2 years of experience
Supervising multiple workers in relevant hotel services.
Japan SSW Accommodation Skills Test – Type 2
Japan SSW Accommodation Skills Test – Type 2: Experience, Exam & Visa
The Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test (ii) requires more than a booking: candidates must verify their two-year qualifying supervisory work history and send the official experience certificate to the examination organizer for a Prometric application number. This guide separates exam eligibility, test preparation and the eventual residence-status application.
50 + 20 questions
Japanese-language Type 2 exam, 60 minutes.
JPY 15,000 exam fee
Listed for Japan; verify current fees for your country and session.
Published guidance checked against official information on October 28, 2026. Test schedules and fees can change.
What Is Different About the Accommodation SSW Type 2 Exam?
The Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test (ii) is intended to measure more advanced skills for the accommodation industry. The permitted work involves providing hotel services while supervising several other employees. It is not merely a higher-scoring version of the Type 1 exam.
Supervisory hotel duties
Experience in front desk, planning/PR, customer service or restaurant services while guiding multiple workers.
Two-year experience requirement
An employment experience certificate is required before the organizer issues the special Prometric application number.
Skilled Worker Type 2 benefits
Unlike Type 1, the Type 2 status does not have the same cumulative five-year cap; qualified spouses/children may be eligible.
Type 1 and Type 2 skills exams are separate. Passing Type 1 or having years of service in a hotel does not itself prove the Type 2 supervisory experience requirement.
Current Type 2 Exam Format, Fee and Language
| Requirement | Officially published information |
|---|---|
| Name | 宿泊分野特定技能２号評価試験 / Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test (ii) |
| Theory questions | 50 multiple-choice questions |
| Practical judgment questions | 20 multiple-choice questions |
| Question choices | Four choices per question |
| Test language | Japanese, with furigana/ruby |
| Exam duration | 60 minutes |
| Japan fee | JPY 15,000, as listed by Prometric on October 28, 2026 |
| Age | At least 17; Indonesian nationals at least 18 |
| Professional experience | At least 2 years in relevant accommodation work while instructing multiple staff, subject to special transitional handling |
| Required pre-approval | Upload the organizer's prescribed work-experience certificate; receive an application number before Prometric reservation |
| Re-test restriction | Same exam cannot be retaken until the relevant 45-day period has passed |
The country-specific fee, venues and reservation windows can change. The organizer's Type 2 page and Prometric's test listing are the primary sources.
The Two-Year Supervisory Experience Rule
The organizer states that, by the day before the test, the candidate must have worked for at least two years at an accommodation facility in qualifying duties while guiding multiple employees. These activities can include front desk, promotion/planning, guest service or restaurant service. A specifically designated experience certificate must be submitted during pre-booking review.
| Evidence | What to document |
|---|---|
| Employment period | Exact start and end dates and workplace / hotel name. |
| Actual supervisory work | How the candidate guided more than one employee, with actual tasks, team and responsibilities. |
| Hospitality functions | Front desk, guest relations, promotion/planning, restaurant services and other relevant hotel duties. |
| Official employer certificate | Current format specified by the Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center, completed truthfully. |
| Former employer closed | Seek available authentic historical employment documents and consult the exam organizer about acceptable evidence; do not fabricate employer certification. |
Transitional handling applies to some persons already staying in Japan under accommodation SSW Type 1 as of June 9, 2023; certain earlier periods may be treated differently. Do not assume the exception covers every past hotel worker.
More than one employer can count: The test center permits adding qualifying periods from multiple companies. It gives an example of 1 year 3 months plus 10 months. Have the responsible employer complete the prescribed form, including the required handwritten signature; do not invent supervisory duties.
How to Apply: Experience Certificate Before Prometric Reservation
Check your employment timeline
Confirm at least 2 years of qualifying hotel experience by the day before the examination.
Download the organizer's experience form
Use the current form linked on the Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center website.
Obtain genuine company certification
The employer or former employer must confirm periods and relevant supervisory duties, as required.
Submit the pre-application request
Upload the certificate using the organizer's special application-number request form.
