JFT-Basic Test in Japan (2026): Fee, Test Centers and ID

Key Takeaways

• You can take the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) inside Japan if your native language is not Japanese, you have a Japanese status of residence, and your passport is issued by a country or region named in a Ministry of Justice public notice. Short-term stay is also possible, but without a residence card the test center checks your passport and decides whether you can take it.
• The test fee in Japan is JPY 10,000. You can pay by card, by PayPay, or by voucher. Cards must be Mastercard, VISA, JCB or AMEX with 3D Secure (an extra identity check when you pay online).
• In Japan the test is held at test centers run by Prometric, the company that operates the test. Centers are in Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Saga and Naha.
• Bring your passport and residence card, both originals and both valid. Photos on a smartphone are not accepted. If you are on a short-term stay with no residence card, your status will be checked on your passport.
• Book by 23:59 Japan time, three business days before the test date. For a test on a weekend or Japanese holiday, the deadline is four business days before. Cancellations are not possible.
• Your score appears on the screen at the end of the test. The official result notification is issued on the Prometric website within 5 business days.
• A score of 200 or more is assessed as A2.2 (A2), the level used to apply for Specified Skilled Worker (i). If you do not reach your target, you must wait 45 days before you take it again.

This article covers taking JFT-Basic inside Japan. All amounts are in Japanese yen. For peso amounts, use the remittance rates on the /money page instead of converting by hand. For the other tests used for working in Japan, see /tests.

Who can take JFT-Basic in Japan?

Anyone whose native language is not Japanese can take JFT-Basic. People with Japanese nationality are not eligible.

To take the test inside Japan, Prometric adds two conditions:

• You must have a Japanese status of residence. A status of residence is the permission category for your stay in Japan, such as Specified Skilled Worker or Student. Prometric notes that short-term stay is also possible.
• Your passport must be issued by a country or region named in a Ministry of Justice public notice. These are countries that cooperate when Japan carries out deportation orders.

Japan is one of the host countries for JFT-Basic, together with the Philippines and other Asian countries. If you plan to take it in the Philippines instead, the steps are in JFT-Basic Prometric Guide (2026): ID, Booking and Test Day. The Japan Foundation also says you can take the test in a country other than the one where you normally live. In that case, explanations and test-day instructions are given in the language of that country or in English, and payment methods differ by country.

Can I take it on a short-term stay without a residence card?

Yes, but your eligibility is decided at the test center. A residence card is the ID card issued to foreign residents of Japan. Without a residence card, the test center checks the status shown in your passport. The center then decides whether you can take the test.

Before you book, read the eligibility section on the Prometric test page yourself. The designated-country condition is set by a Ministry of Justice public notice, and this article does not list those countries.

What is JFT-Basic used for?

JFT-Basic is a Japanese test run by the Japan Foundation. It is a CBT (Computer Based Testing) exam, which means you answer on a computer at a test center. It is held every month as a rule, in Japan and overseas.

The Japan Foundation explains how each level is used:

Some job fields may require a higher level of Japanese.

If you already hold JLPT N4 or higher (the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test), you do not need JFT-Basic to apply for the Specified Skilled Worker status.

Passing does not guarantee a status of residence. It does not mean you will get a Certificate of Eligibility or permission to change your status of residence. A change of status of residence is the application to switch from your current status, for example from short-term stay, to a new one. This article does not cover that application.

The Immigration Services Agency lists JFT-Basic as the Japanese test common to all fields on its SSW "test information" page.

How much is the JFT-Basic fee in Japan, and how do I pay?

The fee for JFT-Basic in Japan is JPY 10,000. For comparison, Prometric lists PHP 2,010 for the same test in the Philippines.

Payment methods in Japan:

A 3D Secure card is a card that asks for an extra identity check, such as a one-time code, when you pay online. Prometric asks you to use one when you book, so check that your card supports it first.

A voucher is a prepaid code for the test fee. Only companies and organizations can buy vouchers, through a service called Voucher Express.

Where are the JFT-Basic test centers in Japan?

Prometric's page "JFT-Basic Test Center in Japan" lists these venues:

Prometric notes that the test center varies depending on the exam, so check the venue list for JFT-Basic, not for another test.

Test dates also differ by venue. Prometric publishes a "JFT-Basic Test Center schedule in Japan" with a ● on the days a venue holds the test. It is only a plan and may differ from the actual dates. You cannot book a day that is already full. Check the actual dates and venues on the registration website.

How do I book JFT-Basic in Japan?

You book on Prometric's registration website. Prometric operates this website and the test centers. The steps are:

1. Get a Prometric ID. This is your account on the registration website. One person may not have more than one Prometric ID.
2. Check the test date and venue for Japan on the registration website.
3. Book a seat and pay by card, PayPay or voucher.

Your booking details must match the details in your Prometric ID. Your name, passport number and date of birth must exactly match what you registered with your Prometric ID. Enter them from your passport, not from memory.

Booking periods

The test runs in terms. Each term has a reservation period and a test period.

Seats are limited.

Booking deadline and changes

You can book or change a booking until 23:59 Japan time, three business days before the test date. If the test date is a Saturday, Sunday or Japanese holiday, the deadline is four business days before.

A business day here means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, Japanese holiday or New Year's holiday. Count back from the test date on a Japanese calendar.

The rules after booking are strict:

• Cancellations are not possible.
• No changes can be made after the reservation deadline.
• A change is possible only when there is a vacant seat.

Book it yourself

Prometric has warned that companies on social media are advertising booking services and resale of test seats. The test organizers and Prometric have nothing to do with these services. Book on the registration website yourself, not through a third party.

The Japan Foundation does not book tests for anyone, at its headquarters or at its overseas offices. If someone offers to "get you a seat," that offer does not come from the test organizers. The steps for booking tests yourself are in How to Apply for JFT-Basic and Skills Tests Yourself (No Fixers).

What do I need to bring on test day in Japan?

In Japan you need two ID documents: your passport and your residence card. In the Philippines, by comparison, a passport alone is enough. If you do not have a residence card, your passport must show your residence status.

The rules for ID are:

• Bring originals. Copies are not valid.
• Both must be within their validity period.
• Smartphone photos and other electronic data cannot be used.
• If you cannot take the test because your ID is incomplete, the fee is not refunded.

You also need the Confirmation Letter, the booking confirmation that is issued for each exam you book. You can show it in one of three ways:

• a printed Confirmation Letter
• a screenshot of the Confirmation Letter
• the Confirmation Letter shown after you log in to the registration website

Prometric notes that the registration website may not open when many people use it at once. A printout or a screenshot is safer than counting on a log-in at the counter.

In the Philippines, I once had to go to the bank three times to open an account, because each branch asked for additional documents. A missing paper at a bank costs you a trip. A missing ID at a JFT-Basic test center in Japan costs you the JPY 10,000 fee and your seat.

What if my residence card is being renewed?

You can still take the test, but bring extra proof:

• Check that your residence card is valid on the Immigration Services Agency's "Residence Card Number Information Inquiry Site."
• Bring the original residence card that is being renewed.
• If the back of the card has no "Application in Progress" stamp, bring the Application Confirmation Email too. Show this email, with your application number, at the reception desk.

What happens on test day?

Two rules catch people out. Once you move to the next section, you cannot go back. And the test time does not stop if you leave the room.

The instructions on the exam screen (the navigation) are in English. Translations into other languages are available. The Japan Foundation's language list includes English, Chinese, Indonesian, Khmer, Mongolian, Myanmar, Nepali, Thai, Vietnamese, Uzbek, Bengali, Lao and Malay. Filipino (Tagalog) is not on that list.

Prometric's "Supplementary Materials on Test Navigation" cannot be viewed at test centers in Japan, so read them before test day. Prometric also offers a CBT Trial Version to practice the screen, but it does not work on smartphones or tablets. Use a computer.

How do I get my JFT-Basic result?

Your total score and assessment are shown on the screen at the end of the test. The official notification of assessment results is issued on the Prometric website within 5 business days after the test.

The result has no expiration date. However, the result data is stored on the registration website for only five years. Print your notification while it is still there.

Retake rules

• You cannot take the same exam again for 45 days, counted from the day after your test date.
• Once you score 200 or more, you are not allowed to retake the test.

If you need A2.2 for SSW and score below 200, plan your next booking around the 45-day wait and the next reservation period.

