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acceptance check

Is an online TEFL accepted in Japan?

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2026 update

the short answer

Often yes for eikaiwa (private language schools) and dispatch ALT companies, if the course is accredited and around 120 hours with a verifiable certificate. JET and some international or licensed schools are stricter and prioritise degree subject or teaching licences over TEFL hours. The action: get a 120-hour+ accredited TEFL, then check the specific employer's current requirements, since standards vary company to company.

Key facts

Accepted?Yes for most eikaiwa/dispatch, varies for JET
TEFL hours120 hours widely accepted
DegreeBachelor's degree required for work visa
VisaInstructor or Specialist in Humanities visa
Typical pay$2,000-$2,800/month, first-year language-school pay
Hardest partVisa sponsorship paperwork, not the TEFL
Who this suitsDegree holders open to eikaiwa or ALT dispatch work

step one, always

Get the certificate before you apply

Get the accredited TEFL course

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typical, not guaranteed

Your timeline

  1. 1

    Complete a 120-hour accredited TEFL

    Pick a course with graded units and a checkable certificate.

    1-4 weeks
  2. 2

    Prepare visa documents

    Degree certificate, transcripts, criminal record check.

    3-6 weeks
  3. 3

    Apply to eikaiwa/ALT dispatch companies

    Some run rolling recruitment; JET runs annual cycles.

    2-8 weeks
  4. 4

    Certificate of Eligibility + visa

    Employer sponsors the CoE, then you apply for the visa.

    1-3 months
  5. 5

    Fly out and start

    Orientation before classroom placement.

    1-2 weeks
Start the 120-hour / Level 5 course

Eikaiwa and dispatch companies vs JET

Large eikaiwa chains and ALT dispatch companies are the most common route into teaching in Japan, and most accept an accredited 120-hour online TEFL alongside a bachelor's degree. They're mainly checking that you can legally work and that you have some structured training behind you.

JET (the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) is different — it's a government scheme with its own annual application cycle, and a TEFL is not a stated requirement at all; JET selects mainly on degree, references and interview. Don't assume a TEFL improves your JET odds without checking the current JET application guidance.

Where people get it wrong

A common mistake is treating JET and eikaiwa hiring as the same process — they're not, and preparing a TEFL certificate for JET when it isn't the deciding factor wastes focus that should go into the JET essay and interview. Another mistake is buying the cheapest 20-hour certificate available; dispatch companies increasingly ask which provider issued it and how many hours it covered.

A third mistake is skipping the visa timeline. The Certificate of Eligibility process can take 1-3 months once you have a job offer, and starting this late is the most common reason people miss a school's term start date.

Picking a course that holds up

A 120-hour accredited online course with real assessment and a verifiable certificate is the safe minimum for eikaiwa and dispatch work. Typical accredited online courses are often a few hundred pounds/dollars on promotion; CELTA costs more and includes observed teaching practice, which can help if you later want to move into higher-paying private or corporate English teaching in Japan.

For JET specifically, spend your prep time on the application essay and interview rather than assuming extra TEFL hours change your outcome — check JET's own current published criteria.

what people actually ask

FAQs

Does JET require a TEFL certificate?

No, JET does not list a TEFL certificate as a requirement; it selects mainly on your degree, references, essay and interview. A TEFL may still help you personally in the classroom, but check JET's current published criteria rather than assuming it affects your application.

Will eikaiwa schools accept a 40-hour TEFL?

Some might, but many prefer around 120 hours from an accredited provider. A short 40-hour certificate can be seen as a weaker signal, so it's worth doing a fuller course if you want the widest range of eikaiwa options.

What visa do English teachers in Japan need?

Most teach on an Instructor visa or a Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, sponsored by the hiring school or dispatch company. A TEFL certificate doesn't replace the degree and sponsorship requirements for these visas.

Is dispatch ALT work the same as JET?

No. JET is a government-run programme with its own selection process, while dispatch ALT companies are private businesses that place teachers in schools under contract. Pay, support and hiring criteria differ noticeably between the two routes.

Do international schools in Japan accept a TEFL?

Rarely as a sole qualification. International schools normally want a recognised teaching licence or PGCE rather than a TEFL certificate, since they follow national or international curricula requiring qualified teacher status.

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Read next

Browse accredited TEFL courses →CELTA vs Level 5 TEFL, compared →Teaching English in Japan →
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