Wait for organizer document screening
The center sends the required Prometric application number after review. Do not invent one.
Book using the prescribed number
Follow the Prometric Type 2 reservation instructions and pay the current applicable fee.
Sit the 50+20 question test
Follow the authorized identity, timing and test-day rules.
Complete result and immigration steps
Arrange the official pass certificate and prepare Type 2 change/COE and receiving-employer evidence.
Preparing a Type 1 to Type 2 transition for your hotel?
We can assess the immigration application and the employer-side documents after the supervisory-experience requirement and examination route are confirmed.
Ask About SSW Immigration SupportSubjects and Preparation for the Type 2 Hotel Exam
The official skills test center identifies five knowledge areas: front desk, planning/promotion, guest service, restaurant service, and safety/basic knowledge. Type 2 requires a higher level of ability, particularly the work of guiding other employees. The current exam has 50 theory and 20 practical-judgment questions, listed as multiple-choice.
✓Review check-in/out and nonstandard guest requests.
✓Study operational service standards and safe guest guidance.
✓Study appropriate supervision, task allocation and on-the-job staff instruction.
✓Learn hotel campaign planning and public relations relevant to actual work.
✓Understand restaurant service procedures and hygiene controls.
✓Confirm available organizer-approved study materials rather than unofficial guarantees.
The test center provides Type 2 study materials, including an English-language text linked from its official website. The actual examination is in Japanese.
SSW Type 1 vs Type 2 in the Accommodation Field
| Question | Type 1 | Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Main work | Hotel service at an appropriate skill level | Hotel services while instructing several employees |
| Required skill assessment | Accommodation Type 1 exam (or lawful exemption) | Accommodation Type 2 exam |
| Japanese language qualification | Generally JFT-Basic or JLPT N4+, subject to exemptions | No separate blanket Type 1-style language-test requirement for Type 2; the job must still be performed effectively |
| Specific supervisory experience | Not the two-year Type 2 rule | Two years qualifying experience certified for examination |
| Maximum cumulative residence under that status | Generally 5 years for Type 1 | No fixed total upper limit equivalent to Type 1 |
| Family accompaniment | Ordinarily not permitted under Type 1 | Spouse/child may be eligible if legal conditions are satisfied |
| Type 1 worker support plan | Required | Different requirements; the Type 1 mandatory support plan does not automatically apply |
Even after passing the Type 2 test, the actual job must be in the permitted accommodation duties, and the employer must satisfy the accommodation-specific receiving rules.
Results and the Official Pass Certificate: Separate Steps
Prometric displays a result notice on the candidate's My Page, but the examination organizer warns that the Prometric pass notification alone cannot be used for the residence application. The Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center normally announces successful candidates and then accepts requests for the official certificate.
Check the result
Review your Prometric result notification and follow the organizer's formal pass announcement, generally within 30 days.
Confirm an eligible hiring hotel
The pass certificate is issued after an employment arrangement: the receiving employer and successful candidate must both apply.
Submit both certificate requests
The employer submits its application and the candidate follows the individual form sent to their email, using the required receipt ID.
Pay the separate issuance fee
The organizer currently specifies JPY 12,100. After payment verification, the PDF certificate is generally issued to the employer within about five business days, then must ultimately be given to the candidate.
Two separate charges: Type 2 exam in Japan ¥15,000; subsequent pass-certificate issuance ¥12,100. Check current instructions before payment. A certificate does not itself grant the residence status.
Employer Documents for a Type 2 Immigration Application
A hotel must examine its hotel/ryokan license, field council duties, direct employment, compensation and the real supervisory tasks. The applicant and employer then prepare the appropriate change-of-status or COE package, depending on where the worker resides.
✓Current residence card and permitted work if already in Japan.
✓Official Type 2 pass certificate or prescribed result evidence.
✓Authenticated employer certificate of supervisory work history.
✓Employment agreement and detailed Type 2 supervisory job description.
✓Hotel or ryokan operating permit and receiving-organization documents.
✓Salary and comparability with appropriately employed Japanese workers.
