UK JET Programme

 

Apply to JET

Table of Contents

• How to Apply
• Application and Departure Process
• Required Documents
• Downloadable Documents
• Apply

 

How to Apply

The application and its supporting documents are to be submitted through our online application portal.

Step 1. Start Your Application

Email application@ukjetprogramme.onmicrosoft.com. The subject line and the message can both be left blank.
You will receive two emails:

• a confirmation email containing your application number (for example JET2027-0123) with a set of instructions on how to apply
• an invitation to your personal application folder

Please note that it may take around 15 minutes to receive your confirmation email and invitation. This may take longer during peak times. The two emails will not arrive at the same time.

Before you apply, please add the following email addresses to your safe senders list, and check your spam folder if either email does not arrive:

• application-ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp - all emails about your application will be sent from this address
• ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp - the UK JET Office’s email for any enquiries you may have

Only email once. Your email address is linked to your application and should be an address which you can continue to access for the entire application cycle. We do not advise you use an academic email to apply.

We do not accept paper applications, nor can applications be submitted as email attachments.

Step 2. Sign in to your application folder

When you open the invitation, you will be asked to sign in:

• Enter the same email address you used to apply. You do not need a Microsoft account.
• You will be emailed a one-time sign-in code. Enter this on the sign-in screen.
• Open your application folder.
• You can then access your folder from the invitation email without needing to sign in.

Your folder contains separate sub-folders for each part of your application:

• 00_Referee_Contacts - the two files in which you enter your referees' details
• 01_Application_Form - your application form (already prepared for you)
• 02_Personal_Statement
• 03_Academic_Transcript
• 04_Proof_of_Degree
• 05_Proof_of_Nationality

The following sub-folders are only necessary for some applicants (see Required Documents):

• 09_Supplementary - optional documents (JLPT, TEFL/TESOL, teaching licence)
• 10_ICPC
• 11_Certificate_of_Health
• 12_Statement_of_Physician
• 13_Criminal_Personal_Statement
• 14_Overseas_Criminal_Records_Check

You will also see folders used at later stages of the process. Please leave them empty until you are asked to use them.

Steps 3, 4 and 5 below can be completed in any order.

Step 3. Complete your application form

The application form is in the 01_Application_Form sub-folder. Open and read the INSTRUCTIONS tab before completing the form.

• The form saves automatically as you type. There is no save button.
• Only fill in the form in the specified folder. Do not upload a separate copy as it will not be accepted.
• Required questions are marked with an asterisk (*).
• The Self-Assessment Medical Report is part of the same form (in the MEDICAL tab).
• The GUIDANCE tab gives detailed notes on how to fill in each question. Refer to this as needed.

Until you declare your application complete (Step 6), you can alter your answers.

Step 4. Add your referee details

In the 00_Referee_Contacts sub-folder there are two files, one for each referee.

In each file, enter your full name, your referee's name, title, position/job title, organisation and email address. Every field marked with an asterisk (*) is required. Once you have completed the form, select YES in the confirmation cell to submit. If any field has been left blank, you will receive an email stating the invitation to provide a reference cannot be sent.

Please inform your referees of your application number and that they should expect an email from application-ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp. If they do not receive an email, ask them to check their spam folder. Please also make sure they are aware of the reference requirements set out on the Required Documents page.

Step 5. Upload your supporting documents

Upload each document to its matching sub-folder. Please see Required Documents for what each document entails, the file format and the maximum file size.

Step 6. Declare your application complete

Once your application form has been completed and your documents have been uploaded, open your application form, go to the ‘Application Completion’ section at the end and select YES in the "Application Complete?" cell.

Our system will then check your application automatically:

• If everything required is present, your application is marked complete and your form will be locked. You will receive a confirmation email.
• If something is still missing, you will receive an email listing exactly what needs to be added or corrected. Once you have made the amendments, select YES again.

Please bear in mind that it may take some time for you to receive the confirmation email.

Your references are not required in order to declare your application complete. However, they must be uploaded by your referee before the deadline. It is your responsibility to ensure that references are submitted on time. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Your application will only be reviewed once you have declared it complete and all required items have been submitted. Any application that has not been declared complete by the deadline will not be considered.

Please note: once your application has been locked, anything you add to your folder afterwards will not reach the selection panel. If you need to add or replace a document after that point, contact the UK JET Office at ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp.

The deadline

Your application must be declared complete, and accepted as complete, by the deadline.

We will send reminder emails to applicants with outstanding items, but it remains your responsibility to complete your application on time. Applications and documents submitted after the deadline will not be processed, and no exceptions to the deadline can be made.

NOTE: Any costs incurred in obtaining the required documents are to be borne by the applicant. Please note that no feedback is available to unsuccessful applicants.

 

Application and Departure Process

2027 Departure Important Dates (for reference)

Application Opens	September 2026
Application Deadline	November 2026
Interviews	January to February 2027
Interview Results	March/April 2027
Early Departure	April/May 2027
Pre Departure Orientation	June/July 2027
Summer Departure	1 August 2027

The JET Programme holds promotional events throughout the autumn, visiting university campuses across the country. Typical events include career fairs, Q&A sessions and presentations delivered by JET alumni.

Application Intake

Applications can only be started during our application period. Please read through the Application Guidelines before applying. Speculative CVs are not accepted, and we will not consider late applications or those submitted using non-official materials.

Interviews

ALT and CIR interviews are usually conducted throughout January and into early February. Candidates must be available for interview at the time and date allocated by the UK JET Office. If you are unavailable for the interview date you have been assigned, please contact us as soon as you have been offered an interview. We will endeavour to reschedule. However, we cannot guarantee this will be possible. Please note, communications regarding interview dates prior to invitation will not be considered.

Invitations will be issued via email from late December to early January. ALT applicants must choose to be interviewed at the Embassy of Japan in London or the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh at the time of application. CIR interviews are held at the Embassy of Japan in London only.

Interviews will be conducted in-person only. There is no option to have an interview held overseas or online.

Early Departure

Every year, a small number of placements become available for participants who are able to start in April/May ahead of summer departure in August. You will be asked whether you wish to be considered for Early Departure on the application form. Those who do so will need to submit additional paperwork, an ICPC and Certificate of Health, with their application in order to be considered.

Please be advised that Early Departure positions are limited and cannot be guaranteed. If it is not possible to allocate an Early Departure position successful applicants will default to Summer Departure instead.

Please think carefully about your answer as it will not be possible to opt in/out at a later date. Applicants who are offered Early Departure and subsequently reject the position will not be considered any further in the process and will not be eligible for the following year's intake.

If you are selected for Early Departure, you will be notified of your success in March.

Final-year undergraduate applicants cannot be considered for Early Departure.

Summer Departure

Shortlisted candidates, except for those who received Early Departure placements, will usually depart for Japan towards the end of July/beginning of August. All successful Summer Departure candidates must submit a Certificate of Health and an ICPC. If you are selected for Summer Departure, you will be notified of your success towards the end of March or early April. Shortlist candidates who decline their offer after accepting placement details will not be eligible to re-apply in the following year's intake.

Alternate candidates are candidates who were considered good JET candidates but were not offered a place on the shortlist. If a shortlist candidate declines or withdraws, their place will be offered to an alternate candidate (sometimes referred to as a reserve candidate). Alternate candidates must have required documentation submitted (Certificate of Health and ICPC) to be considered for immediate upgrade. If candidates are upgraded in time for summer departure, they shall leave together with other candidates in normal Summer Departure (late July/early August).

Applicants' interview locations will determine their point of departure. Applicants interviewed at the Embassy will depart from the elected London airport and applicants interviewed at the Consulate General will depart from the elected Edinburgh airport. This cannot be changed.

Alternate Departure

Candidates who are selected as alternates may depart for Japan any time between the summer of departure year and December. Notification of upgrade from alternate to shortlisted can be between May and the first week of November.

Orientations and Training

Pre-Departure Orientation

All participants are required to attend Pre-Departure Orientation in the UK before their departure. You will have the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers to help prepare you for your new life in Japan. Details will be announced to successful participants in due course.

Attendance is compulsory, as it is at this time that applicants will be required to submit their passports with their visa applications. Visa applications can take two weeks or more to process, during this time candidates will not have access to their passports. Therefore, we advise all applicants to ensure that they are in the UK from at least late June/early July to avoid potential visa issuance issues.
 

Post-Arrival Orientation

Participation in the Post-Arrival Orientation in Tokyo is mandatory for all new JET participants. JET participants will receive training necessary for carrying out their work duties in Japan.

JETAA Q&A Sessions

Local chapters of JETAA (JET Alumni Association) in the UK host Q&A sessions for the new participants sometime in the summer. These sessions are intended to provide an opportunity for new JETs to speak with experienced alumni who can provide advice on preparing for departure, life in Japan, and job duties as an ALT/CIR.

 

Required Documents

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that each supporting document meets the brief outlined on their respective pages. Applications submitted with documents that do not meet the specification or are missing any of the required documents listed below cannot be considered. Please keep all your original documents in case they are required at a later date.

Please ensure to use the current version of each document. Any document submitted using an out-of-date version will not be accepted.

Applications which are missing required documents will not be considered.

NOTE: Any costs incurred in obtaining the required documents are to be borne by the applicant.

Uploading Your Documents

Your documents should be uploaded to your personal application folder. Each document has its own sub-folder. See How to Apply for how the folder works and how to sign in.

You do not have to wait until your application form is finished to upload your documents. You can upload them at any point before you declare your application complete. All the necessary files must be in place, and your application declared complete, by the application deadline.

Points to consider when uploading your documents:

• All documents must be in PDF format.
• Please scan documents and ensure any text is clear and easy to read. Blurry or illegible documents will not be considered.
• Upload each document to the sub-folder that it matches. If a document contains several pages, they must be combined into a single PDF before uploading. For example, a five-page transcript should be one five-page PDF in 03_Academic_Transcript.
• Please title your documents with the official document name and your surname.
• The UK JET Office is unable to combine PDFs, reduce document size or upload documents on the behalf of applicants.

Document Specifications

Documentation Outline

Please refer to the table below for a list of documents that you may need to upload to support your application. Check carefully whether or not you need to upload each document to your online account.

Please scroll down for detailed information and links.
 

Core	Conditional	Supplementary
1. Application Form	1. Statement of Physician	1. Japanese Language Certificate
2. Personal Statement	2. ICPC	2. Teaching Licence
3. Academic Transcript	3. Overseas Criminal Record Check	3. TEFL Certificate
4. Proof of Degree	4. Certificate of Health
5. Proof of Nationality
6. Reference 1
7. Reference 2

Conditional Documents - You may need the following:

At the time of application, all applicants must check if they require the following documents. Click the links for more information.

1. Statement of Physician
You will need a Statement of Physician, signed by your doctor, if you:

• Have received any medical treatment or prescriptions from a doctor in the past five years
• Have a long-term or recurring condition
• Have previously been treated for any nervous or mental conditions (including consultations)
• Declare any medical condition on the Self-Assessment Medical Report (as part of the application form)

2. ICPC
You will need an International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) at the time of application if you:

• Have a previous or current criminal record
• Are applying for Early Departure

All other applicants will be asked to provide an ICPC if successful at interview.

3. Overseas Criminal Records Check
You will need overseas criminal record documentation if you:

• Have lived in the same country outside of the UK (excluding Japan) for twelve or more consecutive months within the last 5 years

4. Certificate of Health
You will need a Certificate of Health at the time of application if you:

• Are applying for Early Departure

All other applicants will be asked to provide a Certificate of Health if successful at interview.

Core Documents - For all applicants:

All applicants will need to provide the following documents. Missing documents will result in automatic disqualification. Click the links for more information.

1. Application Form
Your application form is created for you when you start your application. It is available in the 01_Application_Form sub-folder of your application folder. You do not need to download or upload anything for this document. It saves automatically as you type. Do not rename, move or delete the file, and do not upload a separate copy.

The Application Form is a single document with four tabs:

• INSTRUCTIONS - read this first
• FORM - the UK JET Programme Application Form, including the declaration you sign at the end and the Application Completion section
• MEDICAL - the Self-Assessment Medical Report
• GUIDANCE - read-only reference notes on every question in the form (you cannot type in this tab)

Required questions are marked with an asterisk (*). Some questions in the MEDICAL tab become required depending on your answers. Where a question offers a list of options, you must choose one of the options given: a value typed or pasted in that is not on the list will be rejected when you declare your application complete.

2. Personal Statement
You will need to provide a personal statement of no more than 600 words, answering the specified questions. Please follow the format as instructed on the personal statement webpage.

3. Academic Transcript
You will need to submit an official transcript showing all modules taken at university. If you have multiple degrees, please submit one for each degree.
Final-year university students must ask their university to include their ongoing final-year modules. You should specifically state this when requesting the document.
If you are unable to obtain a transcript with your final year modules, you may submit your existing official transcript alongside a signed letter, from your university, which outlines your final year modules. The letter should be provided by a personal tutor, school administrator, or other relevant university staff member.

4. Proof of Degree
You will need to provide proof of degree, or proof that you will obtain your degree before departing (final-year students).
Graduates will need to provide colour scans of their graduation certificates. If you have multiple degrees, please submit all certificates.
Final-year university students will need to provide a letter from their university indicating that they will graduate before leaving for Japan.

5. Proof of Nationality
All applicants are required to submit a double-page colour scan of their current UK passport as proof of their British Citizenship. If you do not hold one, you will need to apply for one before applying to the JET Programme.

6. Two Letters of Reference
You will need to ask two referees to supply us with character references. They should be supplied to us directly by your referees and should remain confidential.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that referees follow the formatting guidelines and submit the letters by the deadline.

Supplementary Documents:

If you would like them to be credited as part of your application, you may submit the following documents to the 09_Supplementary sub-folder.

1. Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Certificate
If you have passed the JLPT at any level, please upload the certificate to your application.

2. TEFL Certificate
If you have completed a TEFL/TESOL or equivalent course (CELTA included) of at least 120 hours, please upload proof to your application.

3. Teaching Licence
If applicable, you should upload proof of your teaching licence to your application (PGCE/QTS, etc.).

Submission

Your application form and all your supporting documents must be in your application folder, and your application declared complete, by the deadline. Your references must also reach us by the deadline, although they are not needed in order to declare your application complete. Late applications will not be accepted.

When you declare your application complete, our system checks it automatically and emails you either a confirmation or a list of what is still missing. See How to Apply, Step 6.

Application Tips

Take a look at our short guides for tips on completing a successful application!

 

Downloadable Documents

• 2027 JET Programme Guidelines
• 2027 Certificate of Health
• 2027 Statement of Physician

 

Apply

Pre-application checklist

Before applying, you must ensure that you have:
✅ Read the Application Guidelines
✅ Read all the FAQs
✅ Read our application tips
✅ Added ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp and application-ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp to your email's list of safe senders

Please keep in mind:
⚠️ It can take weeks to get a Statement of Physician, so make a GP appointment early
⚠️ It is your responsibility to ensure that referees follow the formatting requirement
⚠️ Your referees may be busy, so request references early
⚠️ Apply from an email address you will keep for the whole application cycle

Every year, some applicants lose out on the opportunity to participate on the JET Programme due to having an incomplete application. All the necessary information can be found on the website, so please read through carefully before starting your application.

Start Your Application

Click “Apply” below to start your application.

Apply

If the above button does not open your email programme, please send one to this address: application@ukjetprogramme.onmicrosoft.com

If you have any issues, please contact the UK JET office at ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp.