Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers is expanding, but many requirements must be met to become a Specified Skilled Worker. This article explains the Japanese language ability standards that Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals must satisfy.

Japanese Language Requirements for Transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker

There are three patterns (1 through 3 below) for proving the Japanese language ability needed to transition to Specified Skilled Worker.

1. Completion of Technical Intern Training (ii)

2. Passing the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher

3. Passing JFT-Basic A2 or higher

1. Completion of Technical Intern Training (ii)

Foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) are deemed to already possess the Japanese language ability required to become Specified Skilled Workers. Under the Specified Skilled Worker system, completion of (ii) is also recognized once a person has undergone Technical Intern Training for at least two years and 10 months, so procedures can be started early before Technical Intern Training is fully completed.

In addition, in the case of Technical Intern Training, candidates must take the specialized-level skills proficiency test before completing Technical Intern Training (ii).

Furthermore, to transition from Technical Intern Training (ii) to (iii), candidates must also pass the specialized-level practical skills test.

To transition from Technical Intern Training (ii) to Specified Skilled Worker,

passing a skills proficiency test or similar is not required, so in that respect the hurdle is lower than transitioning to Technical Intern Training (ii).

Most foreign nationals who become Specified Skilled Workers have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and thereby met the Specified Skilled Worker requirements. However, partly due to the impact of COVID-19, there has also been an increase in cases where international students and others in Japan who have difficulty returning home pass the Specified Skilled Worker skills tests and Japanese language tests and then apply to become Specified Skilled Workers.

Many international students have already passed JLPT N4, which is one of the Japanese language standards, so in those cases they can become Specified Skilled Workers by passing only the skills test.

In addition, by using the Designated Activities status for employment maintenance support announced in response to COVID-19, candidates can work for one year at the company where they plan to work as Specified Skilled Workers while taking skills tests and Japanese language proficiency tests.

Passing the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher

We explain the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), one method of proving the Japanese language ability required to become a Specified Skilled Worker.

●What is the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test?

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the most widely recognized test for proving Japanese language ability. It is a proficiency examination that measures Japanese language ability for learners whose native language is not Japanese, and together with JFT-Basic, it is a test used to prove the Japanese language ability required for Specified Skilled Worker (i) applications.

●Who organizes it?

It is organized by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services and the Japan Foundation.

●When and where is it held?

It can be taken not only in Japan but around the world, and is held twice a year on designated test dates in Japan and overseas (about 80 countries and regions).

●Other points

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test is already a major examination; virtually every foreign national residing in Japan knows of it. For those planning to apply for Specified Skilled Worker status who will study for and take a Japanese language test going forward, the JFT-Basic test introduced below is more recommended.

3. Passing JFT-Basic A2 or higher

We explain JFT-Basic, the Japanese language test for foreign nationals who have not completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and wish to become Specified Skilled Workers.

●What is JFT-Basic?

JFT-Basic is a test that measures Japanese language ability and is administered using a computer-based testing format. It measures the Japanese language ability needed for communication in everyday life situations that foreign nationals who come to Japan for work encounter while living in Japan. Its primary purpose is to determine whether examinees have “the ability to engage in everyday conversation to a certain extent and to live without difficulty.” It is conducted on computers at test venues in each country where it is offered; examinees answer on screen based on questions displayed on the computer and audio played through headphones.

●Who organizes it?

It is organized by the Japan Foundation.

●When and where is JFT-Basic held?

It is held in Japan and in various other countries, primarily in Southeast Asia.

JFT-Basic uses the CBT format and is held six times a year in Japan and overseas, mainly in Asia, during test periods set for each country.

●Advantages of choosing JFT-Basic compared with the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test

〇 Compared with the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, there are six examination periods per year and many sessions at a wide range of venues, making it especially recommended for foreign nationals who want to meet the Japanese language requirement for a Specified Skilled Worker application.

〇 There are only two tests that can prove fulfillment of the Specified Skilled Worker Japanese language requirement, and JFT-Basic is one of them.

Even if a person has demonstrated high Japanese ability on another Japanese language test, that does not count as proof of Japanese language ability for Specified Skilled Worker status. For such foreign nationals, we recommend taking JFT-Basic, which is easy to sit for.

〇 Test results are known on the examination day, and the result notification can be checked online within five business days. This makes it easy to meet Specified Skilled Worker application timelines.

●Other points

For JFT-Basic, it is also possible to book an examination in a country other than the one where you live. However, in that case explanations, precautions, and terms at each venue are provided in the local language or English, so note that the difficulty may increase.

What Are the Differences Between the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and JFT-Basic?

○ Compared with the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, the purpose differs. JFT-Basic measures the Japanese language ability needed for communication in everyday life situations that foreign nationals who come to Japan for work encounter while living in Japan, and it has a single level. By contrast, the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test is divided into five levels from N1 to N5 and is a comprehensive test designed for a wide range of situations, with the purpose of measuring learning proficiency among Japanese language learners from diverse backgrounds.

○ The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test and JFT-Basic also differ greatly in how they are administered. The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test uses a mark-sheet format, whereas JFT-Basic is conducted on computers, and examinees answer on screen based on questions displayed on the computer and audio played through headphones.

○ Regarding test results, for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test results are released online about two months after the examination date, and the pass/fail result notification arrives about three months later. For JFT-Basic, results are known on the examination day, and the determination result notification is issued within five business days of the examination date.

○ A point common to both the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test and JFT-Basic is that neither is set by Specified Skilled Worker field. Once a candidate has passed a test at the level that meets the requirement, there is no need to retake the Japanese language test even when changing jobs to another field.

Summary

This article introduced the Japanese language ability that Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals must satisfy, focusing on the content of the tests used as proof.

For foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii), even if their Japanese language ability is low, they meet the

Japanese language requirement for becoming a Specified Skilled Worker, so this is the simplest method, and most foreign nationals who become Specified Skilled Workers apply through this route. Meanwhile, foreign nationals who have not experienced Technical Intern Training—primarily international students—must take one of the two tests introduced in this article to prove their Japanese language ability, so they need to prepare carefully before applying for Specified Skilled Worker status, including checking available examination dates.