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Teach English in Japan: jobs, pay and visas

You can teach English in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Programme, where guaranteed pre-tax remuneration starts at roughly ¥4.02 million Japanese yen per year, or on live school listings paying ¥200,000 to ¥350,000 Japanese yen per month. Qualification and residence-status requirements depend on the role; check the vacancy's conditions and the applicable immigration route.

Chureito Pagoda and Mount Fuji
Chureito Pagoda and Mount FujiStjepko Krehula · CC BY 4.0Resized and cropped for this page.

Where are the live jobs in Japan?

Joytalk

English teacher at a language centre at JoytalkListed as Full-time English conversation school teacher

English abroad Direct from the employer

Tochigi Prefecture · Japan

Pay not published

Before you apply

  • A visa valid for the post, and sponsorship is available.
  • A native speaker of English.
  • An education qualification is regarded highly and is not essential.
  • A university degree.
  • Previous teaching experience is regarded highly and is not essential.
  • A driving licence valid for use in Japan.
  • Applicants should be native speakers of English, have a visa valid for this position (sponsorship available), a university degree and a driver's license valid for use in Japan.
Read full requirements
Apply

Meiji University, School of Business Administration

English teacher at a university at Meiji University, School of Business AdministrationListed as Part-time lecturer, English Communication and academic skills

English abroad

Izumi Campus · Japan

Pay not published

Before you apply

  • High proficiency in English, including teaching classes in English.
  • A master's degree or higher in TESOL, applied linguistics, English literature, education, or a related field, or an MBA, from an accredited institution in an English-speaking country or region.
  • At least three years teaching English at a university in Japan.
  • Renewal is by mutual agreement, and the maximum age is 70.
Read full requirements
Apply

See all 106 jobs in Japan

What does it pay?

Assistant language teacher, JET Programme, first year
¥4,020,000 Japanese yen pre-tax remuneration, year
Assistant language teacher, JET Programme, fourth and fifth year
¥4,320,000 Japanese yen pre-tax remuneration, year
English teacher at a public school
¥200,000 Japanese yen per month
English teacher at a language centre
¥250,000 Japanese yen per month
English teacher at a language centre
¥250,000 Japanese yen per month
English teacher at a kindergarten
¥240,000 to ¥300,000 Japanese yen per month
English teacher at a kindergarten
¥280,000 to ¥310,000 Japanese yen per month
English teacher at a language centre
¥280,000 to ¥350,000 Japanese yen per month
English teacher at a university
¥320,000 to ¥335,000 Japanese yen per month

What visa do you need?

Visa
The appropriate status of residence depends on the teaching work. Japan lists Instructor for school teaching and Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services for foreign-language teaching, among other categories. Confirm the route and its qualification requirements for the specific role.
Visa class
Participants are issued a three-year working visa with a Status of Residence as an ‘Instructor’ (ALT), an ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services’ (CIR), or ‘Skilled Labor’ (SEA).
Period of stay
The Instructor status of residence is granted for five years, three years, one year or three months.
Instructor qualification routes
The Instructor criteria include alternative qualification routes. Check the criteria for your institution and role.
JET qualifications (US recruitment)
Complete a Bachelor's degree by late June of the year of departure for Japan
Instructor language-education evidence
For the applicable Instructor route, check the Immigration Services Agency’s language-education evidence requirements for your institution and role.
JET ALT teaching qualification (desirable)
JET lists language-teaching qualifications or strong enthusiasm for language education for ALT applicants. This is separate from immigration criteria.
Passport
All participants will have to provide the JET Programme Office with a signed and completed visa application form, passport (with at least one blank page for the visa sticker), and one 3cm x 4cm (passport-sized) photo
Criminal record check
Not possess a record of crimes which would render them inappropriate for participation in the Programme (e.g., DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs), narcotics and other drug-related offenses, sexual offenses
Health check
Be both mentally and physically healthy.

When do schools hire?

The JET Programme accepts applications from October to late November or early December, and the deadline varies by country. August is the summer vacation in Japan, and the salary for that month generally sits outside the contract period.

August
Summer vacation in Japan; the August salary is generally outside the contract period.
October
JET Programme applications accepted.
November
JET Programme applications accepted; deadlines mostly fall in late November or early December.
December
JET Programme applications accepted until early December in some countries.

Where do these figures come from?