Registering for the Tokutei Kaigo exam on Prometric: steps, fees and rules

Updated 19 October 2026

Both Kaigo tests are booked through Prometric, which runs the computer-based tests. You book each test separately, the skills test and the Japanese test, and pay for each. Facts below were checked on 19 October 2026 on the ministry page, the Prometric site and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam.

59 daysbefore the test booking opens
2,000 yenper test in Japan
2separate bookings
No refundsbookings cannot be cancelled

Steps

Check eligibility: 17 or older on the test date (18 for Indonesian nationals), no education requirement. Japanese nationals cannot take it. In Japan any residence status is enough, including short-term stay (短期滞在); people with no status cannot take it. See eligibility.
Check dates and venues on the Prometric site; Japan and overseas have separate lists. Current period: tests from 27 April 2026 to 10 March 2027, booking from 22 April 2026 to 5 March 2027. The schedule shows test days, not free seats.
Create a Prometric ID: on the test page tap 「ID作成はこちら」, register your own email, set a 6 to 14 character password, choose your nationality and test country, type the 2-line MRZ code at the bottom of your passport data page exactly, then your phone and address. Expired or damaged passports are not accepted. The ID is emailed to you.
Log in and tap 「試験を予約する」. Pick the right test and language: a wrong choice cannot be changed, cancelled or refunded. Enter your birth date, gender and nationality correctly; they are printed on your result.
Choose a date, region, venue and start time with a free seat.
Pay. The booking is complete once paid. Save the 確認書 (confirmation sheet) right away; it can only be downloaded until the test day.
Repeat steps 4 to 6 for the second test. Each test has its own fee and its own 確認書.

Fees and payment

In Japan: 2,000 yen per test (4,000 yen for both) for tests from 1 April 2026; before that about 1,000 yen. The price follows the test date, not the booking date. Pay by credit, debit or prepaid card (Mastercard, VISA, JCB, AMEX), PayPay or voucher.
Outside Japan: the fee is set per country and listed on the Prometric fee page. In Vietnam you pay by card (Mastercard, VISA) or e-wallet.

Take a timed Kaigo practice test and see right away which answers were wrong and why.

Try it free now

The first 3 tests of each part are free, with furigana and translations. Opens in your browser, no account needed.

Changes, cancellation and refunds

Booking and changes run from 59 days before the test until 23:59 Japan time 3 business days before it, or 4 business days for a weekend or Japanese holiday test.
To change, log in and tap 「変更」 before the deadline. Changes need a free seat.
Bookings cannot be cancelled. Fees and vouchers are not refunded whether or not you attend, and not if you arrive late or bring invalid ID.

Testing in Vietnam

Venues are in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, both run by IIG Vietnam, according to the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam.
You can apply yourself or through a sending organisation. Each candidate needs their own email and account; through an organisation, register the email it gives you.
Bring your original passport and a printed 確認書. Only candidates may enter the venue.
The skills test is offered in Vietnamese; the Japanese test is in Japanese only.

Common mistakes

Booking only one test. You must pass both, and each is a separate booking.
Details that do not match your passport. Name, passport number and birth date must match the ID you bring.
Picking the wrong test or language. It cannot be fixed or refunded after booking.
Forgetting the 45-day wait. After a fail you wait 45 days from the day after the test; another language counts as the same test.
Forgetting general Japanese. You also need JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher.

While you wait for the test

The time between booking and the test is the best time for timed practice. Take one skills test of 45 questions in 60 minutes and one Japanese test of 15 questions in 30 minutes. Learn common words on the Kaigo vocabulary page and read about exam day.

Official links

Ministry Kaigo test page: mhlw.go.jp
Kaigo test page and booking (Prometric): prometric-jp.com
Fees by country (Prometric): prometric-jp.com/ssw/exam/fee
Creating an ID and booking (Prometric): prometric-jp.com/ssw/exam/id
Kaigo tests in Vietnam (Embassy of Japan): vn.emb-japan.go.jp

Frequently asked questions

How much is the fee?

In Japan 2,000 yen per test for tests from 1 April 2026. Outside Japan the fee depends on the country; see the Prometric fee page. Taking both tests means paying twice.

How early can I book?

From 59 days before the test until 23:59 Japan time 3 business days before it (4 business days for weekend or holiday tests).

Can I cancel or get a refund?

No. Prometric says bookings cannot be cancelled and fees are not refunded. You can only change the date before the deadline if a seat is free.

Where can I take it in Vietnam?

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, at IIG Vietnam centres, according to the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam.