2026 format
30 theory + 6 practical questions; 60 minutes.
Japan SSW Accommodation Skills Test – Type 1
Japan SSW Accommodation Skills Test – Type 1: Hotel & Ryokan Exam Guide
How do you register for the Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test (i)? This specialist English-language guide explains the test required for many foreign candidates pursuing Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 employment in a Japanese hotel or ryokan: exam content, 2026 fees, booking steps, result certificates and the separate immigration process.
Test fee in Japan
JPY 7,700 listed on Prometric (check before booking).
Separate visa process
A pass does not authorize work; the receiving hotel must qualify.
Published guidance checked against official information on October 28, 2026. Test schedules and fees can change.
What Is the Accommodation SSW Type 1 Skills Test?
The Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test (i) is the field-specific skills exam for certain foreign workers seeking Specified Skilled Worker (i) employment at a Japanese hotel or ryokan. It tests knowledge of hotel and guest-service work, not permission to enter or work in Japan.
Front desk
Guest arrival/departure, check-in, customer guidance and hotel information.
Planning and customer service
Hotel promotion, guest relations and appropriate communication.
Restaurant service and safety
Basic food service, hygiene, workplace safety and other hotel knowledge.
The field-specific accommodation exam is distinct from the general Japanese-language requirement. Normally, Type 1 candidates also prove Japanese ability through JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher, unless an applicable exemption exists.
Type 1 Test Format, Language and Price (2026)
| Item | Officially listed information |
|---|---|
| Test | Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test (i) / 宿泊分野特定技能１号評価試験 |
| Language | Japanese (with furigana/ruby in CBT questions) |
| Format | Computer-based testing (CBT) |
| Questions | 30 academic/theory questions and 6 practical-judgment questions; three choices per question |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Age | At least 17 on test day; Indonesian nationals at least 18 |
| Rebooking after taking exam | 45-day retest restriction from the day after the examination |
| Japan exam fee | JPY 7,700, per Prometric fee table checked Oct 28, 2026 |
| Venues and availability | Japan and participating overseas countries; seats and countries vary |
The fee above is for examination within Japan. An overseas country may charge another amount in local currency. Examination rules and test availability change: verify the current Prometric listing before booking.
How to Book the Accommodation Type 1 Exam
Choose your examination country
Open the official accommodation exam page and check the countries and test periods that currently appear.
Create one Prometric ID
Use the official Prometric account system; do not create duplicate IDs or let an intermediary use an incorrect identity.
Check personal information
Enter the name, date of birth and identification details required by the country-specific rules.
Select “Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test (i)”
Do not accidentally choose Type 2 or a different occupational exam.
Choose a date and pay
Confirm the center, seat, currency, fee, payment rules and the reservation deadline.
Bring the correct original ID
Follow test-day ID rules and arrival instructions. Save confirmation and candidate number.
Read the official results instructions
The Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center publishes results and explains the certificate issuance route.
Arrange employment and immigration filing
A pass does not itself create a work authorization. Confirm language evidence, employer eligibility and the SSW filing route.
Taking the accommodation exam for a hotel in Japan?
We can explain the immigration steps after passing, including the employer and Type 1 support arrangements.
Ask About SSW Immigration SupportWhat Does the Exam Cover?
| Field | Typical concepts to study |
|---|---|
| Front desk | Reservations, check-in/check-out, guest questions, travel and tourist information |
| Planning / PR | Special plans, communicating hotel services, promotion and advertising |
| Customer service | Guest guidance, hospitality, etiquette, responding to requests |
| Restaurant service | Orders, dining service, cleanliness and coordinated service |
| Safety and hygiene | Hotel security, workplace safety and basic hygiene |
The official testing center publishes English-language study texts and Japanese-language materials through linked resources. Use these instead of relying on unofficial leaked questions.
Who Can Use a Test Exemption?
A person who successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) may qualify for exemption from the Type 1 Japanese test; the occupational skills-test exemption depends on whether the training occupation/activity corresponds to the new SSW duties and the detailed rules. Training unrelated to accommodation does not automatically exempt the accommodation skills exam.
Do not rely on having a former training residence card alone. The requirement is satisfactory completion and, for the skills exemption, an officially recognized connection between work classifications.
Results, Official Pass Certificate and Visa Application
The organizing center normally announces results within the time indicated in its rules. Successful test takers may need to complete a further pass-certificate issuance procedure. The center explains that both the successful candidate and the hiring company take steps for certificate issuance, and that the company-side process is relevant once employment has been arranged.
Separate pass-certificate fee: The Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center currently lists JPY 12,100 for issuing the official passing certificate after the candidate and prospective employer complete their applications. The center says the result notification normally arrives within 30 days of testing and a Prometric My Page pass notice cannot be used for the residence-status application. Verify the latest procedure and fee with the center before paying.
✓Keep your Prometric ID and exam registration details.
✓Check the official pass announcement and the center’s My Page instructions.
✓Keep official Japanese-language test evidence or confirm a lawful exemption.
✓Seek a genuine eligible hotel/ryokan employer; beware brokers demanding prohibited deposits.
✓Check immigration, labor conditions, support plan and field council membership with the employer.
✓Confirm when the final pass certificate is available for the immigration application.
