notice

[Important] Notice of Suspension of the Food Service Industry Specified Skilled Worker (i) Evaluation Examination

March 27, 2026 ALL

[Target Countries]
Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, India (all test distribution countries)

Regarding the Food Service Industry Specified Skilled Worker Measurement Test (Food Service No. 1), the implementation of the test will be suspended for the time being, as follows.

Notice Regarding the Suspension of Reservation Procedures for Specified Skilled Worker (i) Examination in the Food Service Industry

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has instructed the examination implementing body (OTAFF) to suspend the implementation of Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 examination for the food service industry, both domestically and internationally. Therefore, we will suspend the reservation process for this examination until we receive instructions to resume it.
This order to suspend the examination was issued because the number of people with Specified Skilled Worker (i) visas in the food service industry is expected to exceed the Japanese government's five-year limit (50,000 people) for fiscal years 2024-2028 (*), and the examination has been suspended as a result. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has not indicated when the examination will resume.
*For more details, please refer to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website and the Immigration Services Agency website.

We previously announced on February 13th that the exam would be held from April 2026 onwards, but that announcement has now been rescinded. Please note that we will not be accepting exam reservations.

Return to list