Tests you need for Japan
For SSW you need two things: a Japanese test (JFT-Basic or JLPT N4) and the skills test for your field. Caregiving also needs the Care Japanese Test. All can be taken in the Philippines, and you apply for them yourself.
JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese)
- Level:
- A2 on the JF Standard (200 points or more). Enough to handle daily life alone in Japan. Since August 2026 the result can also show A1 or A2.1; A2.1 is not A2 yet.
- Format:
- Computer-based (CBT) at a test center. Reading and listening, about 60 minutes. Score shown on screen the same day. Results valid for SSW.
- Where:
- Test centers in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and other cities. Held most months.
- How to apply:
- Online, directly with the test administrator. Fee is paid by you, to the test center only.
JLPT N4 (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test)
- Level:
- N4 is accepted instead of JFT-Basic for most SSW fields. Taxi, bus and railway jobs need N3 or higher. N5 is not enough.
- Format:
- Paper test. Vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening. Results about two months later.
- Where:
- Twice a year (July and December) in Manila, Cebu and Davao. Registration closes months in advance.
- How to apply:
- Through the local JLPT host organization in the Philippines.
Skills Evaluation Test (per field)
- Level:
- Set to Japanese Trade Skill Test grade 3 equivalent: you can do the job without special training.
- Format:
- Written part by CBT or paper, plus a practical or judgment part depending on the field (care, food service, construction, agriculture, and others). Japanese text has furigana.
- Where:
- Held in the Philippines several times a year for most fields. Each field has its own test organizer.
- How to apply:
- Directly with the field's test organizer. The 2025 government test policy requires direct application to shut out brokers.
Upcoming test dates in the Philippines
Collected every week from the Japan Foundation and JLPT official pages. JFT-Basic rows are test terms: you pick the day and the centre when you reserve. JLPT rows show the usual Sunday, because the host institution announces the exact day and the application period. Always confirm on the official site before paying a fee. Skills tests for each field are run by different organisers and are not listed here.
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Five rules from the official test policy
- You apply yourself. A person who offers to apply for you for a fee is a broker, and the government policy says applications must come directly from you.
- Passing a test does not guarantee a visa. Test organizers are required to tell you this. Anyone promising the opposite is lying.
- Bring a valid ID (passport). Phones are collected. Cheating leads to a ban from future tests.
- Your score and the passing mark are shown on your result. Keep the certificate. It is what the agency and employer will ask for.
- The minimum age is 17.
Source: Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, test policy for SSW and Ikusei Shuro, effective 11 March 2025.
How to study for JFT-Basic
The Japan Foundation publishes the free Irodori textbook and the Marugoto course online, both built for exactly this level. Most people who pass A2 study 300 to 400 hours. The test itself is reading and listening only, so start there and add speaking practice later for daily life in Japan.
Free first, paid only if you need it
- Irodori and Marugoto (Japan Foundation, free). Written for the A2 level JFT-Basic tests. Start here; many people pass on these alone.
- JFT-Basic sample questions on the official site, so you know the screen and the timing before test day.
- A tutor, if speaking is your weak point. Preply and similar platforms sell one-to-one lessons by the hour, which is cheaper than a full course when you only need practice.
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Schools and review courses in the Philippines appear on the map as they are listed.