What JFT-Basic Is and Why SSW Needs It

What JFT-Basic Is and Why SSW Needs It

In this Jobagus.id course, you will prepare for the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese, or JFT-Basic (国際交流基金日本語基礎テスト, kokusai kouryuu kikin nihongo kiso tesuto, Japan Foundation basic Japanese test). The course explains what the test measures, how to book it safely, how to plan your study and how to handle each section on test day.

Who runs it and what it measures

JFT-Basic is made and run by the Japan Foundation (国際交流基金, kokusai kouryuu kikin). It checks whether you have the Japanese needed for communication in daily life in Japan: talking with coworkers, understanding instructions, reading notices and messages. It is a computer-based test taken at a test center, held in principle every month in Indonesia and other countries.

Why SSW candidates need it

To get the Specified Skilled Worker (i) status, 特定技能1号 (tokutei ginou ichigou), you usually need to pass two things: the skills test for your field and a Japanese test. For the Japanese part, the two common options are:

• JFT-Basic at the A2 level (a score of 200 or more), or
• the JLPT (日本語能力試験, nihongo nouryoku shiken) at N4 or higher.

Some fields add their own language test, for example the nursing care Japanese test for 介護 (kaigo, nursing care). Candidates who completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in good standing may be exempt from some tests. For the full SSW path, see the course on routes to work in Japan.

JFT-Basic or JLPT?

Many candidates choose JFT-Basic because it is held often and the result comes quickly. If you have already passed JLPT N4, you usually do not need JFT-Basic for SSW (i).

What A2 means

The levels come from the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education (JF日本語教育スタンダード), which follows the CEFR. At A2, you can understand frequently used sentences about familiar topics such as yourself, shopping, your neighborhood and work; exchange simple information in routine situations; and describe your background and immediate needs in simple words. It is not about knowing difficult kanji. It is about getting things done in everyday scenes.

New levels from August 2026

Until July 2026, JFT-Basic judged only one level, A2. Since August 2026, it reports three: A1, A2.1 and A2.2 (A2). The A2.2 (A2) level is the one used for SSW (i). The lower levels help you see your progress and can be used for other purposes, such as the language requirement of Employment for Skill Development, 育成就労 (ikusei shuurou), which starts in April 2027.

Per October 2026. Requirements can change. Check jpf.go.jp/jft-basic and ssw.go.jp for the current rules.