Offer Evaluator
Check an offer before you commit to anything.
Use this tool to evaluate a Japan work opportunity against the warning signs that appear most consistently in exploitative or fraudulent arrangements. It takes about 3 minutes.
Before you start
This tool helps you identify red flags — not make the final decision for you. A low-risk result does not mean an opportunity is guaranteed to be legitimate. A high-risk result does not automatically mean fraud. What it does is tell you which questions you have not yet answered and which answers are cause for concern.
Have the following information available if you can:
- —The name of the intermediary or sending organization
- —The fee amount you have been quoted (and whether you have a breakdown)
- —The name of the employer in Japan, if given
- —Any contracts or documents you have already received
- —The visa category you have been told you will use
Answer each question based on what you actually know about the opportunity — not what you assume or hope. If you do not know the answer to something, mark it as Unsure. Unsure answers also matter: they identify what you still need to verify before committing.
Answer at least 5 questions to see a risk assessment.
Costs & Fees
Can the intermediary explain every fee — separately, in writing, in Vietnamese — before you pay anything?
Is the total fee you are asked to pay less than one month of your expected Japan salary?
Is there a written refund or compensation policy if the placement does not proceed after you have paid?
Visa & Legal
Is the visa category being offered specifically SSW (Specified Skilled Worker / 特定技能)?
Has the sending organization provided a written contract in Vietnamese that you have read and understood?
Employer & Role
Is the employer named and verifiable — with a real company name and location in Japan?
Has the employer or intermediary confirmed that you will be enrolled in Japanese social insurance (health insurance, pension, employment insurance)?
Safety
Will you keep your original passport and identity documents yourself throughout the process?
Do you have a named support contact or organization in Japan you can reach if something goes wrong after arrival?
Promises
Has the intermediary avoided making guarantees — like 'guaranteed placement', 'guaranteed salary', or 'no risk'?
Related guides
Understand the full picture.
The evaluator surfaces warning signs, but understanding why each matters helps you ask better questions and spot new patterns the checklist does not cover.