[Breaking News] Japan’s OTAFF Warns Against Forging Test Result Notices: Forgery Leads to a 5-Year Ban from All Its Tests (October 13, 2026)

This is a breaking news article in which our editorial team reports only the facts, based on an announcement by a public organization. Before making any decision about a procedure, be sure to check the official announcement or consult a professional.

On October 13, 2026, OTAFF (一般社団法人外国人食品産業技能評価機構, a general incorporated association that evaluates the skills of foreign workers in the food industry) posted a notice on its website warning that forging a test result notice (試験結果通知書) is a crime. It states that anyone who forges test results will be banned from taking all OTAFF tests, in Japan and overseas, for 5 years.

What the Announcement Says

The OTAFF notice contains the following three points.

• Forging a test result notice is a crime.
• No matter how genuine a forged test result looks, OTAFF says that the system it provides to the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA) allows the forgery to be detected immediately during the agency’s examination.
• Whether you forge the results yourself or ask a third party to forge them, anyone who forges test results will be banned from taking all OTAFF tests, in Japan and overseas, for 5 years.

Who and What This Applies To

• This applies to people who forge the test results (test result notice) of an OTAFF test. It does not matter whether they did it themselves or asked a third party.
• The ban covers all OTAFF tests, including both tests held in Japan and tests held overseas.
• OTAFF is the organization that conducts the Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) evaluation tests for the food service industry field and the food and beverage manufacturing field. The notice is tagged “Tests in Japan” (国内試験), “Tests overseas” (国外試験), “Food service industry” (外食業), “Food and beverage manufacturing” (飲食料品製造業), “Specified Skilled Worker (ii)” (特定技能2号) and “Result notice” (結果通知書).

Official Announcement

• OTAFF (外国人食品産業技能評価機構), “If you forge a test result notice, you will be banned from taking the tests for 5 years. (試験結果通知書を偽造した場合は、５年間の受験禁止となります。)” (October 13, 2026)

Primary Sources Referenced for This Article

• OTAFF (外国人食品産業技能評価機構), “If you forge a test result notice, you will be banned from taking the tests for 5 years. (試験結果通知書を偽造した場合は、５年間の受験禁止となります。)” (posted October 13, 2026)