Our Application and Departure Process
The JET Program application for 2026 departures to Japan is now open!
2026 JET Program Departure Dates
April Arrivals (“Early Placement* Group”): Saturday, April 11, 2026 (Candidates will depart on this date unless informed otherwise)
*April Arrival applicants are responsible for verifying their eligibility for early departure and must have their bachelor’s degree by the end of January 2026.
Main Arrival – “Group A” (Summer Departure): Departing Saturday, July 25, 2026 // Arriving Sunday, July 26, 2026
Main Arrival – “Group B” (Summer Departure): Departing Saturday, August 1, 2026 // Arriving Sunday, August 2, 2026
Late Arrival: After August 2nd, 2026*
*Exact date will be determined later. This date(s) are reserved for alternates who are upgraded and JET participants who could not depart in the first or second wave due to extenuating circumstances.
TIMELINE (2026 JET Program Cycle)
Application Available: Tuesday, September 29, 2025
Application Deadline: Friday, November 14, 2025 at 11:59pm HST
Interviews: Late Jan – Early Feb 2026
Announcement of Results: April 2026
Notification of Placement (for Groups A & B): May 2026
Orientation and Preparation: June – July 2026
Departures (for Groups A & B): July/August 2026
*Please note that the interview dates are set by the individual interview locations and may vary depending on location.
ROUGH TIMELINE (2027 JET Program Cycle)
Application Available: September 2026
Application Deadline: November 2026
Interviews: Late Jan – Early Feb 2027
Announcement of Results: April 2027
Notification of Placement: May 2027
Orientation and Preparation: June – July 2027
Departures: July/August 2027
*As dates have yet to be determined, please check back in closer to the 2027 JET Program application cycle for updates.
Application Process
The JET Program application is open once a year between late September to mid-November. All applications must be submitted during this time via our secure online portal. The deadline is final, and no applications will be accepted after it has passed. After the deadline, applications are checked for completion and then evaluated. Incomplete applications are removed from consideration at this time. Regardless of the status of your application, you will receive your interview notification in January.
Interviews are typically held in late January or early February. Interview dates are set independently by each interview location. After successfully completing the interview stage, you will hear back about your final result in April.
Selection Results
Candidates who make it to the interview stage will receive one of three possible results after Tokyo has reviewed the results of their application and interview. Candidates typically receive notification of their results in late March to mid April.
Short-List Candidates
A short-list candidate is someone who scored highly in the selection process and is invited to participate in the JET Program. Candidates who are short-listed and receive a placement location but then drop out will not be eligible to re-apply for a one year period from the year they applied (ie. a short-listed candidate for the 2025 JET Program who drops out at this point will not be eligible to re-apply until the 2027 JET Program).
Alternate Candidates
Candidates who scored well in the selection process but did not make it onto the shortlist will be considered ‘alternate’ candidates. These candidates may be invited to participate in the JET Program if a position opens up between mid April and the second week of December of the departure year. If an alternate candidate accepts the invitation, they may have less time to prepare for departure compared to short-listed candidate. If a candidate refuses an upgrade invitation, they will not be offered a second one but will remain eligible to reapply for the next JET Program year if they so choose. If a candidate is not upgraded by September, they are welcome to re-apply for the next JET Program cycle.
Unsuccessful Candidates
Candidates who do not meet the standards we require for our participants will receive notification at the same time as successful candidates. If you are not invited to be either a short-list candidate or alternate candidate, you are still eligible to apply again the following year if you feel that the JET Program is the right career opportunity for you.
Departure
Departure Groups
On the application, applicants are asked to choose an interview location. In principle, the interview location will also be the candidate’s departure location if they are selected to participate. It is possible to interview at one location and depart from another. Please see all departure locations here.
April Arrival (Early Placement)
Candidates who are willing and able to depart on a faster schedule may request to be considered for an April Arrival. April Arrival candidates leave on an assigned date in early April of their departure year. For the 2026 Program, April Arrival participants will depart for Japan on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Candidates who request consideration for Early Placement on their application must submit a Certificate of Health and FBI Background Check to their interview location by the time of their interview. They must also have their bachelor’s degree conferred no later than January of their departure year.
Very few Early Placement positions open up each year, so the majority of our April Arrival hopefuls are not chosen to depart in April. Candidates who are not chosen for April Arrival will still be considered for a position in the Main Arrival group (Summer Departures). If you are selected for the Main Arrival group rather than the April Arrival group, you will receive your acceptance notification in April.
Summer Departure
Unless otherwise specified, all JET Program applicants apply to depart in the summer of the program year. Candidates who are seeking consideration for Main Arrivals (Summer Departures) do not need to prepare a Certificate of Health or FBI Background Check* in advance of their interview. The deadline for when Main Arrival candidates must have their degree conferred by is June 26, 2026. Candidates leaving in the summer will receive a 3 day orientation upon their arrival in Japan. To learn more about the training opportunities the JET Program offers, please see here.
*Candidates who indicate a criminal background on their application are required to provide an FBI Background Check prior to their interview without exception.