The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, is aimed at promoting grass-roots international exchange between Japan and other nations. It is one of the largest exchange programmes in the world. Participants are employed as one of the following positions: Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), Coordinator for International Relations (CIR), or Sports Exchange Advisor (SEA). All JET participants, regardless of their title, are here for the same reason: to interact with local communities to promote internationalisation at the local level. Participants have come from more than 55 countries.
As part of the general criteria, applicants must:
1) Be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Japan after their arrival; be motivated to participate in and initiate international exchange activities in the local community; make effort to study or continue studying the Japanese language prior to and after arriving in Japan.
(2) Be both mentally and physically healthy.
(3) Be willing and able to adapt to living and working in Japan, and be determined to responsibly complete their period of participation.
(4) Applicants for both the ALT and CIR position must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or obtain such qualifications by the designated arrival date (applicants for the ALT position may alternatively hold a certification of completion of a 3-year course to teach at primary/elementary or secondary schools or obtain such qualification(s) by the designated arrival date).
(5) Be a national (not just a permanent resident) of the country where the recruitment and selection procedures take place by the time they submit their application form. Furthermore, those who possess Japanese nationality must have submitted their applications to renounce their Japanese nationality before submitting their Reply Form. Applicants who possess multiple nationalities with countries other than Japan may only apply as a national of one of those countries.
(6) Be adept in contemporary standard pronunciation, rhythm and intonation in the designated language (see Note) and possess excellent language ability that can be applied accurately and appropriately; have the ability to form sentences in a comprehensive and logical manner.
(7) Not have participated on the Programme since the 2017 JET Programme year (inclusive of April 2017 arrivals) or have participated on the Programme for more than 5 years in total.
(8) Not have declined a position on the Programme after receiving notification of assignment in the previous JET Programme year (excluding cases where it is accepted that the Participant had a valid, inevitable reason for withdrawing).
(9) Not have lived in Japan for six or more years in total since 2010.
(10) Have a desire to proactively maintain relations with Japan, even after completion of the Programme.
(11) Concerning entry into Japan for participation on the Programme, agree to reside in Japan under the status of residence stipulated in Article 2-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
(12) Be willing to obey all Japanese laws.
(13) Applicants with a suspended jail term must have finished their period of probation by the time they submit their application form.