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Instructor visa for Japan (教育): teaching at Japanese schools

The status for teachers at Japanese schools and vocational schools — including many assistant language teachers (ALTs). Who it fits, the degree and “12 years in the language” rules, and why a private language school usually needs a different visa.

Forms and documents

Which visa for English teachers

Checked against the Immigration Services Agency of Japan on 28 September 2026 · Engineer/Specialist visa · Professor visa

Period of stay5 y · 3 y · 1 y · 3 months

Education in the language taught12 years — where required

Other subjects5 years of teaching

Certificate of EligibilityFree · 1–3 months

Who it fits

Teaching at Japanese schools

By law, Instructor (教育) covers teaching languages and other subjects at the educational institutions listed in the Immigration Act. ISA’s example: a foreign-language teacher at a junior high or high school.

Schools

Elementary, junior high and high schools, combined schools (義務教育学校, 中等教育学校) and special-needs schools (特別支援学校) — public or private.

Other institutions

Vocational schools (専修学校), miscellaneous schools (各種学校) and institutions equivalent to them in organization and facilities.

What you teach

A foreign language or another subject — full-time or part-time, at one school or several.

Requirements

What immigration checks

The landing standards (上陸基準省令) split instructors into two groups. Pay at least equal to a Japanese employee’s is needed in both.

Group 1

Teacher at a school or vocational school

You hold a teacher post (教員) at a school, a vocational school (専修学校) or another institution — except a miscellaneous school (各種学校) or an equivalent. The landing standards check only pay. But a teacher at an elementary, junior high or high school needs a Japanese teaching license under the Education Personnel Certification Act (教育職員免許法, Article 3) — regular, special or temporary — with exceptions, for example a part-time special lecturer (特別非常勤講師) without a license after the school notifies the board of education.

Group 2

Miscellaneous school, or not a teacher post

  • You work at a miscellaneous school (各種学校) — or at a school but not as a teacher, for example as an assistant language teacher (ALT)
  • One of: a university degree, a Japanese vocational college diploma in the subject, or a license for that teaching
  • And: for a foreign language, at least 12 years of education in that language; for other subjects, 5 years of teaching experience

What “12 years of education in the language” means. Years of schooling given in that language count — not lessons of the language. A native speaker educated in English meets it for English; so may a graduate of English-medium schools and university, for example in India or the Philippines. If English was only one subject at school, those years do not count. Exception: at a miscellaneous school set up to teach the children of Diplomat, Official or Dependent status holders in a foreign language, a degree or license is enough.

Compare

School, university or language school

The status depends on where you teach, not on the subject. Most English-conversation schools are ordinary companies — their teachers get the Engineer/Specialist visa, not Instructor. A school only counts here if it is legally a 専修学校 or 各種学校.

Where you teach Status Main condition
School, vocational school (専修学校), miscellaneous school (各種学校); ALT in schools Instructor (教育) Pay at least equal to Japanese staff; at a 各種学校 or in a non-teacher post also a degree or license and 12 years of education in the language (or 5 years teaching the subject)
University, college of technology (高専) Professor (教授) No separate landing standard — the university confirms the work
Private language school run as a company (英会話), in-company training Engineer/Specialist (international services) A university degree, or 3 years of experience in language teaching
Research at a company or institute Researcher (研究) Degree and research experience (except contracts with the state and public bodies)

The JET Programme places assistant language teachers (ALTs) on the Instructor status and coordinators for international relations (CIRs) on Engineer/Specialist. In practice, ALTs placed in schools by private companies usually also get Instructor — check with your employer.

Forms and documents

Official forms and the documents you need

A full-time teacher at an ordinary school usually needs only the form and a photo. In other cases you add the contract, your diploma, proof of the language or the experience, and papers on the school.

Two ways to get the status. From abroad, the school or employer applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) and you then get the visa at a Japanese embassy. Already in Japan — for example after your studies — you apply for a change of status. Choose the procedure and how you work below.

Where and how you work:

full-time at a school: You work full-time at an elementary, junior high or high school, a secondary school (中等教育学校) or a special-needs school (特別支援学校). Apart from the application form and a photo, ISA usually asks for no other documents.

full-time at another institution: You work full-time at another educational institution — for example a vocational school (専修学校) or a miscellaneous school (各種学校).

part-time (非常勤): You work part-time — at one school or at several.

Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — you are abroad, the school is in Japan

The school or other organization in Japan you sign the contract with files (a staff member or an administrative scrivener (行政書士)). With the CoE you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy and enter Japan.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jpFilled-in examplePDF · moj.go.jpDocument checklistPDF · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for a Certificate of Eligibility 在留資格認定証明書交付申請書Part of the form is filled in by the school.
  2. Photo 4 × 3 cm 写真
  3. Return envelope with your address and stamps for registered mail 返信用封筒For paper applications.
  4. Terms of work — or the contract if you are not an employee 労働条件通知書・業務従事に係る契約書の写しfull-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)If you work under contracts with several organizations — copies of all contracts.
  5. CV with employers, duties and dates 履歴書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  6. Copy of your university degree, Japanese vocational college diploma (専門士, 高度専門士) or teaching license 卒業証明書・免許証等資格を有することを証明する文書の写しfull-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)Graduates of a Japanese vocational college’s advanced course (専攻科) — a certificate of completion.
  7. Proof of 12 years of education in the language you will teach — or 5 years of experience teaching another subject 当該外国語により12年以上教育を受けたこと・5年以上の実務経験を証明する文書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)What counts is education given in that language, not lessons of the language: for example school and university certificates from institutions that taught in it.
  8. Description of the institution: history, management, activities; register extract 案内書・登記事項証明書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  9. Financial statements for the last year; a new institution — a business plan 直近の年度の決算文書の写し・事業計画書part-time (非常勤)

