There are three main paths to teaching English in Japan. You can be an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) who helps with English classes at public schools, an eikaiwa teacher who teaches children and adults at an English conversation school, or a teacher at an international school.
They’re all “English teaching jobs,” but the employer, working hours, how pay is set, required qualifications, and residence status (visa) are different for each. Which one you choose also shapes how you live in Japan.
In this guide, we cover the following, based on official sources:
- How the three jobs differ (comparison table)
- ALT: the JET Programme vs dispatch companies
- Pay and working style at eikaiwa schools
- Qualifications international schools look for
- The difference between the “Instructor” and “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” residence statuses
- How to apply if you already live in Japan
This article is based on official information as of October 2026. Pay and application conditions can change, so check each organization’s latest job listing before you apply.
1. How the Three Jobs Differ
| ALT (JET Programme) | ALT (dispatch company) | Eikaiwa school | International school | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where you work | Public elementary, junior high, and high schools, etc. | Public elementary, junior high, and high schools, etc. | Eikaiwa school (classroom) | International school |
| Employer | Local governments, etc. | Dispatch company | Company that runs the school | The school |
| Who you teach | Children and students | Children and students | Children to adults | Children and students |
| Main role | Assist the Japanese teacher’s classes | Assist the Japanese teacher’s classes | Lead your own lessons | Teach as a homeroom or subject teacher |
| Example pay | 4.02 million yen a year in year one | About 2.4 to 3.0 million yen a year | Around 280,000 yen a month (full-time example) | Depends on the school |
| Main residence status | “Instructor” | “Instructor,” etc. | “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” etc. | “Instructor,” etc. |
The pay figures are examples from the official pages of the organizations and companies introduced in Sections 2 and 3. The official JET website says JET ALTs receive the “Instructor” residence status.
(Reference: JET Programme "FAQ | JET Programme")
2. ALT (Assistant Language Teacher)
ALTs teach English classes together with Japanese teachers at elementary, junior high, and high schools. There are two main ways to work as an ALT: being hired by a local government through the JET Programme, or being hired by a dispatch company and sent to schools.
The JET Programme
The JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) is a program in which Japanese local governments and other organizations invite people from overseas. As of July 1, 2026, 5,734 people from 53 countries were participating, 5,238 of them as ALTs.
(Reference: JET Programme "JET Programme Participating Countries")
Besides ALTs, the JET Programme also has CIRs (Coordinators for International Relations), who work on international exchange at local governments, and SEAs (Sports Exchange Advisors), who promote exchange through sports.
Eligibility
The official JET website lists these as the criteria for the 2025-2026 programme year, and they may change for the following year.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | A bachelor’s degree or higher (or expected by the arrival date). ALTs may instead hold certification of completing a 3-year (or longer) course to teach at elementary or secondary schools |
| Nationality | Be a national (not just a permanent resident) of the country where you apply, by the time you submit your application |
| People with Japanese citizenship | Must have applied to renounce Japanese nationality by the set deadline |
| Time lived in Japan | Must not have lived in Japan for 6 or more consecutive years in total since 2016, as of when you submit your application |
| Past participation | You can’t apply if you have participated since the 2023 programme year, or for more than 6 years in total |
| Age | No upper limit (you can apply if you meet the other requirements) |
(Reference: JET Programme "Eligibility | Aspiring JETs" / JET Programme "FAQ | JET Programme")
Pay and length of appointment
The official JET website lists pay as follows.
| Appointment | Pay (per year, approximate, before tax) |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4.02 million yen |
| Year 2 | 4.14 million yen |
| Year 3 | 4.26 million yen |
| Years 4 and 5 (for exceptionally high performers) | 4.32 million yen |
Appointments are for one year at a time, and you can be reappointed up to twice, for a total of three years. Participants recognized as exceptionally high performers can be reappointed up to two more times, for a maximum of five years.
(Reference: JET Programme "FAQ | JET Programme")
Application timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| October to late November or early December | Applications accepted (deadline varies by country) |
| January | First notice sent to applicants |
| February | Interviews at Japanese embassies and consulates |
| Late March to April | Second notice sent to applicants |
| July or August | Departure for Japan and orientation in Tokyo |
This timeline is a guideline and may change. The program says to contact the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of citizenship for details.
(Reference: JET Programme "JET Programme Application Process | Aspiring JETs")
ALTs through dispatch companies
Local governments and schools can also take on ALTs by contracting with a dispatch company. In this case, your employer is the dispatch company. For example, Interac, an ALT dispatch company, gives the following information on its official pages.
| Item | Interac’s information |
|---|---|
| Pay | Approximately 2.4 to 3.0 million yen a year (gross) |
| Contract period | Full-year contracts usually run from April 1 to March 31 |
| Working hours | Weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with 3 to 5 classes a day (45 or 50 minutes each) |
| Requirements | Native-level English, at least 12 years of education in English, a bachelor’s degree in any subject, under 60 years old |
| Applicants already in Japan | Need a residence status that allows work (“Instructor,” Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of a Japanese National, etc.) |
(Reference: Interac "Interac ALT English Teacher Salary in Japan: Detailed Breakdown" / Interac "Qualifications & Requirements to Teach English in Japan")
Pay and conditions vary by company, so check each company’s job listing when you apply elsewhere.
“Dispatch” vs “subcontracting”
Besides worker dispatch, ALTs can also be sent to schools under a “subcontracting” (ukeoi) agreement. In 2009, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare answered the Ministry of Education (MEXT) that if an ALT assists with classes under the guidance of the teacher in charge, or if the teacher in charge gives the ALT specific instructions on lesson content and how to run the class, either case counts as worker dispatch and can’t be done under a subcontracting agreement.
If you work as an ALT through a dispatch or subcontracting company, it’s a good idea to check before signing which type of contract you have and whose instructions you’ll follow at school.
3. Eikaiwa Schools
At eikaiwa schools, teachers lead their own lessons. Students range from children to adults, depending on the school.
Examples from major schools
Here’s what some major eikaiwa schools list on their official recruitment pages.
| School | Pay | Working style | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECC | 280,300 yen a month (gross) | 35 hours a week, 5 working days with 2 fixed days off | ECC supports your work visa application. 70,000 yen one-time stipend for arriving from overseas |
| Berlitz | From 281,875 yen a month | 38 hours a week | Commuter pass covered up to 27,000 yen a month. Lessons outside contracted hours start at 1,990 yen each |
| NOVA | At least 1,200 yen per 40-minute lesson | Paid per lesson | Work visa sponsorship for eligible candidates. 100,000 yen for flights (50,000 yen from within Asia) if you commit to 40 lessons a week for 1 year |
(Reference: ECC "Your ECC Contract & Life in Japan" / Berlitz "Full Time Instructor Contract | Effort Rewarded | Berlitz Japan" / NOVA "NOVA – Contracts")
Many other eikaiwa schools also hire teachers. Some schools pay a monthly salary, while others pay per lesson. With per-lesson pay, your income depends on how many lessons you teach, so check the number of lessons per week and the type of contract before applying.
How it differs from being an ALT
While ALTs assist Japanese teachers’ classes, eikaiwa teachers run their own lessons. You also work in a school’s classroom rather than at a public school. Your residence status may also differ from that of an ALT teaching at a school (explained in Section 5).
4. International Schools
International schools mainly teach in English. Teachers don’t assist with classes like ALTs do. Instead, they take charge of classes as homeroom or subject teachers.
Example qualifications
Hiring requirements for international school teachers vary by school. For example, Nishimachi International School in Tokyo lists the following on its employment page.
- A teaching degree from a four-year institution, such as a Bachelor of Education
- At least three years of teaching experience
(Reference: Nishimachi International School "Employment Opportunities | Nishimachi International School")
Compared with ALT and eikaiwa jobs, international schools may ask for teaching qualifications and experience. Check the requirements on the employment page of the school you want to apply to.
5. Differences in Residence Status (Visa)
For English teaching jobs in Japan, the residence status you use mainly depends on where you work: “Instructor” or “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (gijinkoku).
| Instructor | Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services | |
|---|---|---|
| Main activities | Language and other education at elementary, junior high, and high schools, special needs schools, specialized training colleges, miscellaneous schools, etc. | Work under a contract with a public or private organization that requires specialized knowledge, or thinking or sensitivity rooted in another culture |
| Example jobs listed | Language teachers at junior high and high schools, etc. | Language teachers at private companies, interpreters, designers, etc. |
| Period of stay | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months |
(Reference: Immigration Services Agency "Residence Status: Instructor" (Japanese) / Immigration Services Agency "Residence Status: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" (Japanese))
As a guide, teaching at a school falls under “Instructor,” and teaching at a private company such as an eikaiwa school falls under gijinkoku. However, which status applies depends on where you work and your contract, so check with your future employer.
2026 changes to gijinkoku
According to the Immigration Services Agency, since April 15, 2026, gijinkoku applications require the following additional documents when the employer falls under “Category 3 or 4.”
