SSW Visa Japan from Nepal: Requirements, Process, and 2026 Exam Dates

Nepal is one of the most active SSW sending countries — Nepali workers have strong representation in construction, food manufacturing, and agriculture, and the exam infrastructure in Nepal has expanded significantly since 2022. If you are in Nepal and want to work in Japan on the SSW visa, the pathway is well-established. But there are specific requirements and risks for Nepali applicants that are worth knowing before you start.

Why Nepal and Japan Are a Strong Match

Japan and Nepal have an established SSW relationship, and Nepal is included in the bilateral agreements (MOCs — Memoranda of Cooperation) that govern SSW sending countries. This means:

• Nepali applicants can sit SSW skills tests in Nepal through the Prometric CBT network
• There are verified sending organizations in Nepal authorized to work with Japanese accepting organizations
• Japan has specific provisions for Nepali workers in industries facing acute shortages

Nepal's demographic profile also matches Japan's needs well: a young, skilled workforce in the 20–35 age range with experience in construction, agriculture, and manufacturing from domestic work.

Exam Access in Nepal

Nepal has among the densest SSW test schedules of any South Asian sending country. 2026 exam windows in Nepal:

• April: April 10, 12–13, 15–24, 26–30
• May: May 1–2, 7–21

These are test center availability windows — specific industries are available within these windows based on the Prometric schedule. Check prometric-jp.com/en/ssw/schedule/ for the exact dates when your target industry's test is offered in Nepal.

The JFT-Basic Japanese language test is also available through Prometric in Nepal on a similar schedule.

Mandatory TB Screening (JPETS)

This is non-negotiable for Nepali applicants. Nepal is one of six countries for which Japan mandates the Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (JPETS) before a COE or visa can be issued. The others are the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, and China.

What you must do:

1. Find a JPETS "panel clinic" in Nepal designated by the Japanese Embassy — see jpets.mhlw.go.jp for the list
2. Get a chest X-ray at that specific clinic (not any hospital)
3. Receive a TB Clearance Certificate

The certificate is valid for 180 days from the date of the chest X-ray. If your certificate expires before your visa application is submitted, you need a new one.

Timing strategy: Do not get the JPETS done at the very start of your application. Do it after you have a job offer in hand but while your COE is being processed — this maximizes the chance that the 180-day validity covers your actual visa application date.

Finding Legitimate Work and Avoiding Scams

The broker fee problem in Nepal is serious. Research data suggests Nepali workers pay among the highest illegal recruitment fees of any SSW sending country — some reports indicate $4,000–$7,000 USD paid to brokers before leaving Nepal. Much of this is borrowed, creating debt that workers spend their first year repaying.

What a legitimate SSW pathway costs from Nepal:

Placement fees beyond these preparation costs are illegal. Any sending organization or broker in Nepal that asks you to pay a job placement fee, a visa processing fee, or a "matching fee" to connect you with a Japanese employer is violating both Nepali labor law and Japan's SSW recruitment rules.

How to verify:

• In Nepal, verify that the sending organization is approved by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MOLESS) and recognized by OTIT (the Japan-side oversight body for sending organizations)
• On the Japan side, verify the accepting organization at ssw.go.jp
• The OTIT website (otit.go.jp) publishes lists of approved overseas sending organizations — your Nepal-based intermediary should appear there

If you cannot verify the sending organization through these official channels, do not proceed.

The Full Application Process from Nepal

Step 1: Pass your skills test

Register at prometric-jp.com for your industry's skills evaluation test. Prepare for at least 2–3 months before sitting — the 45-day retake ban makes a failed first attempt costly in time.

Step 2: Pass your Japanese language test

JFT-Basic is available through Prometric in Nepal with same-day results. This is the faster option vs. waiting for JLPT N4 results (which take 2 months to arrive). Prepare for 2–4 months of study from scratch, or 1–2 months if you have prior Japanese knowledge.

Step 3: Find a verified job offer

Connect with a MOLESS/OTIT-approved sending organization in Nepal that has relationships with Japanese accepting organizations. The Japanese employer must offer you a salary equivalent to what Japanese workers earn in the same role. Get everything in writing before signing.

Step 4: JPETS TB screening

Schedule at a JPETS panel clinic in Nepal. Time this to align with your COE processing timeline (see below).

Step 5: COE application

Your Japanese employer or their RSO submits the COE application. Processing typically takes 1–3 months. The COE is the Japanese government's pre-approval of your visa eligibility.

Step 6: Embassy visa

Once the COE arrives, apply at the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu. Processing takes 5–10 business days. Enter Japan within 3 months of COE issuance.

Realistic Timeline for Nepali Applicants

Nepali applicants often land at the longer end of this range because exam preparation tends to start from a lower Japanese baseline and because job matching through Nepal-based sending organizations can take longer than in countries with established Japan-facing placement networks.

What Happens After You Arrive

As SSW Type 1 workers, Nepali employees in Japan are entitled to the same mandatory support as workers from any other country: housing assistance, airport pickup, bank account setup, life orientation, and quarterly check-in meetings. These are provided by the employer or their RSO — at the employer's expense, not yours.

You have the legal right to change employers within your industry. If your employer lays you off or the work environment becomes untenable, you can legally find a new accepting organization within 3 months without losing your SSW status.

The Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa Guide covers the complete process with document checklists, employer verification steps, and what to do if you face exploitation after arrival.

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