One of the biggest sources of stress for ALT applicants is not knowing what happens when.
Application timelines vary by organization, home country, and hiring cycle, but most ALT applications follow predictable patterns. This article walks through the typical timeline for both private dispatch companies and the JET Program so you know what to expect at each stage.
ALT Dispatch Company Application Timeline
Private dispatch companies vary in their recruiting schedule. In general, most will hire the bulk of overseas ALTs for positions starting in the Spring, with a smaller number hired for a Fall start.
Others will hire exclusively for Spring (since the Japanese school year begins in April) or offer additional options for Summer or Winter starts.
In general, the dispatch company application process is faster and more flexible than JET. That said, it usual takes longer than first-time candidates expect!
Let’s walk through the steps of the average application process so you can get a feel for what’s involved.
Application
Most ALT companies will accept applications year-round, though it may be for positions that don’t start for 3-6 months.
You submit:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Basic personal information
If you meet basic requirements, your application moves forward quickly.
Prescreen
Most ALT companies will want to perform a short Prescreen within a few days or few weeks of your application.
The Prescreen will be one of the below:
- Short video call
- Phone interview
- Recorded question response
No matter what form the Prescreen takes, this stage is about confirming:
- Eligibility
- Communication ability
- Basic professionalism
It’s not a deep evaluation yet. They’re just making sure you’re not immediately disqualified or obviously unsuited.
Interview/Demo Lesson
This is the main evaluation stage. Most ALT companies will want to perform the main interview between one week and one month from the Prescreen.
Depending on the company, the main interview and demo lesson may be part of the same session or handled separately. Either way, interviewers are assessing:
- How you communicate
- How you handle uncertainty
- Whether you can function in a classroom environment
- If your description of your experience and motivation matches your cover letter, resume, and prescreen responses
Don’t worry about being a perfect teacher. Most new ALTs. have little or no in-classroom teaching experience. You’re there to show you have the potential to be a great ALT, not that you already are one.
Offer
If successful in the interview, you’ll receive a conditional offer within one week to one month. As a general rule, large companies will take closer to one month, while smaller companies will take closer to one week.
The offer usually includes:
- General contract terms
- Expected start period
- Initial placement
The initial placement varies in its level of detail. Some companies will specify exact schools and cities, while others will only give a general region of Japan.
Offers are contingent on:
- Document submission
- Background checks
- Visa eligibility confirmation
- Visa Processing
If you don’t submit the correct documents for the visa, fail the background check, or otherwise cause problems, your offer can and will be withdrawn.
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Once your documents are submitted and confirmed as acceptable, the company will apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in Japan.
The COE is a document from the Japanese government that lets your local Japanese embassy or consulate know that it’s okay to issue you a visa.
COEs are only valid for three months from date of issue, so the company will not apply for it until (at most) three months before your planned arrival in Japan.
During this time, patience is required. Long periods of silence are normal since there’s nothing to update you about.
Placement and Arrival
While some companies will provide details on the city you’ll be living in and the schools you’ll be teaching at with your offer, most often your placement details are decided later.
For most companies, you’ll receive these details 1-3 months before your arrival in Japan. In some special cases (for example, a BOE pulls out of the contract at the last second), you won’t receive your placement until after arrival or even after training. Don’t worry, you still have a job and will receive a paycheck!
Training
You will usually arrive in Japan with a group of other new ALTs for training in a central location
The goal of the training isn’t to make you a classroom expert, but to give you enough tools and basic understanding to learn the job as you go.
The training period varies, but isn’t going to be very long. Most companies will provide one or two days of training, with some providing up to one week. Some companies also provide pre-arrival training, usually through an online portal.
Your New Life
Following training, you will travel to your actual placement city to begin your new life. Most companies will provide a day or two for you to do things like set up a local bank account, sign apartment paperwork, and settle in.
As you’ve seen, dispatch company timelines can vary widely. In most cases, it’s reasonable to estimate 3–6 months from application to starting your new life as an ALT.
JET Program Application Timeline
JET follows a fixed, annual schedule, and the process is longer and more competitive. From application to starting your new life, the JET timeline takes around 8–12 months.
Application and Statement of Purpose
Applications are accepted from late September to mid-November, with the exact dates varying year to year.
You will submit:
- Application form
- Statement of Purpose
- References
- Supporting documents
JET likes to get most of the documents out of the way at the start of the process. This has the added benefit of filtering out candidates that aren’t committed or organized.
Interview
JET only has one interview, usually held late January to early February at a Japanese embassy or consulate. While the interview used to be held exclusively in person, more recently many consulates and embassies have moved toward online interview.
Interviews focus on:
- Motivation
- Communication skills
- Cultural adaptability
- Handling difficult questions
Notification: Acceptance, Shortlist, or Rejection
Candidates will generally receive their interview results in late March to mid-April. The results include:
- Accepted
- Rejected
- Shortlist
Being shortlisted means that the interviewers liked you as a candidate and you may still be offered a position, depending on placements and withdrawals.
Placement
Placement notifications are usually sent out in May. At this stage, you learn:
- Your prefecture or city
- School type (sometimes)
More details will come much closer to departure.
COE/Visa Processing
The JET visa process takes place in June or July, depending on your arrival date.
Otherwise, it is essentially identical to the dispatch company process, so check that section of this article.
Arrival
JET participants arrive in July or August to attend orientation/training in Tokyo and move to their assigned placement.
The Tokyo orientation and training typically takes 1-2 days. Some prefectures and BOEs may have additional orientation and training, but the details vary widely. You should be mentally prepared for the minimal training in Tokyo to be the only formal training you receive.
Following orientation, you will travel to your final placement location and begin your new life. Since JETs typically arrive during summer break, most will have a few weeks to get adjusted to their new home before classes start.
From application to starting your new life, the JET timeline generally spans 8–12 months in total.
Key Differences at a Glance
ALT Dispatch Companies:
- Seasonal hiring
- Most ALTs start in the Spring
- Variable schedule
- Faster
- More standardized training
JET Program:
- Annual hiring
- Most ALTs start in the Summer
- Fixed schedule
- Slower
- Variable training
What to Read Next
If you’re planning your application, these resources may help:
Basic Requirements to Become an ALT
Writing a Statement of Purpose / Cover Letter
Interview Prep Basics
JET Program vs. Dispatch Companies
For a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of each stage, including how to prepare at every point, check out So You Want to Be an ALT.
ALT Roadmap 