✓Municipal cooperation confirmation, as required for SSW receiving organizations.
✓Foreign-language document translations if required.
The Type 2 exam and the residence application are different decisions. Neither prior Type 1 residence nor an exam pass automatically grants a Type 2 status.
Special Concerns Before the Type 1 Five-Year Limit
A candidate nearing the cumulative five-year limit under SSW Type 1 should plan early for the Type 2 test, employer certificate, change-of-status paperwork and any immigration timing constraints. Some provisions may affect how the Type 1 cumulative time is calculated; assess the individual record rather than simply relying on a test booking.
Do not allow the Type 1 permission to expire while assuming the Type 2 examination reservation protects residence status. Consult the competent immigration office about lawful filing times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the accommodation Type 2 exam?
It is the higher-level accommodation industry skills test for activities involving hotel service while instructing multiple employees.
How many questions are in Type 2?
The testing center lists 50 theory and 20 practical-judgment multiple-choice questions.
How much does it cost?
The examination fee in Japan is JPY 15,000 as checked October 28, 2026. The separate pass-certificate issuance fee is JPY 12,100. Verify current rates before paying.
Is the test in English?
The published test language is Japanese. The organizer also links English-language study material.
Do I need two years of hotel experience?
Yes, the organizer requires at least two years of qualifying hotel work while guiding several employees, with some transitional handling for defined earlier periods.
Does experience as a regular guest-service worker always count?
Not automatically. The employer's actual supervisory duties and the formal experience rule must be checked.
Can work from before June 9, 2023 count?
Some Type 1 accommodation workers already resident under that status at the date of the amendment have transitional treatment. Verify the individual record and official rules.
Can I book before collecting the employer certificate?
The organizer requires a prescribed experience certificate and application-number request before the ordinary Prometric Type 2 booking.
What is an application number?
It is the number issued by the examination organizer after reviewing the required experience certificate, used in Prometric booking.
Can I take Type 2 after only passing the Type 1 exam?
No automatic entitlement arises from the Type 1 result. The separate Type 2 qualification and experience rules still apply.
What is the minimum age?
Generally at least 17 at test time, but Indonesian nationals must be at least 18 under the organizer rules.
Are there 45-day retake restrictions?
Yes. Prometric lists a same-test 45-day restriction from the day after examination.
Do I still need JLPT N4 for Type 2?
There is not a universal separate Type 1-style language test for SSW Type 2; however the work and examination are in Japanese.
Can I bring my spouse and children under Type 2?
A qualified spouse or child can potentially obtain the appropriate dependent status if the legal conditions are met.
Does Type 2 have a five-year total residence cap?
No. Unlike Type 1, Type 2 does not have the same cumulative five-year cap.
Will an ordinary Type 1 support plan be necessary for Type 2?
Type 1 support-plan obligations do not automatically carry over to the Type 2 category; review specific employer obligations.
Is hotel management experience outside Japan usable?
The organizer's current rules should be checked for the specific place, functions and document form. Do not assume all claimed experience is accepted.
What if my former employer refuses to issue the certificate?
Seek genuine alternative employment records and consult the authorized organizer about evidence. Do not falsify a certificate.
Can I work under Type 2 immediately after passing?
No. Prometric test results are not the official immigration permission, and the organizer says the Prometric pass notice cannot substitute for the separate pass certificate. The hiring employer and applicant must complete certificate issuance before applicable immigration steps.
Can your office prepare the Type 2 status application?
Yes, subject to examining the actual status, official result, employer and the agreed professional scope.
Our Immigration Application Fees and Separate Type 1 Support Services
| 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 Type 1 engagement; it is not a general Type 2 support-plan requirement. |
| 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.
Accommodation Test Center — Type 2 Exam and Work Certificate Form Accommodation Test Center — Results and Pass Certificate (¥12,100) Prometric — Accommodation Type 2 Exam Details Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center — Industry Exams and Study Texts Immigration Services Agency — Accommodation Type 1/2 Requirements Immigration Services Agency — Type 2 Job Descriptions Prometric — Country-Specific Exam Fees
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