The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines is accepting applications for the 2027 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, which places foreign graduates in Japanese schools as Assistant Language Teachers (ALT).
Filipino citizens who hold a bachelor’s degree may apply. The online application closes on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Philippine Standard Time.
You don’t need an Education degree to apply. A PRC license and teaching experience are not required either, although the Embassy gives them additional weight. The basic requirements are a bachelor’s degree in any field, strong English, and a genuine interest in working with children. Graduates in engineering, nursing, accounting, information technology and other fields are all eligible.
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What is the JET Programme?
The JET Programme is a Japanese government program that places foreign graduates in schools and local government offices across Japan. It began in 1987, and more than 80,000 people from 82 countries have taken part. Japan’s internal affairs, foreign affairs and education ministries administer it jointly with the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
Participants are not employed by the program itself. A contracting organization, usually a prefecture, a city or a private school, hires each participant as a member of its staff. Japanese taxpayers fund the salary and the flight through that organization.
The Philippines recruits for two positions: the ALT role, which is open to graduates in general, and the Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) role, which requires Japanese language ability at about JLPT N1 or N2 level.
What Does an Assistant Language Teacher Do?
An Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) assists Japanese teachers of English in elementary, junior high or senior high schools, or works from a local board of education. The ALT supports the lead teacher and does not run the class alone.
Main duties include assisting in foreign language classes, preparing teaching materials, taking part in club activities and school events, supporting speech contests and joining local international exchange activities. Supervisors may assign other tasks, so the exact mix of duties depends on the placement.
Participants work about 35 hours a week, excluding lunch breaks. The usual schedule is Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with weekends and national holidays off. Duties may occasionally require a different schedule.
Participants receive at least 10 paid holidays a year, and the exact number depends on the contracting organization.
Who Can Apply for the JET Programme 2027?
You may apply if you are a Filipino citizen (permanent residency is not sufficient) and will hold a bachelor’s degree or higher by the designated arrival date. Final-year students are therefore eligible, provided they graduate before departure.
A certificate is also accepted as an alternative, showing completion of a course of three or more years to teach at the primary or secondary level.
The remaining criteria are related to character and history, as follows:
- You must be in good mental and physical health, willing to adapt to life in Japan and committed to completing your term.
- You must be interested in Japan, in how Japanese schools teach foreign languages and in working with children. You are also expected to study Japanese before and after arrival.
- Your English must be excellent. The Embassy assesses pronunciation, rhythm, intonation and clarity of written expression.
- You must not have participated in the Programme since March 2024, must not have participated for more than six years in total, and must not have lived in Japan for six or more years in total since 2017.
- You must not have declined a placement in the previous program year without a valid and unavoidable reason.
- You must not have a criminal history that would make you unsuitable. The guidelines cite drunk driving, drug offenses, sexual offenses and crimes involving children as examples.
Click here to open or download the JET Programme application guidelines (PDF file).
Is an Education Degree Required?
No. A bachelor’s degree in English or Education earns additional evaluation points but is not a condition of eligibility. The same applies to a teaching license, classroom experience, other teaching qualifications, Japanese language ability (such as a JLPT pass), and experience living or traveling abroad.
Is Japanese Language Ability Required?
Japanese language skills are not required for the ALT position. Japanese is a factor for additional consideration only.
Shortlisted applicants, however, take a teaching demonstration in English and a Japanese conversation test, so basic preparation in Japanese before the interview is advisable.
JET Programme salary for Filipino participants
A first-year ALT earns approximately ¥4,020,000 a year. Pay increases with renewal.
| Year | Approximate annual pay |
|---|---|
| First year | ¥4,020,000 |
| Second year | ¥4,140,000 |
| Third year | ¥4,260,000 |
| Fourth and fifth years (exceptional participants only) | ¥4,320,000 |
Spread over twelve months, the first-year figure is about ¥335,000 a month. At roughly ₱0.38 per yen, that is around ₱127,000 a month, or close to ₱1.5 million a year, before deductions. Take note that exchange rate fluctuates, so the peso figures are approximate.
Several deductions apply. Participants pay Japanese income and residence taxes where they are imposed. Enrollment in the mutual aid association (Japan’s health insurance), the pension program and employment insurance is mandatory, and the participant’s share is deducted from monthly pay. Part of the residence tax may also be collected in a lump sum before the participant leaves Japan.
The contracting organization provides the airline ticket from the designated departure airport to Narita or Haneda. For Filipino participants, the designated departure points are Manila, Cebu and Davao.
Costs Shouldered by Participants
- Housing – Participants arrange and pay for their own accommodation. The equivalent of two to six months’ rent may be due shortly after arrival.
- Travel to the airport – Transport to the departure airport, document fees, visa-related fees and excess baggage are the participant’s responsibility.
- Family – A spouse or children who accompany a participant require separate dependent visas, and the participant covers their travel and living costs.
- Late withdrawal – A candidate who withdraws after receiving a placement may owe cancellation fees: half the ticket price if the cancellation is confirmed 15 to 30 days before departure, and the full price if it is confirmed 14 days or fewer before departure.
How Long Can a Participant Stay?
The standard term is one year, beginning the day after the Main Arrival date of July 25, 2027.
Contracting organizations may renew participants whose performance meets their standard, generally up to three years in total. Participants deemed exceptional may remain for up to five years.
How to Apply for the JET Programme 2027
All applications are submitted through the official portal at ph.jetapplication.com.
Follow these steps to apply online:
- Open the JET Programme Philippines portal and create an account.
- Complete the self-report of medical conditions. A physician’s statement is required only if your answers call for one.
- Write your statement of purpose in the portal form. It is limited to two pages and should explain your motivation and qualifications.
- Upload your certified academic record, with one PDF for each degree completed.
- Upload your certificate of graduation. If you have not yet graduated, upload a certificate of expected graduation instead.
- Enter your referees’ contact details in the portal. They will submit their recommendations there, in English or Japanese. If you have not yet graduated, one referee must be connected to your university.
- Upload a copy of your passport or birth certificate as proof of citizenship. Submit one, not both.
- Add any supporting credentials that apply, and review the full application before the deadline.
Summary Table of Documentary Requirements
| Document | Required? |
|---|---|
| Application form and medical self-report (generated in the portal) | Yes |
| Statement of purpose (two pages maximum) | Yes |
| Certified academic record or transcript | Yes |
| Certificate of graduation or expected graduation | Yes |
| Letters of reference through the portal | Yes |
| Passport or birth certificate | Yes |
| PRC license or other teaching license | Only if you have one |
| TEFL, TESOL or similar qualifications | Only if you have them |
| JLPT, NAT-TEST or similar Japanese certificates | Only if you have them |
| Criminal record | Only if you have a criminal history |
Selection Timeline and Key Dates
The Embassy first screens the written applications. Applicants who pass are interviewed at the Embassy.
A joint committee of Japanese ministries and CLAIR then decides who is shortlisted, who is an alternate and who is unsuccessful.
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| November 20, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PST | Application deadline |
| December 2026 | First screening (written applications) |
| January to early February 2027 | Interviews, including the teaching demonstration and Japanese conversation test |
| March 2027 onward | Notification of shortlist, alternate or unsuccessful status |
| From May 2027 | Successful candidates are told their contracting organization |
| May 14, 2027 | Deadline for successful candidates to submit the criminal record and certificate of health |
| June to July 2027 | Pre-departure orientation |
| July 25, 2027 | Main Arrival date |
The health certificate and criminal record must be dated September 1, 2026 or later. Applicants who declare a criminal history must submit their record by January 30, 2027.
Placement is decided by CLAIR, and applicants cannot choose a city. Some placements are in areas with limited health care and public transport, and a location near the applicant’s preference is not guaranteed. Special circumstances, such as a spouse applying at the same time, must be indicated on the application form and cannot be changed afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the JET Programme if I’m not an Education graduate?
Yes. The ALT position is open to Filipino citizens with a bachelor’s degree in any field. An English or Education degree earns additional evaluation points but is not required.
Can I apply if I have not graduated yet?
Yes, you can apply, provided that you will hold your bachelor’s degree before the July 2027 arrival date. You must upload a certificate of expected graduation, and one of your referees must be connected to your university.
Is the JET Programme application free?
No application fee is mentioned. Applicants should still budget for certified transcripts and, if selected, the health certificate and criminal record.
What is the deadline for the 2027 JET Programme in the Philippines?
The deadline is Friday, November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Philippine Standard Time. The Embassy encourages early submission and doesn’t accept paper applications.
Does the JET Programme pay for the flight to Japan?
Yes. The contracting organization provides the ticket from Manila, Cebu or Davao to Narita or Haneda. Participants pay for transport to that airport and for any excess baggage.
Can I renew my JET contract?
Contracts last one year, and renewal is at the discretion of the contracting organization. Most participants may renew up to three years in total, and up to five if they are rated exceptional.
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