If your goal is a job in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa, there's a test made almost exactly for you — and it isn't the JLPT. The JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese) was created to prove you can handle everyday Japanese well enough to live and work in Japan. It's shorter than the JLPT, held far more often, and accepted as one of the two ways to clear the SSW language bar.
Key takeaway: JFT-Basic is a 60-minute computer test scored 10–250 points; you pass at 200 (A2 level). It satisfies the SSW visa's Japanese requirement — the same as JLPT N4 — but it's offered several times a month, so you don't wait for a twice-a-year JLPT sitting.
What JFT-Basic is for
The Japan Foundation built this test to measure whether you have "enough Japanese to handle everyday situations" — the conversations you'll actually have with co-workers, supervisors, neighbours, and clerks (Japan Foundation — About). Japan's Immigration Services Agency accepts either JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 as proof of language ability for SSW Type 1 (MOFA — SSW).
In plain terms: pass this, clear your sector's skills test, and you've met two of the big requirements to work in Japan.
What's on the test
JFT-Basic is Computer-Based Testing (CBT) run through Prometric, and it has four sections (Japan Foundation — About):
- Script and Vocabulary
- Conversation and Expression
- Listening Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
The whole thing takes about 60 minutes. Notice the emphasis: it's practical and situational — everyday scenes, real conversations — rather than the grammar-and-reading focus of the JLPT.
Scoring and validity
- Score range: 10–250 points. A total of 200 or above = A2 (pass) (Japan Foundation — About).
- From August 2026, results will also show A1 and A2.1 sub-levels, giving a finer read of your ability (Japan Foundation — notice).
- The result itself has no expiry date, though your data stays on the reservation site for five years. (For a visa application, always check the current SSW rules for any recency requirement — see the disclaimer below.)
JFT-Basic vs JLPT N4: the honest comparison
Both clear the SSW language bar. The real differences:
| JFT-Basic | JLPT N4 | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Several times a month | Twice a year (Jul & Dec) |
| Length | 60 min | ~115 min |
| Style | Practical, situational | Grammar + reading heavy |
| Format | Computer (CBT) | Paper |
| Fee (India) | ~₹3,540 | ~₹1,700 |
| In India | Bengaluru, Guwahati, Gurgaon | 8 cities |
Choose JFT-Basic if you want to test in the next few weeks or you're stronger at practical listening/conversation than at grammar drills. Choose JLPT N4 if you want a cheaper, globally-recognised certificate and can wait for the July/December window. Many people simply take whichever comes first.
Taking it in India
JFT-Basic runs at Prometric centres in Bengaluru, Guwahati, and Gurgaon, several times a month, for around ₹3,540 (Prometric — SSW fees). You book online through the reservation site and sit the test on a computer at the centre.
How to prepare
- Nail kana and everyday vocabulary. Start with the Hiragana and Katakana charts, then the N5 and N4 vocabulary decks — JFT-Basic sits around A2 (≈ N4).
- Train listening and conversation hard. Two of the four sections are audio/expression, and this test rewards practical comprehension. Use graded listening and simple readings.
- Use the official sample questions. The Japan Foundation publishes practice materials — do them so the CBT format holds no surprises.
- Learn the ~300 N4-level kanji in component-grouped sets so look-alikes don't trip you up.
Your next step
If work in Japan is the plan, get concrete this week: check the SSW visa requirements for your sector, then start closing the language gap on the free N4 decks. Prefer the certificate route? Compare with the JLPT N4 guide.
FAQ
Is JFT-Basic accepted for the SSW visa? Yes — it's one of the two accepted proofs of Japanese ability for SSW Type 1, alongside JLPT N4.
What score do I need to pass? 200 out of a possible 250, which corresponds to A2 level.
How is it different from JLPT N4? Similar level, different style: JFT-Basic is a shorter, practical, computer-based test offered monthly; JLPT N4 is a longer, paper, grammar-and-reading test offered twice a year.
Does JFT-Basic expire? The result has no expiry date, but confirm any recency requirement for your specific visa application with official sources.
*This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Visa rules, accepted tests, fees, and figures change and vary by individual circumstances and sector — verify the latest details with official sources (the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and the Japan Foundation) and consult a qualified professional or registered agent before making decisions.*
Sources: Japan Foundation — About JFT-Basic, Japan Foundation — A1/A2.1 from Aug 2026, Prometric — SSW fees, MOFA — SSW procedures.