How to check the JFT-Basic details before you book

I used to run websites that earn from search visitors and product referrals (SEO and affiliate sites). I always compared this month's figures with last month's, and I checked the source page behind every number. I also compared more than one data source before I relied on a number. Before I start a project, I first decide my criteria for judging it.

For JFT-Basic in Japan, these habits lead to the following checks:

1. Decide your target level first. Do you need A1 for Employment for Skill Development or Student, or A2.2 for SSW? If you hold JLPT N4 or higher, you may not need JFT-Basic for SSW at all.
2. Read the official pages yourself. The fee, payment methods and booking periods are on Prometric's pages. Compare them with the Japan Foundation's JFT-Basic pages and the Immigration Services Agency's test page.
3. Check the dates. Look at the update date on the venue schedule, and check that your test date falls inside the current test period.
4. Match your registration to your passport. Name, passport number and date of birth must match exactly.
5. Book only on the registration website, by yourself. Ignore booking agents and seat sellers on social media.

FAQ

Q: Can a Filipino in Japan take JFT-Basic?

Yes, if you have a Japanese status of residence and meet the passport condition on Prometric's eligibility notes. Short-term stay is also possible; without a residence card, your status is checked on your passport at the test center. People with Japanese nationality cannot take it.

Q: How much is the JFT-Basic fee in Japan?

JPY 10,000. In the Philippines, Prometric lists PHP 2,010. In Japan you can pay by Mastercard, VISA, JCB or AMEX (3D Secure), by PayPay, or by voucher (for companies and organizations only).

Q: Can I cancel my JFT-Basic booking in Japan?

No. Cancellations are not possible. You can change a booking only if a seat is free. The deadline is 23:59 Japan time, three business days before the test (four for a weekend or holiday test).

Q: When do I get my JFT-Basic result?

Your score is shown on the screen at the end of the test. The official result notification is issued on the Prometric website within 5 business days.

Q: How soon can I retake JFT-Basic?

After 45 days, counted from the day after your test. If you scored 200 or more, you cannot retake it.

Summary

Anyone whose native language is not Japanese can take JFT-Basic in Japan. You need a Japanese status of residence, including short-term stay, and a passport from a country named in a Ministry of Justice public notice. The fee in Japan is JPY 10,000, paid by card with 3D Secure, PayPay or voucher. Test centers run from Sapporo to Naha, and dates differ by venue. Book on Prometric's registration website with your Prometric ID (only one per person). The deadline is 23:59 Japan time, three business days before the test date (four for weekend and holiday tests). Cancellations are not possible. On test day, bring your original passport, residence card and Confirmation Letter. Check in between 45 and 30 minutes before the start. Your score appears at the end of the test, and the official notification follows within 5 business days. A score of 200 or more gives A2.2, the level used for SSW (i).

Before you book, decide which level you need, then open Prometric's test page and check the current reservation period and your nearest test center yourself.

Sources

• Prometric, Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) test information: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/test_list/archives/1
• Prometric, Test fees: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/exam/fee/
• Prometric, Payment methods: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/exam/payment/
• Prometric, JFT-Basic Test Center in Japan: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/hall/domestic/jft/
• Prometric, JFT-Basic Test Center schedule in Japan: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/schedule/jft_basic_domestic/
• Prometric, Identification documents: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/exam/identification/
• Prometric, [Important] Items to bring on the test day: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/news/archives/370
• Prometric, [Important] About test reservations: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/news/archives/33
• Prometric, Test day flow in Japan: https://www.prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/exam/flow/domestic/
• Prometric FAQ, Taking the exam in Japan on a short-term stay without a residence card: https://faq2.prometric-jp.com/en/faq2/detail?site=G0OXRGLC&category=7&id=83
• Prometric FAQ, Taking the exam while renewing a residence card: https://faq2.prometric-jp.com/en/faq2/detail?site=G0OXRGLC&category=7&id=40
• The Japan Foundation, JFT-Basic FAQ: https://www.jpf.go.jp/jft-basic/e/faq/index.html
• The Japan Foundation, About JFT-Basic: https://www.jpf.go.jp/jft-basic/e/about/index.html
• The Japan Foundation, Flow from reservation to test results: https://www.jpf.go.jp/jft-basic/e/schedule/flow.html
• Immigration Services Agency, Specified Skilled Worker test information (試験関係): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/nyuukokukanri01_00135.html