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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. Both can be taken in the Philippines, and you apply for both yourself.

JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese)

Level:
A2 on the JF Standard. Enough to handle daily life alone in Japan.
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.
Official site →

JLPT N4 (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test)

Level:
N4 is accepted instead of JFT-Basic for SSW. 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.
Official site →

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.
Official site →

Upcoming test dates in the Philippines

Updated automatically from the organizers' announcements. Always confirm on the official site before paying a fee.

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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. A class in the Philippines helps with speaking, but the test itself is reading and listening only.

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