- A declaration about the employer’s representative
- For jobs that mainly use language skills, such as interpreting, translation, or customer service, documents showing CEFR B2-level ability in the language used at work (for Japanese, JLPT N2 or higher, for example, is treated as B2-level)
This page doesn’t say whether English teaching jobs require these additional documents, so check with your future employer or the Immigration Services Agency.
(Reference: Immigration Services Agency "Residence Status: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" (Japanese))
For gijinkoku requirements and the 2026 changes in detail, see What Is the Gijinkoku Visa? Requirements, Eligible Jobs, and 2026 Rule Changes Explained.
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6. How to Apply If You Already Live in Japan
The JET Programme
You can apply to the JET Programme even if you live in Japan. However, you apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of citizenship, not from inside Japan. Interviews are held in your country of citizenship, though online interviews may be possible.
(Reference: JET Programme "FAQ | JET Programme")
As noted in Section 2, people who have lived in Japan for 6 or more consecutive years in total since 2016 as of when they submit their application can’t apply, so check how long you’ve lived in Japan.
Dispatch companies, eikaiwa schools, and international schools
Some companies and schools accept applications from people already in Japan. In that case, check whether your current residence status allows that job. For example, Interac says the main residence status for its ALTs is “Instructor,” but you can also work with Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of a Japanese National, Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident, Special Permanent Resident, or Long Term Resident status.
(Reference: Interac "Qualifications & Requirements to Teach English in Japan")
If your current residence status doesn’t allow the job, you may need to change your status to match it.
If you move to another company while on a gijinkoku visa, you need to notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days of your contract with your previous employer ending, and again within 14 days of signing a contract with your new employer.
(Reference: Immigration Services Agency "Notification of the Organization of Affiliation (Contracting Organization)" (Japanese))
For details, see Changing Jobs on a Gijinkoku Visa: Notifications, the 90-Day Rule, and the N2 Requirement.
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7. Which Job Suits You?
| If you… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Want to work with children at schools, with a set annual pay | ALT (JET Programme) |
| Live in Japan and want to find a school job without waiting for JET’s yearly recruitment | ALT (dispatch company) |
| Want to plan your own lessons and try teaching adults | Eikaiwa school |
| Want to use your teaching qualifications and experience as a homeroom or subject teacher | International school |
For every job, application requirements and how pay is set vary by organization, company, and school. When you find a job you’re interested in, compare the official job listings before applying.
FAQ
Q: What’s the difference between an ALT and an eikaiwa teacher?
A: ALTs teach English classes together with Japanese teachers at public schools and similar places. Eikaiwa teachers lead their own lessons at English conversation schools. As a guide for residence status, teaching at a school falls under “Instructor,” and teaching at a private company falls under “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.”
Q: How much does the JET Programme pay?
A: The official JET website lists 4.02 million yen in year one, 4.14 million yen in year two, 4.26 million yen in year three, and 4.32 million yen in years four and five (for exceptionally high performers).
Q: Is there an age limit for the JET Programme?
A: There’s no upper age limit. You can apply if you meet the other requirements. The dispatch company Interac lists “under 60 years of age” as a requirement.
Q: Can I apply to the JET Programme if I live in Japan?
A: Yes. However, you apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of citizenship. People who have lived in Japan for 6 or more consecutive years in total since 2016 as of when they submit their application can’t apply.
Q: Can I become an English teacher without a university degree?
A: In the examples in this article (the JET Programme, Interac, and an international school), a bachelor’s degree or teaching degree is generally required (JET ALTs may instead have completed a 3-year or longer course to teach at elementary or secondary schools). Check the requirements of the organization, company, or school you want to apply to.
Key Takeaways
- ✅ The three main English teaching jobs are ALT, eikaiwa, and international school. The employer and role differ for each
- ✅ JET pays 4.02 million yen in year one. Appointments last up to five years, and there’s no upper age limit
- ✅ Dispatch ALTs are employed by the company. Interac pays approximately 2.4 to 3.0 million yen a year
- ✅ Eikaiwa schools pay either a monthly salary or per lesson. Check the contract type and number of lessons
- ✅ As a guide, schools use “Instructor” and private companies use “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”
- ✅ You can apply from inside Japan too. For JET, apply through the embassy or consulate in your country of citizenship
To choose the job that suits you, compare not just pay but also working hours, who you’ll teach, and residence status. When you find a job you’re interested in, check the latest conditions in the official job listing before you apply.