Passing the exam is not the same as receiving a Certificate of Eligibility, visa, or permission to change status. An immigration decision follows separate procedures.
What Must a Japanese Hotel Verify Before Hiring?
The accommodation field requires a qualifying hotel/ryokan business license, direct employment, compliance with the accommodation sector council and other conditions. An eligible employer should also provide wages no lower than comparable Japanese workers and an appropriate Type 1 support plan or arrange compliant support through a registered organization.
A private apartment rental operator or lodging property that does not meet the required licensing/sector conditions should not presume it can hire an accommodation SSW worker. Examine the business category and actual duties.
From Passing to Working: Which Application?
| Where are you? | Typical immigration route |
|---|---|
| Outside Japan | Japanese employer and authorized representative prepare a COE filing; following issuance, the applicant seeks the visa from the Japanese mission as applicable. |
| In Japan with a different lawful residence status | Potential change-of-status application before beginning unauthorized SSW employment. |
| Former technical intern | Check whether examination exemption applies and whether a change of status is lawful and timely. |
| Already SSW Type 1 in a different sector | Field change can require a new relevant skills qualification and immigration procedure. |
Some sending countries have their own additional bilateral or recruitment procedures. The test provider does not decide immigration permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the accommodation Type 1 exam grant a work visa?
No. It proves one skills requirement. A qualifying employer, Japanese-language evidence, lawful agreement and immigration permission are separately assessed.
How many questions are there?
The current Prometric description lists 30 theory questions and 6 practical questions.
How long is the exam?
The current exam duration is 60 minutes.
What language is used?
The exam is in Japanese, with furigana/ruby on the CBT test as stated by Prometric.
How much is it in Japan?
Prometric lists JPY 7,700 for testing within Japan as checked on October 28, 2026.
Is the fee the same overseas?
Not necessarily. Select the country in the official fee page to see its current local price.
Can I use the same Prometric ID for JFT-Basic?
Use the account process explained by Prometric and follow each examination’s booking requirements. Avoid duplicate IDs.
What is the minimum age?
At least 17 on exam day, or at least 18 for Indonesian nationals, under the listed rules.
What topics should I study?
Front desk, planning/PR, guest service, restaurant service, safety and hygiene. Follow the organizer’s current study material.
Can I re-take the test immediately after failing?
No. Prometric specifies a 45-day restriction calculated from the day after testing for the same exam.
Do I also need a Japanese-language test?
Generally JFT-Basic or JLPT N4+ for accommodation SSW Type 1, unless a lawful exemption applies.
Will any technical internship exempt the skills exam?
No. Satisfactory completion and matching occupational categories require individual assessment.
Does a pass guarantee a hotel job?
No. The candidate must separately find and enter into a lawful employment agreement.
When do I receive my pass certificate?
Follow the Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center announcement and certificate issuance procedure. It may require candidate and company steps.
Can I work in an unlicensed Airbnb property?
Do not assume so. The accommodation SSW field has specific hotel/ryokan licensing and receiving-organization rules.
Can the employer use a registered support organization?
Yes, subject to the applicable statutory requirements and the company/organization’s compliance.
Can I take the test from outside Japan?
The examination is held in selected foreign countries. Verify current countries and seat availability.
Can your office book my Prometric exam?
Please use the examiner’s official registration process. Our office primarily provides immigration application and registered Type 1 support services.
What comes after passing?
Obtain the necessary official result/certificate, relevant Japanese evidence, employer agreement and the correct immigration application.
Our Immigration Application and Type 1 Support Fees
| Service | Professional fee (including tax) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SSW COE / change-of-status application | From ¥110,000 | Government fees, translations, document costs and disbursements additional as applicable. |
| Registered support organization: Type 1 support | From ¥22,000 per person per month | Separate engagement; actual scope and field requirements are checked. |
| Multiple applicants and unusual documents | Individual quotation | A written scope and fee estimate are provided before paid engagement. |
Test fees are paid to the authorized testing provider and are not included in our immigration professional fee. A COE application itself ordinarily has no government filing charge. No examination or immigration outcome can be guaranteed.
Immigration Support by Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office
Our office in Sagae, Yamagata helps foreign workers and Japanese employers with the appropriate SSW residence procedure. We are a registered support organization (registration 25登-012295) and an immigration application intermediary. Exam registration and immigration filing are distinct processes.
Masanobu Kawagoe
Sagae, Yamagata, Japan
Registration: 25登-012295
Telephone +81 237-86-7198 (9:00–18:00 JST)
Related SSW and Company Services
Official Exam and Immigration Information
Always check the current instructions of the exam organizer and the Immigration Services Agency, especially immediately before paying or filing.
Prometric — Accommodation Type 1 exam rules and current schedule Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center — Candidate and certificate procedure Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center — Official study materials Prometric — Fees by test country Immigration Services Agency — Accommodation-sector requirements Immigration Services Agency — SSW test schedules
Need to Use Your Exam Result for a Japan Work Visa?
Tell us your nationality, current country and residence status, SSW field, language/skills results, intended employer and previous Technical Intern Training history. We can review the immigration requirements and the scope of professional assistance.
Support from Yamagata and online · Registered support organization 25登-012295 · No approval guarantee