Can you take the Tokutei Ginou exam before going to Japan? Where can you take the exam? Do you need to take both the Japanese language and skills tests? How do you register and prepare effectively?

For those planning to work in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginou) status of residence, the required examinations are an important part of the preparation process.

One of the most common questions among Vietnamese applicants is whether they must travel to Japan to take the Tokutei Ginou examination or whether they can take it in Vietnam.

The answer is: you do not necessarily have to go to Japan. Some Tokutei Ginou examinations are held in Vietnam. According to the current information published by Prometric, examination centres are available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

However, not every Tokutei Ginou field is held at the same time or at the same examination centre. Candidates must check the examination schedule, location and registration requirements for their specific field.

If you are new to Tokutei Ginou, you can first read:

What Is Tokutei Ginou? Conditions, Benefits, Salary and Tokutei Ginou Fields in Japan

WHAT IS THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION?

Tokutei Ginou (特定技能), or Specified Skilled Worker, is a status of residence that allows foreign nationals with the required skills and knowledge to work in designated fields in Japan.

For Specified Skilled Worker (i), applicants generally need to demonstrate:

Japanese language ability
Skills relevant to their chosen occupational field

However, the exact examinations and requirements vary depending on the field.

Therefore, applicants should first determine which occupation they want to work in and then identify the relevant examinations and requirements.

DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO JAPAN TO TAKE THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAM?

NO. APPLICANTS IN VIETNAM CAN TAKE THE EXAM IF THE RELEVANT TEST IS HELD IN VIETNAM

This is an important point for Vietnamese workers planning to work in Japan.

Tokutei Ginou examinations are conducted not only in Japan but also in selected overseas countries. Vietnam is one of the countries where Prometric provides examination centres.

However:

“There are examination centres in Vietnam” does not mean that every Tokutei Ginou examination can be taken in Vietnam.

Depending on the field, there may be differences in:

Examination type;
Examination dates;
Examination venue;
Examination language;
Registration requirements.

Therefore, applicants should always check the latest information for their specific examination before registering.

TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION CENTRES IN VIETNAM

According to the overseas examination centre information currently published by Prometric, Vietnam has two examination centres, located in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

HANOI

Vietnam Hanoi 1 – VEJ01

Operator: IIG Vietnam
Address: 3rd Floor, Trung Yen Plaza, No. 1 Trung Hoa Street, Yen Hoa Ward, Hanoi.

HO CHI MINH CITY

Vietnam Ho Chi Minh – VEJ03

Operator: IIG Vietnam
Address: 1st Floor, Tower 1, The Sun Avenue Building, No. 28 Mai Chi Tho Street, Binh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

The fact that Prometric lists examination centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City does not mean that every Tokutei Ginou field is necessarily available at both locations.

Before registering, applicants should check:

Examination name → Field → Examination date → Country → Available examination centre → Registration availability

WHAT DOES THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION INCLUDE?

Depending on the field and the applicant's circumstances, two main areas may need to be addressed.

1. JAPANESE LANGUAGE EXAMINATION

In many cases under Specified Skilled Worker (i), applicants need to demonstrate their Japanese language ability.

Commonly recognised examinations include:

JFT-Basic;
JLPT;
Other Japanese language assessments recognised under the relevant regulations.

However, applicants should not assume that “passing JLPT N4 automatically means that all Tokutei Ginou requirements have been met.”

The exact requirements should be checked according to the chosen field and individual circumstances.

2. SKILLS EXAMINATION

The skills examination assesses the knowledge and practical skills required for the applicant's chosen field of work.

For example:

Construction → Construction Skills Examination

Food and Beverage Manufacturing → Food and Beverage Manufacturing Skills Examination

Food Service → Food Service Skills Examination

Agriculture → Agriculture Skills Examination

The examination content and assessment standards differ depending on the field.

IS THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN JAPANESE OR VIETNAMESE?

There is no single answer for every field.

The examination language may differ depending on the field and the examination system.

Therefore, before starting your preparation, you should identify:

Which field → Which examination → Which language → Which study materials → Where to take the examination

This will help you avoid preparing with unsuitable materials or for the wrong examination.

CAN TECHNICAL INTERN TRAINEES BE EXEMPTED FROM THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION?

This is particularly important for people who have previously completed the Technical Intern Training Programme in Japan.

In certain cases, people who have successfully completed their Technical Intern Training may be exempt from some examinations when transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker (i).

Whether an applicant qualifies for an exemption depends on factors such as:

The occupation and work completed during Technical Intern Training;
The field and work they intend to undertake under Specified Skilled Worker;
Their Technical Intern Training completion status.

Therefore, completing Technical Intern Training does not automatically mean that all Tokutei Ginou examinations are exempted.

Applicants with previous Technical Intern Training experience should check their individual circumstances before registering for an examination.

For more information about transitioning from Technical Intern Training to Tokutei Ginou:

What Is the Difference Between Technical Intern Training and Tokutei Ginou?

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION

The exact procedure varies depending on the examination, but the basic process can be understood as follows.

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR FIELD

First, decide what type of work you would like to do in Japan.

