can use an overseas recruitment agency certified by the Thai Ministry of Labour, or the Ministry's Department of Employment.Contract certification
The employer sends the employment contract to the labour office at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo (post is allowed), which stamps it. With an agency, this happens before recruitment; with direct hiring, after the Certificate of Eligibility is issued.COE and visa
The employer gets your COE; you apply for the visa at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand.Departure permit
You submit the certified contract to the Thai Ministry of Labour and get permission to leave for work abroad.Arrival report
Within 15 days of arriving in Japan, you or your employer file an arrival report with the Thai Embassy's labour office.
Thais already in Japan, including former technical intern trainees moving to SSW, need the contract certified by the embassy's labour office too. Former trainees attach the certified contract to their change-of-status application, and within 15 days of starting the new job, the worker or employer files a joining report with the same labour office. For the skills test in your field, see the SSW visa guide. To check your level for free, start with our practice test.
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.