SSW Exam Schedule 2026: Dates and Locations for Japan Skills Tests

Missing an exam window by a month can push your Japan departure back by 3–6 months. The SSW skills tests and language tests run on separate schedules, managed by different organizations, and the dates vary significantly by country. Here is how the 2026 exam calendar works and what you need to know to plan your timeline.

How the SSW Exam System Is Organized

To qualify for the Specified Skilled Worker visa, you need two passing certificates:

1. An industry-specific skills evaluation test — testing your job competency in your chosen sector
2. A Japanese language test — either JFT-Basic (A2 level) or JLPT N4

These are separate exams run by different organizations. Missing one means you cannot proceed to job applications — and employers will not wait indefinitely for a candidate whose exam is still pending.

Skills Evaluation Test Schedule

The majority of SSW skills tests are administered through Prometric's computer-based testing (CBT) system, which runs year-round at test centers in major sending countries. Because tests are CBT, they do not have single annual or biannual "sitting dates" like JLPT — instead, windows open and close for each sector on a rolling basis.

2026 exam windows by country (April–May 2026 reference data):

These windows indicate when test seats are available at Prometric centers in those countries. The specific industries available in each window vary — not every industry test is offered at every location in every window.

For the most current dates: Check directly at prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/schedule/ and the official ISA test information page at ssw.go.jp/en/about/sswv/exam/

Exceptions to the Prometric System

Some industries use different testing bodies:

• Construction: Managed by JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources) — jac-skill.or.jp/en/exam/
• Building Cleaning: Managed through Pearson VUE
• Nursing Care: Also administered via Prometric but under a specialized schedule that includes both the skills evaluation and a language-specific nursing vocabulary test

If you are applying for construction or building cleaning, check the industry association's website directly rather than the Prometric schedule.

Japan Language Test Schedule

JFT-Basic

The JFT-Basic (Japanese Foundation Test for Basic Japanese) is specifically designed for SSW applicants and tests practical A2-level communication. It runs up to 6 times per year in most major sending countries. Results are available the same day, making it significantly faster for timeline planning than JLPT.

Starting in August 2026, the JFT-Basic is introducing more granular scoring by industry — nursing care candidates will need stronger listening scores, while construction workers need stronger reading comprehension for safety signage.

JFT-Basic is also administered through Prometric. Schedule at: prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/schedule/jft_basic_overseas/

JLPT N4

The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) at N4 is the traditional language qualification. It runs only twice a year globally: July and December. Results take approximately 2 months to arrive after the exam.

The implications for your timeline are significant:

• If you fail the July JLPT, you wait until December to resit — a 5-month gap
• The JFT-Basic, offered more frequently with same-day results, is generally the smarter choice for applicants who need to move quickly

How to Build Your Timeline

The SSW visa process has several stages that depend on each other. Working backward from a target start date:

Target arrival in Japan: Month 0

• Month -1 to -2: Visa issued at Japanese embassy (5–10 business days after COE received)
• Month -2 to -5: COE processing at Regional Immigration Bureau (1–3 months)
• Month -4 to -6: Job search, employment contract signed
• Month -5 to -7: Skills test and language test passed

This means you need your exam certificates in hand approximately 5–7 months before you want to start working in Japan. If you are targeting the JLPT in July, plan for your arrival no earlier than the following February at the absolute earliest — and that assumes COE processing goes quickly.

The JFT-Basic's higher frequency removes this bottleneck. If you pass in March, you can be looking for jobs in April and realistically arrive in Japan by August or September.

What Happens If You Fail

Failing either exam means a 45-day waiting period before you can retake it. This is not a minor inconvenience — a job offer can expire during that window. Plan to sit exams with margin in your timeline, not at the last moment before a job offer deadline.

Exam fees are non-refundable. Retaking costs: $25–$100 for the skills test (industry-dependent), $30–$70 for the language test.

Staying Current

Exam schedules for SSW tests shift frequently. New countries are added to the testing network, sector-specific windows open and close, and quota suspensions (like the Food Service COE suspension in April 2026) can affect which industries are worth prioritizing.

Bookmark these three sources and check them monthly:

• ssw.go.jp/en/about/sswv/exam/ — official ISA test information
• prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/ — most sector test registration
• Your industry association's website (JAC for construction, etc.)

For the full SSW application process — including what documents to prepare for the COE, how to verify your employer is legitimate, and what support you are legally entitled to after arrival — see the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa Guide.

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