For example:

Construction;
Food and beverage manufacturing;
Food service;
Agriculture;
Nursing care;
Industrial product manufacturing;
Other Specified Skilled Worker fields.

STEP 2: CHECK THE REQUIREMENTS

Check:

Whether a skills examination is required;
Whether a Japanese language examination is required;
The required Japanese language level;
Whether work experience is required;
Whether you qualify for an examination exemption.

STEP 3: CHECK WHETHER THE EXAMINATION IS AVAILABLE IN VIETNAM

Find out whether the examination for your chosen field is being held in Vietnam and which examination centres are available.

STEP 4: REGISTER AND BOOK YOUR EXAMINATION

Follow the instructions of the examination provider to create an account and select the examination, venue and date.

STEP 5: TAKE THE EXAMINATION

Prepare the required identification documents and arrive at the examination centre at the designated time.

STEP 6: CHECK YOUR RESULT

If you pass the examination, you can proceed with finding suitable employment and preparing the documents required for the Tokutei Ginou process.

THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION FROM VIETNAM

The process can be summarised as follows:

CHOOSE YOUR FIELD → CHECK THE REQUIREMENTS
Japanese language + Occupational skills + Check whether you may be exempt from an examination

→ CHECK THE EXAMINATION
Is the examination for your chosen field held in Vietnam?
Check the appropriate examination centre according to the examination.

→ PREPARE FOR THE EXAMINATION
Japanese language + Professional knowledge and skills

→ TAKE THE EXAMINATION → PASS → FIND A JOB → PREPARE DOCUMENTS → APPLY FOR THE STATUS OF RESIDENCE/VISA → GO TO JAPAN TO WORK

IN SHORT

CHOOSE YOUR FIELD → CHECK THE REQUIREMENTS → CHECK THE EXAMINATION → PREPARE → TAKE THE EXAMINATION → PASS → FIND A JOB → PREPARE DOCUMENTS → APPLY FOR THE STATUS OF RESIDENCE/VISA → GO TO JAPAN TO WORK

This process shows that passing the Tokutei Ginou examination is an important step, but only one part of the overall process of working in Japan.

HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE FOR THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION?

DO NOT FOCUS ONLY ON JAPANESE

A common mistake is to spend all of your preparation time studying Japanese while neglecting occupational knowledge and skills.

Preparation should generally be divided into two areas.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Vocabulary;
Grammar;
Reading;
Listening;
Basic communication;
Practice tests.

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Technical vocabulary;
Tools and equipment;
Work procedures;
Occupational safety;
Professional knowledge;
Sample questions and practice tests.

In particular, applicants should use study materials that are relevant to their specific occupational field, rather than studying Tokutei Ginou in general.

SHOULD YOU STUDY USING PREVIOUS TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION QUESTIONS?

Yes. Previous examination questions and practice materials can be useful for preparation.

They can help applicants:

Become familiar with the question format;
Understand the scope of the examination;
Practise time management;
Identify areas where they need further study.

However, memorising answers from previous examinations is not an effective preparation strategy.

A better approach is:

Official materials → Field-specific textbooks → Sample questions → Practice tests → Review and reinforce knowledge

Examination information may be updated from time to time, so applicants should check the latest information before beginning their preparation.

CAN YOU GO TO JAPAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER PASSING THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION?

No.

Passing the examination alone does not mean that you can immediately enter Japan.

After passing, applicants generally still need to:

Find a suitable job;
Secure an accepting company;
Sign an employment contract;
Prepare the required documents;
Meet the requirements for the relevant status of residence;
Complete the necessary status of residence and visa procedures.

For this reason, it is advisable to prepare for the examination and look for employment at the same time.

HOW SHOULD YOU CHOOSE A TOKUTEI GINOU FIELD?

You should not choose a field simply because you think “the examination is easy.”

Consider the following factors:

Is the work suitable for you?
What are the salary and employment conditions?
Where is the workplace located?
Is demand for workers stable?
Can you develop your professional skills?
Can you potentially progress to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) in the future?

For actual Tokutei Ginou recruitment opportunities, you can also refer to TOHOKU's recruitment information.

Tokutei Ginou Recruitment – Multiple Occupational Fields

For those interested in the construction sector:

Ongoing Recruitment for Specified Skilled Workers in the Construction Sector

5 THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE TAKING THE TOKUTEI GINOU EXAMINATION

1. You do not necessarily have to go to Japan to take a Tokutei Ginou examination.

2. Vietnam has Prometric examination centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

3. Not every Tokutei Ginou field is held in Vietnam at the same time.

4. Examination content, requirements and languages may differ depending on the field.

5. Passing the examination does not automatically mean that you will receive a Tokutei Ginou visa or status of residence.

CONCLUSION

If you are planning to work in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginou) programme, understanding the examination process at an early stage will help you plan your time, costs and career more effectively.

If you have previously completed Technical Intern Training, check whether you may qualify for an examination exemption before registering. This can help you avoid unnecessary time and expenses.

MORE TOKUTEI GINOU INFORMATION FROM TOHOKU