Can I interview in one city but leave from another?

No, unless in special* or unforeseen circumstances. Our 2025 JET Program Interviews will be conducted online and in principle, an applicant’s interview location and departure location are to be the same.

When choosing an interview location: 

Candidates for the 2025 application cycle will be allowed to interview from their homes in the United States and from abroad. Applicants must choose a designated U.S. location for their interview. Interview locations are dependent upon the U.S. city which participants plan to depart from if selected for the 2025 JET Program. A full list of departure locations for U.S. applicants is listed here. Please keep in mind that leading up to departure, all successful JET Program applicants will attend a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation in their departure city. Flights from the designated airport to Japan will be covered by the JET participants’ Contracting Organization, however, participants are responsible to get themselves to the designated airport.

*Special Circumstances (Applicants residing in or “departing” from Japan)

2025 Program applicants 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 and that these applicants with have to interview remotely with a U.S. location listed here.

*Individuals who are residing in Japan can choose to “depart” from within Japan and will be exempted from the Pre-Departure Orientation. They will join other JETs at the Post-Arrival Orientation in Tokyo. For these applicants, please choose the interview location associated with your hometown or family’s local consulate.