Work in Japan for Filipino Teachers: JET and Visa Rules

Key Takeaways

• A Filipino teacher, or a Filipino with strong English, can legally teach in Japan. The legal route depends on where you teach, because each workplace falls under a different status of residence (the legal category that decides what you may do in Japan, often called a "visa").
• Public schools through the JET Programme: ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) receive the status of residence "Instructor". The Philippines takes part in JET, and applications for the 2027 intake close on November 20, 2026, 11:59 PM Philippine Standard Time.
• Private companies such as English conversation schools: language teachers there fall under "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services". A university graduate doing language instruction does not need the 3 years of work experience that this status otherwise requires.
• Universities: teaching at a university falls under a separate status, "Professor".
• For JET, you need a bachelor's degree. A teaching license, TESOL or TEFL certificate is not required, though it helps in selection. You can apply as an ALT without speaking Japanese.
• Under the "Instructor" status, Japan's rules can require proof of 12 years or more of education in the language you will teach. Both teaching statuses require pay equal to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for the same work.
• JET applications from the Philippines are online only, through the Embassy of Japan's portal. Paper applications are not accepted.

Three statuses of residence that cover teaching

Japan does not have a single "teacher visa". Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) sorts teaching work into different statuses of residence, and the school or employer decides which one applies.

Two terms in the table need a short explanation:

• Specialized training college (専修学校): a type of vocational school in Japan.
• Miscellaneous school (各種学校): a type of school in Japan's school system that is not a regular elementary, junior high or high school.

For both "Instructor" and "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services", the period of stay is granted as 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months.

"Instructor": teaching at Japanese schools

"Instructor" covers language education and other education at Japanese elementary schools, junior high schools, compulsory education schools, high schools, secondary education schools, special needs schools, specialized training colleges, miscellaneous schools, and institutions equivalent to these in facilities and organization.

This is the status for ALTs on the JET Programme. The JET Programme states that ALTs are issued a three-year working visa with the status of residence "Instructor".

"Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services": teaching at private companies

This status is often shortened to "Gijinkoku". It covers work done under a contract with a public or private organization in Japan that needs knowledge in the natural sciences or humanities, or work that needs thinking or sensitivity based on a foreign culture. ISA lists language teachers at private companies as an example, alongside interpreters, designers and marketing staff.

A teacher at a private English conversation school is a language teacher at a private company, so this is the status that applies.

"Professor": teaching at universities

Research or teaching at Japanese universities, equivalent institutions or colleges of technology (高等専門学校) falls under the separate "Professor" status. This article focuses on school and language-school teaching.

What Japan's rules require: degree, experience and pay

Japan sets the conditions for each status in the landing criteria (上陸基準): a Ministry of Justice ordinance (Ministry of Justice Ordinance No. 16 of 1990) that lists what an applicant must meet to enter Japan under a status.

Conditions under "Instructor"

The ordinance sets conditions for an applicant who will teach at a miscellaneous school or an equivalent institution, or who will teach in a non-teacher post (教員以外の職) at other schools. Such an applicant must meet both of the following.

Condition 1 — education or license (one of these):

1. Graduated from a university, or received equivalent or higher education.
2. Completed a professional course at a specialized training college in Japan in a subject needed for the teaching (under conditions set by public notice).
3. Holds a license for the teaching to be done.

Condition 2 — background in the subject:

• To teach a foreign language: 12 years or more of education in that language.
• To teach another subject: 5 years or more of practical experience teaching that subject at an educational institution.

In addition, every "Instructor" applicant must receive pay equal to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for the same work.

Conditions under "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services"

Language instruction (語学の指導) is classed as work based on a foreign culture. For this type of work, the ordinance requires:

• The work is translation, interpretation, language instruction, PR, advertising, overseas trade, fashion or interior design, product development or similar work, and
• The applicant has 3 years or more of practical experience in related work.

There is one exception that matters for teachers: a university graduate who will do translation, interpretation or language instruction does not need the 3 years of experience. A Filipino with a bachelor's degree who will teach English at a private company therefore meets the experience condition through the degree.

