FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (GENERAL)

Top 10 FAQ

Do I have to have a teaching certificate/TEFL/TESOL?

TESOL/TEFL certification is not a requirement for participation on the JET Program but such certification will be an asset during the selection process.

Do I need to know Japanese to be eligible?

Applicants for the ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) position are not required to have prior knowledge of the Japanese language, although it is beneficial and highly recommended to have some speaking ability before going to Japan.

Those applying for the CIR (Coordinator for International Relations) position must have at least a semi-advanced to advanced level of Japanese proficiency. CIR duties usually involve translation and interpretation of official government communication, so as a benchmark applicants should have approximately JLPT level N2 or above Japanese proficiency in order to be considered eligible.

I’m a U.S. citizen currently living overseas. Can I still apply for the JET Program?

Yes. U.S. citizens living abroad are welcome to apply! Our 2024 JET Program Interviews will be conducted online. Candidates for the 2024 application cycle will be allowed to interview from their homes in the United States and from abroad.

Is there an age limit?

There is no age limit to apply to participate on the JET Program.

What are my chances of being selected for JET?

The JET Program application is a competitive process. Several thousand applications are received each year, about half of all applications will be invited to interview, and then only the top candidates are selected for participation. General statistics about JETs currently in Japan can be found here.

What are the eligibility criteria?

Applicants to the JET Program in the U.S. must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Complete a Bachelor’s degree by June 28th, 2024
  • Have native-level English speaking proficiency
  • Not have lived in Japan for a total of six years or longer in a 10-year period prior to the departure year

To see full descriptions of eligibility criteria, please go to Eligibility Criteria page.

What kind of applicants are you looking for?

JET recruits participants from a variety of cultural, personal, and academic backgrounds. Applicants who demonstrate a background in Japanese studies or in TEFL/TESL may have an advantage in the application process; over and above these qualifications, JET seeks flexible, open-minded, and enthusiastic young people with a genuine interest in Japan, English education, and intercultural exchange.

When are the departure dates for the JET Program?

Applicants selected for Early Placement may depart any time between April and July 2024.

Summer Departure 1: Saturday, July 27th, 2024
Summer Departure 2: Saturday, August 3rd, 2024
Summer Departure 3: After August 3rd, 2024*

*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 1st or 2nd wave due to extenuating circumstances (e.g. contracted Covid-19).

When can I apply?

The application for the 2024 JET Program closed on Friday, November 17th, 2023 at 11:59pm HST. Applications for 2025 departures will begin in September or October of 2024.

Where will I be placed?

The goal of the JET Program is to enhance internationalization in local communities in Japan, and there is a relatively low demand for JET participants by urban local authorities. Few JET participants are therefore placed in large cities. The majority of JET participants are placed in small to medium sized cities or in small towns and villages.

Eligibility

Can I apply before I graduate from undergrad?

Yes, if you will be graduating from an accredited university with a Bachelor’s degree by June 28th, 2024, you are eligible to apply for the 2024 JET Program. Please bear in mind that your degree must be officially conferred by that date; simply completing all requirements for graduation is not sufficient.

When applying, you must also provide an official statement from your college or university stating that you are currently enrolled and your expected date of graduation. We will accept a statement or certificate of expected graduation from the registrar’s office, from a dean’s office, the National Student Clearinghouse, or an academic adviser.

NOTE: If the date listed is too vague to determine that you will graduate by June 28th, 2024 (e.g. Summer 2024, etc.) it will not be accepted as adequate proof of expected date of graduation. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check that the date is correct.

Can I apply if I have dual citizenship?

Yes. However, dual citizens of the U.S. and Japan must renounce their Japanese citizenship before departing for Japan if accepted. Japanese law requires that individuals choose either Japanese nationality or their other nationality. To apply for the JET Program, you must prove that you have U.S. nationality, therefore it is not possible to also hold Japanese nationality as a JET participant.

If you have dual nationality with the United States and another country, this does not affect your eligibility for the JET Program, however, if you have nationality with another country that also participates on the JET Program (such as Canada, Australia, etc.) you can only apply through ONE of these countries.

