Everything about taking JFT-Basic in Nepal in one place: the test centres in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Pokhara, the USD 36 fee, when the booking form opens, what to bring, and full-length mock tests in the real 4-section format.
Booking is open
Checked 24 October 2026 against the official schedule. Official schedule
The Japanese test for Japan's Specified Skilled Worker visa
The JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese) is a computer-based Japanese test run by the Japan Foundation. It measures the Japanese needed for everyday life and work, and is used for Japan's Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa.
It focuses on practical communication: following instructions, reading signs and notices, and choosing the right thing to say in a situation.
A score of 200 or more meets the same SSW Type 1 language requirement as JLPT N4. You also need the skills test for your job field.
जेएफटी बेसिकमा २०० वा सोभन्दा बढी अंक ल्याएमा SSW भिसाको जापानी भाषा आवश्यकता पूरा हुन्छ। JFT Guru मा नि:शुल्क अभ्यास गर्नुहोस्।
The JFT-Basic test is a 60-minute computer-based test of about 50 questions, split across four sections:
Hiragana, katakana and basic kanji, plus the everyday vocabulary you need at work and in daily life. Tests whether you can read a word correctly and choose the right one for a sentence.
Choosing the natural thing to say in a given situation: greetings, requests, apologies and workplace exchanges. Tests practical expression rather than grammar rules in isolation.
Short conversations, instructions and announcements played at natural speed. Tests whether you can follow spoken Japanese in everyday and workplace situations.
Signs, notices, short messages and simple instructions. Tests practical reading for the situations you will actually meet in Japan.
Booking is done online on Prometric's official site. JFT Guru does not take bookings.
A practical 4-week plan for SSW visa applicants
The real JFT-Basic is taken on a computer, not on paper. Start with a timed mock test to see your current level and get used to answering on screen before you study.
Focus on the words you meet at work and in daily life: instructions, safety signs, shops, transport and health. JFT Guru's word lists and flashcards are organised by JFT topic.
Listen at natural speed and answer without replaying the audio, so you are ready for test conditions. Short daily sessions work better than one long one.
Do full 60-minute mock tests regularly and review every wrong answer. Track which of the four sections loses you the most points and practise that section on its own.
Book your real test once your mock scores are consistently comfortable. A retake means waiting 45 days and paying the fee again, so it pays to be ready.
A suggested schedule for SSW visa applicants
| Week | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Vocabulary + hiragana/katakana review |
| Week 2 | Listening drills + conversation and expression practice |
| Week 3 | Full mock tests + weakness analysis |
| Week 4 | Exam simulation + confidence building |
The 4-section JFT-Basic format with a timer and instant score. Sample questions are visible without an account; the free sets need a free account.
JFT Basic Mock Test 1
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Start →JFT-Basic covers the Japanese half of SSW Type 1. You also need the skills test for your field. The nursing care and agriculture tests can be taken in Nepali.
Nursing Care Type 1
USD 15
Food Service Type 1
USD 33
Agriculture Type 1
USD 33
Automobile Repair and Maintenance Type 1
USD 31
Construction Type 1
USD 8
Accommodation Type 1
USD 55
Accommodation Type 2
USD 110
Small things that cost points or money on test day
If you always replay the audio in practice, natural-speed listening on the day feels much harder. Train with one listen and answer straight away.
The script and vocabulary section starts with reading hiragana, katakana and basic kanji. Quick daily review keeps these points safe.
The whole test is one 60-minute block. Practise with a timer so the pace is not a surprise.
Accepted ID at Nepali centres: Passport only. Book with the name exactly as it appears on it.
The first and last test days of a window fill quickly. Book early in the window and choose a centre with open dates.
Dates, fees, centres and scores for candidates in Nepal
Yes. JFT-Basic is held at 5 computer-based test centres in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Pokhara, in booking windows that run through the year. The current window has test days from 2 October 2026 to 15 November 2026.
In Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Pokhara. Each centre has its own test days; the exam dates page lists the next 60 days for every centre, with addresses.
The fee is USD 36, paid by card when you book. It is charged in US dollars, not rupees.
The current booking window runs from 29 September 2026 to 11 November 2026, and in Nepal it opens at 12:45 Nepal time. Test days in this window run from 2 October 2026 to 15 November 2026.
Accepted ID at Nepali centres: Passport only. The name on your booking must match it exactly.
JFT-Basic is scored from 10 to 250, and the SSW visa needs 200 or more (reported as A2.2). Since August 2026 the result also shows A1 (145-174) and A2.1 (175-199), so you can get a level and still be short of the 200 you need. It is one total across all four sections, not a pass mark per section.
Your score is shown on screen when the test ends, and the official result notice is in your account within 5 business days.
For SSW Type 1, a JFT-Basic score of 200 or more and JLPT N4 meet the same Japanese requirement. JFT-Basic is a 60-minute computer test with booking windows through the year; JLPT is a paper test held on fixed dates, with just under two hours of test time at N4.
You can practise free with a free account, and see sample questions from mock test set 1 without one. A premium plan unlocks all 116 mock test sets.
116 full mock tests in the JFT-Basic format, with instant scoring.
Start Free Mock Test →Free to start · JFT Guru is an independent study platform and does not take exam bookings