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
Regional immigration services bureau for the school’s address (when the school files). Not accepted by mail.
Fee
Free
Standard processing period
1–3 months
Online
Possible
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

Change of status — you are already in Japan, for example after your studies

You file yourself before your current status expires — or a school staff member approved by immigration (申請等取次者) or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) files for you. You may start work on the new status only after approval.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jpFilled-in examplePDF · moj.go.jpDocument checklistPDF · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for change of status of residence 在留資格変更許可申請書
  2. Photo 4 × 3 cm 写真
  3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
  4. Terms of work — or the contract if you are not an employee 労働条件通知書・業務従事に係る契約書の写しfull-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)With several contracts — copies of all of them.
  5. CV with employers, duties and dates 履歴書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  6. Copy of your university degree, Japanese vocational college diploma (専門士, 高度専門士) or teaching license 卒業証明書・免許証等資格を有することを証明する文書の写しfull-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  7. Proof of 12 years of education in the language you will teach — or 5 years of experience teaching another subject 当該外国語により12年以上教育を受けたこと・5年以上の実務経験を証明する文書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  8. Description of the institution; register extract 案内書・登記事項証明書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  9. Financial statements for the last year; a new institution — a business plan 直近の年度の決算文書の写し・事業計画書part-time (非常勤)

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
Regional immigration services bureau for your address
Fee
Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table
Standard processing period
1–2 months
Online
Possible
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

Extension of the Instructor status

You file yourself — or a staff member of your organization approved by immigration (申請等取次者) or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) files for you. With a period of stay of 6 months or more, apply no earlier than 3 months before it ends (earlier only in special cases agreed with the bureau); with a shorter period, any time before it ends. If you moved to another school and did not file the notification within 14 days, file it first.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jpFilled-in examplePDF · moj.go.jpDocument checklistPDF · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for extension of period of stay 在留期間更新許可申請書
  2. Photo 4 × 3 cm 写真Not needed for an extension of up to 3 months.
  3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
  4. Resident tax certificates for the year: taxation and payment (住民税) 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書・納税証明書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)From the city office of your address on 1 January. One certificate is enough if it shows both income and payment.
  5. If you are not an employee — copies of the contracts with all organizations 業務従事に係る契約書の写しfull-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  6. First extension after a job change: terms of work or contract, description of the institution, register extract 労働条件通知書・案内書・登記事項証明書full-time at another institution, part-time (非常勤)
  7. First extension after a job change: the new institution’s financial statements for the last year 直近の年度の決算文書の写し・事業計画書part-time (非常勤)

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
Regional immigration services bureau for your address
Fee
Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table
Standard processing period
2 weeks – 1 month
Online
Possible
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

What comes next

Family, job changes and permanent residency

Family

Your spouse and children whom you support can join you on the Dependent visa (家族滞在) and work up to 28 hours a week with permission.

Changing school

Within 14 days of leaving or joining a school, file the notification of change of affiliated organization (活動機関に関する届出) — see notifications. More than 3 months without work under the status, without a good reason, is grounds to cancel it.

Private lessons

Paid lessons outside your school need permission for an activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可) before you start. Moving to a language-school job means a change of status, not just a notification.

Trips abroad

With a valid passport and residence card you can leave for up to 1 year (not beyond the end of your status) without a separate permit. Longer trips need a re-entry permit.

Common refusals

The workplace is not a school listed in the law (a language-school company needs Engineer/Specialist); no degree or license, or no 12 years in the language where required; pay below Japanese staff; incomplete documents.

Permanent residency

The standard path is 10 years in Japan, at least 5 of them on a work status. With 70 HSP points held for 3 years or 80 for 1 year you can apply sooner. From 1 April 2027 a revised PR guideline applies: Japanese at B1 becomes a factor taken into account, not a strict requirement (HSP holders and their family and people with 6+ years of Japanese primary or secondary schooling are exempt), plus income and pension checks.

FAQ

Instructor visa questions

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Which visa does an English teacher in Japan need?

It depends on where you teach. A school, a vocational school (専修学校) or a miscellaneous school (各種学校) — Instructor (教育); this usually includes assistant language teachers (ALTs) in public schools. A university or a college of technology (高専) — Professor (教授). A private language school run as an ordinary company (英会話 school) or in-company training — Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (international services).

If you work at a miscellaneous school (各種学校) or teach at a school in a post other than teacher (教員), for example as an assistant language teacher, you need both: a university degree, a related Japanese vocational college diploma or a license for that teaching — and 12 years of education in the language you teach, or 5 years of experience teaching the subject. For a teacher post the landing standards check only pay, but teachers at elementary, junior high and high schools need a Japanese teaching license under the Education Personnel Certification Act (教育職員免許法) — regular, special or temporary — with exceptions such as a part-time special lecturer (特別非常勤講師).

If you teach a foreign language at a miscellaneous school (各種学校) or in a non-teacher post, you need at least 12 years of education in that language. What counts is schooling given in that language, not lessons of it — for example, if your school and university taught in English, those years count for English. For other subjects you need 5 years of experience teaching the subject instead.

The landing standards do not require any level of Japanese. The school that hires you may.

5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months.

Yes. Your spouse and children whom you support get the Dependent status (家族滞在). They can work up to 28 hours a week with part-time work permission.

Paid work outside the activity of your status needs permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可). Get it before you start.

Within 14 days, file a notification of change of affiliated organization (活動機関に関する届出) with immigration — online, in person or by mail. Not working under your status for more than 3 months without a good reason is grounds to cancel the status.

Yes. The standard path is 10 years in Japan, at least 5 of them on a work status. With a high salary, a degree and experience, count your HSP points: with 70 points held for 3 years or 80 points for 1 year you can apply for permanent residence without switching to the HSP status.

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