Eligibility Criteria for JET Programme UK

The main conditions of eligibility are as follows.

All applicants wishing to apply to the JET Programme UK must:

• hold a full UK passport (not just a permanent resident)*
• hold a Bachelor's degree in any subject by the July before departure
• be no more than 39 years of age by the July before departure
• not have lived in Japan for six or more years since 2000
• obey all Japanese laws. This includes concerning the entry into Japan for participation in the JET Programme where applicants must agree to reside in Japan under the status of residence stipulated in Article 2-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
• have excellent English skills (written and spoken)
• be both mentally and physically healthy
• have a keen interest in Japan
• have the ability to adapt to living and office conditions in Japan

*If you do not hold a UK passport but wish to apply for the JET Programme, please contact the Japanese embassy or consulate in the country for which you hold or are eligible to hold a passport. For a full list of contacts for Japanese embassies and consulates around the world please see: http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/over/

Additionally, all applicants must be available in the UK for:

• the interview period from January to February (Note: the duration of the interview period varies annually)
• responding to the 'Reply Form' and preparing necessary documentation in April
• attending the Pre-Departure Orientation in early July UNTIL departure to Japan 4-5 weeks later (Note: participants must submit their passports for visa processing at the Pre-Departure Orientation and will not receive their passports until the date of departure to Japan)

ALT applicants:

• Japanese ability is NOT required but a demonstrable interest in learning Japanese will aid your application.
• Teaching experience or teaching qualifications (e.g. TEFL) are NOT required but will aid your application.

CIR applicants:

• CIR Applicants must have a sufficient command of Japanese(JLPT level 2 or above) for daily work in a Japanese office environment.

Please note:

• Applicants MUST NOT apply for both CIR and ALT positions. If a single candidate submits an application for both positions, it will result in automatic disqualification for each.
• Applicants with dual nationality with two participating countries (e.g. UK and USA) must only apply to one country.
• Successful applicants who have dual nationality with Japan will have to renounce their Japanese citizenship by the end of April of the year of departure.
• Former JET participants who finished their contract by 2007 and participated on the JET Programme for less than 5 years in total are eligible to reapply.
• Applicants with a suspended jail term must have finished their period of probation by the time of the submission of the application forms.
• Participants who intend to return home or otherwise break their contracts must pay back their Contracting Organisations the cost of the participant's ticket to Japan and may be subject to other appropriate actions or redresses.