Pay must also be equal to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for the same work.

Paperwork: the Certificate of Eligibility

Before the visa, Immigration issues a COE (Certificate of Eligibility, 在留資格認定証明書). The employer side applies for it in Japan. The documents depend on the status and on the type of employer. Who files the COE, what it costs and how long it takes is explained in Certificate of Eligibility for Japan: Requirements and Timeline.

COE documents for "Instructor"

ISA divides "Instructor" applications into 3 categories by type of employment:

The common items are an application form, 1 photo, and a return envelope with stamps for simple registered mail. For Category 1, ISA says other documents are generally not needed beyond these common items.

Beyond the common items, ISA lists further documents, including:

• A document showing the activity, such as a working conditions notice or a copy of the service contract.
• A résumé and proof of education or work history.
• For a person who will teach a foreign language: a document proving 12 years or more of education in that language.

Any document in a foreign language needs a Japanese translation.

COE documents for "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services"

Here the documents depend on the employer's category:

For applications from April 15, 2026, ISA asks Category 3 and 4 employers for additional documents. These include a declaration about the employer's representative (所属機関の代表者に関する申告書). For work that mainly uses language skills, ISA also asks for a document proving language ability equivalent to CEFR B2 (a level on the Common European Framework of Reference for languages). ISA's examples of such work are translation and interpretation, and customer service at a hotel front desk. The ISA page does not state whether English teaching is covered by this rule, so confirm the current document list on the ISA page with your employer before applying.

The JET Programme from the Philippines

The JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) is a government programme. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles applications through embassies and consulates in participating countries, and you apply through the Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan in your country of citizenship.

The Philippines in JET

JET lists participants from 53 countries, and the Philippines is one of them. As of July 1, 2026, the Philippines had 390 ALTs and 6 CIRs, 396 participants in total.

• ALT (Assistant Language Teacher): assists Japanese Teachers of English in class.
• CIR (Coordinator for International Relations): does international exchange work at local governments. CIR applicants must show Japanese ability equivalent to JLPT N2 or N1.

What an ALT does

According to the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, ALTs work in private or public schools or local boards of education in the prefecture or municipality they are assigned to. Their main task is to assist in classes led by Japanese Teachers of English. This includes:

• Helping prepare teaching materials.
• Planning and supervising extracurricular activities such as English club or sports.
• Organizing cultural or international exchange programs.

Eligibility for Filipino ALT applicants (2027 intake)

The Embassy's requirements include:

• Hold a bachelor's degree or higher, or obtain it by the designated arrival date.
• Be a Filipino citizen. JET's general rule is that you must be a national (not just a permanent resident) of the country where recruitment and selection take place.
• Be adept in contemporary standard pronunciation, rhythm and intonation in English, with excellent language ability.
• Not have participated in the Programme since the 2024 JET Programme year (including March 2024 arrivals), and not for more than 6 years in total.
• Not have lived in Japan for 6 or more years in total since 2017.
• Be mentally and physically healthy.
• Agree to reside under the status of residence stipulated in the Immigration Control Act.
• Be interested in Japan's education system and in working with children.
• Be qualified as a language teacher, or be strongly motivated to teach foreign languages.

What strengthens an application

The Embassy lists additional evaluation points:

• A bachelor's degree or higher in English or Education.
• A professional language teaching license and/or teaching experience, especially in a classroom.
• General teaching experience or qualifications.
• Japanese language background (JLPT passer) and/or study background in Japan.
• Experience traveling or living abroad.

A Filipino licensed teacher with classroom experience and an Education degree matches several of these points. Still, a teaching certificate, diploma, or TESOL/TEFL certificate (certificates for teaching English to speakers of other languages) is not required. JET treats them as an asset in selection.

Japanese ability

You can apply for an ALT position even if you do not speak Japanese. The Embassy's screening includes a teaching demonstration in English and a Nihongo conversation test, and Japanese background counts as an evaluation point, so any Japanese study you have done is worth showing.

