JFT-Basic Test in Pakistan: PKR 10,788 Fee, Islamabad Centre and Every Date to January 2027

We read every figure here on the Prometric Japan test pages and the Japan Foundation's own JFT-Basic site on 9 November 2026. JFT-Basic is the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese. It is one of the two language tests Japan accepts for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa, the main work route open to Pakistanis. If you are aiming for Japan, this is usually the first exam you sit.

JFT-Basic fee in Pakistan is PKR 10,788

Prometric's fee page for Pakistan lists JFT-Basic at a net price of PKR 9,300 and a gross price of PKR 10,788. Plan for the gross amount, because that is the full price shown. The page does not explain the gap between the two figures, so ask the test centre what is included before you pay.

That fee covers one sitting. Fail it, and you pay again for the next attempt. So it makes sense to book only when your practice scores are steady, not as a trial run.

The only JFT-Basic centre in Pakistan is in Islamabad

Prometric lists one Pakistani test centre: "Islamabad, Pakistan", centre number PKJ01, run by SKANS School of Accountancy. The address is 14-A Haroon Building, F-8 Markaz, Islamabad 44000. There is no Lahore or Karachi centre on the list, so candidates from other cities have to travel.

That matters for planning. A candidate from Karachi or Quetta should book the date first, then the bus or flight, and arrive the day before. The test is short, but a missed slot is a lost fee because Prometric says cancellations are not possible.

Islamabad test dates to January 2027

Prometric's overseas schedule for JFT-Basic, updated 15 October 2026, marks these days for Islamabad. The first two have passed. Seats are limited and Prometric says some marked days may not have slots left.

Booking for the current term runs to 11 November 2026, for tests up to 15 November. Booking for the next term opens on 25 November 2026 at about 10:00 Japan time, which is 06:00 in Pakistan, and stays open until 12 January 2027. That term's tests run from 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027.

How to book JFT-Basic from Pakistan

You book online with a Prometric ID, then pay with a voucher. Pakistan is listed for voucher payment only, so card payment is not an option here.

1. Create a Prometric ID on the JFT-Basic page of prometric-jp.com. One person may hold only one ID.
2. Enter your name exactly as it is printed in your passport's machine readable lines. If your passport shows a single name, Prometric puts it in the first name field and a hyphen in the last name.
3. Buy a voucher. Prometric says vouchers bought at a test centre are paid in cash and can only be used in that country.
4. Log in, pick Islamabad and a date, and enter the voucher code.
5. Book early. Changes close at 23:59 Japan time, which is 19:59 in Pakistan, three Japanese business days before the test, or four if the test falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Japanese holiday.
6. Take your original passport on the day. Prometric lists the passport as the only ID it accepts in Pakistan.

For a Saturday test such as 14 November, the four business day rule puts the last booking day around 10 November. Do not leave it to the final evening. Seats run out first.

What the test checks and how you prepare

JFT-Basic is a computer test with about 50 questions in 60 minutes. It has four parts: script and vocabulary, conversation and expression, listening, and reading. It tests the Japanese needed for daily life and work, not academic grammar.

Prometric also notes a change: from August 2026 the test can also show results at the A1 and A2.1 levels. For the SSW visa, check the level your job field asks for with your employer or the Japanese agency handling your case.

Cheap preparation exists at home. The Overseas Employment Corporation runs a Japanese language course in Islamabad and Lahore, and free Japanese classes through NAVTTC are another option. Prometric publishes sample questions on its JFT-Basic page, which are worth doing twice before you book.

JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 for the SSW visa

You do not need both. Prometric's JFT-Basic page states that a candidate with JLPT N4 or higher does not need to take JFT-Basic to apply for SSW status. JLPT is held only twice a year, while JFT-Basic runs in two-month terms with several dates each term. For most workers who want to move quickly, JFT-Basic is the faster route.

Passing the language test is only one step. Prometric warns that a pass does not guarantee a Specified Skilled Worker visa. You still need a skills test in your job field, a job offer from a Japanese employer, and the Japan work visa for Pakistanis itself, including the protector stage before you fly.

Common questions

What is the JFT-Basic fee in Pakistan?

Prometric lists PKR 10,788 as the gross price and PKR 9,300 as the net price. Plan for PKR 10,788.

Where is the JFT-Basic test centre in Pakistan?

SKANS School of Accountancy, 14-A Haroon Building, F-8 Markaz, Islamabad. It is the only centre Prometric lists in Pakistan.

When is the next JFT-Basic test in Islamabad?

14 November 2026. After that, 12 and 21 December 2026 and 8 and 9 January 2027, with booking opening on 25 November 2026.

Can I pay the JFT-Basic fee by card in Pakistan?

No. Prometric lists voucher as the only payment method for Pakistan.

Can I use my CNIC as ID for JFT-Basic?

No. Prometric accepts only a passport in Pakistan, so get your passport before you book.

How soon can I retake JFT-Basic if I fail?

You must wait 45 days, counted from the day after your test, before taking it again.

Last checked 9 November 2026 against Prometric Japan's JFT-Basic, fee, payment, ID and overseas schedule pages, and the Japan Foundation's JFT-Basic site.