I have a TEFL/TESOL certificate / a lot of teaching experience, but not a Bachelor’s degree. Am I still eligible to apply?

No. Regardless of experience, an applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree by June 28, 2024 in order to be eligible for the 2024 JET Program.

I’m a U.S. resident, but not a citizen. Can I still apply through the U.S.?

No, to be considered eligible in the United States, you must have U.S. citizenship by the application deadline. Please contact the Embassy of Japan of your country of citizenship to learn more about applying for the JET Program. A list of countries currently participating on the JET Program is available at the JET Program international website.

Is a junior or associate’s degree sufficient to be eligible?

No. To be considered eligible for the 2024 JET Program in the United States, you must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university by June 28, 2024.

Will I still be considered if I have a criminal record?

Applicants should read the information on disqualification listed under the eligibility requirements page. Applications with criminal records will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. It is important to honestly answer the questions regarding criminal history in the application and provide as full and detailed an explanation as possible. This includes any criminal history which occurred while the individual was a juvenile or which the individual believes to have been expunged from their record. The ruling law for the JET Program is Japanese law which requires full disclosure of all criminal history. Individuals with a criminal history will be required to provide an FBI background check (instructions for doing so are provided in the application).

How to Apply

Can I apply any other time of the year than fall?

No. JET applications are only available in the fall and there is only one application cycle every year. The only exception to this is application for SEA positions (if available), which are posted in February and due in the spring.

Can I apply for both the CIR and ALT positions?

You can only apply for one at a time, not both concurrently. Please do not submit more than one application. However, if you mark “Yes” in Question 26b (only visible if you are applying for a CIR position), you will be given the option to be considered as an ALT, IF AND ONLY IF

1) there are more qualified CIR applicants than CIR positions available;

2) you are not offered a CIR position but you meet all eligibility requirements for the CIR position, including Japanese fluency; AND

3) are eligible to be an ALT by having sufficient ALT-related experience

How do I apply?

As of September 2018, the US JET Program has moved to a 100% online application process. Please see the information on the How to Apply page for detailed instructions on application procedures and requirements.

I was unsuccessful last year but want to apply again. What should I change to increase my chances?

Applications that are incomplete (i.e. missing or insufficient Required Documents) cannot be reviewed, and each year a number of applications are disqualified for this reason.

Other than ensuring that your application is complete, tips to strengthen your application include:

  • Demonstrating Japanese study (by formal study, taking the JLPT, etc.)
  • Gaining teaching/tutoring experience
  • Broadening your involvement in volunteer activities

Interviews & Notification

Can I change my interview location?

No. Once you have submitted your application, your interview location cannot be changed.

Can I defer my acceptance until another year?

No. All decisions are relevant for the current application year only. Please notify your JET Program coordinator as soon as possible that if you find that you are no longer able to participate. Applicants must reapply to participate in the following year.

When will I find out if I got an interview?

Interview notifications are typically sent to applicants in early January. Applicants will be contacted directly by the JET Program coordinator at their interview location. The interviews themselves typically take place in late January or early February. Exact dates are determined by each interview location.

Where are JET Program interviews held?

JET Program USA has 19 offices across the United States which act as interview sites and departure locations. Candidates are encouraged to choose whichever location is most accessible for them.

For the 2024 JET Program application cycle, interviews will be virtual due to COVID-19. As with our 2021-2023 JET Program Interviews, candidates will be allowed to interview from their home in the US and from abroad.

You must apply to the JET Program through the JET Program Office in your country of citizenship. Thus, only US citizens may apply for the US JET Program. For a list of JET Program offices worldwide, please see here: http://jetprogramme.org/en/countries/.

Will interviews be virtual this year?

For the 2024 JET Program application cycle, interviews will be virtual due to COVID-19. As with our 2021-2023 JET Program Interviews, candidates will be allowed to interview from their homes in the US and from abroad.

Placement

Can I request where I want to go?

Yes. Applicants may request up to three (3) locations on the application. However, while these placement requests will be taken into consideration, we cannot guarantee they will be met. Married and engaged couples may be given priority in their placement requests, but even in those cases where the couple is requesting to be placed with or near one another, it is possible that their assigned contracting organizations may be distant from one another. Couples should discuss and prepare for this possibility.