How to apply and the deadline

• The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines announced on September 28, 2026 that applications for the 2027 JET Programme ALT positions are open.
• Apply online only at https://ph.jetapplication.com. Paper applications are not accepted.
• Deadline: November 20, 2026 (Friday), 11:59 PM Philippine Standard Time.
• Applications with incomplete requirements at the deadline will not be considered.
• Do not include documents that are not listed in the guidelines, such as résumés, photos or headshots, extra recommendation letters, or certificates of attendance or recognition.

Read the application guidelines on the portal for the full list of required documents before you start.

Pay, contract length and airfare

• Pay: according to the JET FAQ, pre-tax remuneration is approximately 4.02 million yen in the 1st appointment, 4.14 million yen in the 2nd, 4.26 million yen in the 3rd, and 4.32 million yen in the 4th and 5th.
• Contract length: each appointment is for one year. Reappointment is possible up to a maximum total of five years.
• Airfare: the contracting organization (your direct employer in Japan) provides airfare to Japan. Return airfare is covered only if you complete your appointment and leave Japan within one month of finishing.
• Status of residence: ALTs are issued a three-year working visa with the status "Instructor".

Choosing your route

• You want to teach in public schools and have a bachelor's degree: the JET Programme, under the "Instructor" status. Apply through the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines before the deadline.
• You want to teach at a private English conversation school: the employer will apply for your COE under "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services". With a university degree, the 3-year experience condition does not apply to language instruction.
• You will be hired directly by a Japanese school or a miscellaneous school: the "Instructor" status applies. Prepare proof of your degree (or license) and, for language teaching, proof of 12 years or more of education in that language.
• You will teach at a university: the "Professor" status applies.

In every case, the pay must be at least what a Japanese national would receive for the same work. What each step of a work visa costs, from the COE to the flight, is broken down in The Real Cost of a Japan Work Visa: A Full Breakdown.

FAQ

Q: Do I need a teaching license to teach in Japan?

Not for JET. The JET Programme states that a teaching certificate, diploma, or TESOL/TEFL certification is not required, though it is an asset in selection, and the Embassy lists a professional language teaching license as an evaluation point. Under Japan's landing criteria for "Instructor", a license for the teaching is one of three ways to meet the education condition; a university degree is another.

Q: Which visa do I need to teach at an English conversation school in Japan?

"Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services". ISA lists language teachers at private companies under this status. If you graduated from a university, you do not need the 3 years of work experience that this status otherwise requires for language instruction.

Q: Can I apply for JET from the Philippines if I do not speak Japanese?

Yes, for the ALT position. The JET FAQ states that you can apply as an ALT without speaking Japanese. The Embassy's screening still includes a Nihongo conversation test, and Japanese background is an evaluation point. The CIR position is different: it requires Japanese equivalent to JLPT N2 or N1.

Summary

Teaching in Japan is a legal, clearly defined route for Filipinos, but the status of residence depends on the workplace. JET ALTs in public schools hold "Instructor"; teachers at private English conversation schools hold "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services"; university teachers hold "Professor". Under "Instructor", Japan's rules can require a degree or license plus proof of 12 years or more of education in the language you will teach. Under "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services", a university degree removes the 3-year experience condition for language instruction. Both statuses require pay at least equal to a Japanese national's. For JET 2027, Filipino applicants need a bachelor's degree, Filipino citizenship and excellent English, and must apply online through the Embassy of Japan's portal by November 20, 2026, 11:59 PM Philippine Standard Time.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Status of Residence (list and examples): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/qaq5.html
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Instructor" (application documents): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/instructor.html
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" (application documents): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/gijinkoku.html
• e-Gov Laws and Regulations, Ministry of Justice Ordinance on Landing Criteria (Ordinance No. 16 of 1990): https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/402M50000010016
• Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Applications for the 2027 JET Programme – Assistant Language Teacher Positions: https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000147.html
• JET Programme, Participating Countries: https://jetprogramme.org/en/countries/
• JET Programme, FAQ: https://jetprogramme.org/en/faq/
• JET Programme, Eligibility: https://jetprogramme.org/en/eligibility/