The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET)
The Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program is an opportunity for young college graduates to assist with international exchange and foreign language education throughout Japan as either Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) or Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs).
Founded by the Japanese government in 1987 to help promote internationalization within rural Japan, JET began with less than 1,000 participants but has grown to become one of the largest cultural exchange programs in the world. Today the program has more than 5,500 current participants and over 70,000 alumni.
JET Program participants travel to Japan as representatives of their home countries and play an integral role in helping to promote grassroots internationalization and understanding. Teaching experience and Japanese language ability are not required and we encourage people of every major and background to apply!
JET is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology (MEXT); the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC), and local governments throughout Japan, in cooperation with the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
2022 JET Program Application Timeline
Early October 2021 |
Applications open. To apply for the 2022 JET Program, see this page.
To register, see our Recruitment Page. |
November 2021 |
Application deadline. |
February 2022 |
Interviews |
March - April 2022 |
Applicants receive interview results |
May 2022 |
Placement notification & Orientations |
July 2022 |
Visa and document processing |
August 2022 |
Farewell Reception & Departure |
Contact our Offices
If you are not a resident or Northern California or Nevada, please contact the nearest Japanese consulate or embassy. For more information on Japanese consulates in the US, click here.