Orientation & Training

Will there be additional orientations/training once we reach Japan?

Besides the pre-departure orientation, the Embassy and Consulates General host their own trainings, such as workshops or Q&A sessions presented by local JET alumni for new JET Program participants in the summer before departure.

After departure, all new JET participants will attend Tokyo Orientation before traveling to their placements. Prefectural JET associations will typically host an orientation for new JETs shortly after their arrival, and they may also organize a skills development conference for all JETs in that prefecture later in the year.

Departure

Can I interview in one city but leave from another?

Yes, you may depart from a different city than where you interviewed. A full list of departure locations for U.S. applicants is listed here.

Additionally, individuals who have a residence status in Japan other than temporary visitor (i.e. ‘Tourist’) can choose to depart directly from their home in Japan to Tokyo Orientation. Please note that this is an option for departure only, there are no interviews for U.S. applicants in Japan.

Do I have to buy my own plane tickets?

No. Transportation to/from Japan will be covered by your contracting organization. JET Program participants are responsible for the cost associated with transportation to the designated airport. However, please know that the JET Program will not cover dependents’ transportation or accommodation costs (i.e. those costs would be the responsibility of the JET and their family).

Live in Japan

Can I bring a pet to Japan with me?

Because Japan has very strict quarantine laws, we strongly discourage bringing pets. The initial on-boarding process is over-scheduled and does not provide JETs with the time necessary to take care of legal issues involved with importing an animal into Japan.

Can I bring my family to Japan with me?

Legal spouses as recognized by Japan and children under the age of 18 may accompany JETs on a general dependent visa, which is valid for 3 years (it may be renewed if the JET re-contracts beyond a third year). Spouses and children must travel to Japan within 3 months of the dependent visa’s issuance. Please note that those on a dependent visa are not eligible to work unless they apply to a local immigration office.

Can I work at another job while employed with the JET Program?

No. JET participants are only allowed to work for their contracting organizations. Violation of this policy could result in termination of the JET’s contract and deportation.

How much money should I plan to bring with me?

We strongly recommend JETs bring (or have access to) at least $2,500-$3,000 with them for start-up costs, including set up of their apartment, utilities, and services like cell phones, internet, etc. JETs typically will not receive their first paychecks until the end of the first month, so they should plan to have enough money for basic necessities, including for food and potentially apartment deposits and rent.

What is JET housing like?

Contracting organizations generally assist with housing for JETs, but the quality and cost can vary significantly depending on the location. Many new JETs “inherit housing” and sometimes are given or sold furniture from their predecessors. Once placement decisions have been made, current JETs and/or contracting organizations will usually contact new JETs and can provide more detailed information on living situations and any upfront expenses to expect.

Orientation & Training

Will there be additional orientations/training once we reach Japan?

Besides the pre-departure orientation, the Embassy and Consulates General host their own trainings, such as workshops or Q&A sessions presented by local JET alumni for new JET Program participants in the summer before departure.

After departure, all new JET participants will attend Tokyo Orientation before traveling to their placements. Prefectural JET associations will typically host an orientation for new JETs shortly after their arrival, and they may also organize a skills development conference for all JETs in that prefecture later in the year.

After JET

Can I stay in Japan after I finish my appointment?

Yes. It is the participant’s responsibility to pursue continued employment if they wish to remain in Japan after completing their tenure with the JET Program. See the Immigration Bureau of Japan for additional information about restrictions.

The Program offers an After-JET Conference each year in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka to assist Program participants in their job search.

To receive proof of JET Program employment, visit the Japan Local Government Center website’s page on JET Certificate of Participation.

I was a JET previously. When can I reapply?

JET alumni are eligible to apply to return to Japan providing that they meet the following conditions:

  • They must have finished their appointment three or more years prior to the departure year
  • They must not have lived in Japan for six years or longer in a 10-year period prior to the departure year
  • They did not withdraw from the JET Program after receiving placement in the year prior to the departure year