Teaching English in Japan From Ireland: Requirements and Routes

Most Irish teachers reach Japan through the government-run JET Programme or through a private employer who sponsors a work visa. Both generally require a bachelor's degree. If you are 30 or younger, a working holiday visa is a third route that lets you work without a sponsor.

The JET Programme

The Embassy of Japan in Ireland lists the requirements for the 2027 intake. Applicants must hold an Irish passport and have a bachelor's degree in any subject by July 2027, have excellent English, be in good health and have a keen interest in Japan. You are excluded if you have lived in Japan for six or more consecutive years since 2017, have been on JET since 2024 or have previously declined a placement without good reason.

Check the Embassy page for any update, since dates and wording are issued each cycle. The page identifies the two roles as Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) and Coordinator for International Relations (CIR). CIR applicants also need sufficient Japanese. The Embassy asks some applicants for a police certificate by a stated date (28 January 2027 for this cycle).

Private employers and visa categories

Private language schools and some schools hire foreign teachers directly or through dispatch companies. According to a secondary guide, most private conversation-school teachers hold a Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa, while the Instructor status covers teaching at elementary, junior high and senior high schools. For the Instructor status the same guide says you need a college degree or a teaching licence. These categories are defined by Japan's Immigration Services Agency, so confirm the correct one with your employer and the embassy rather than relying on a blog.

The employer normally files a Certificate of Eligibility with immigration before you apply for the visa. Ask for the job title and contract wording to match the visa category, and do not start work on a tourist entry.

Working holiday

Ireland and Japan have a working holiday agreement. The Embassy announced the upper age limit rising from 25 to 30 in 2015 and states that paid work is allowed as a way to supplement travel funds, subject to Japanese law. Check the Embassy's current page for application details before you plan.

Costs, tax and practical issues

• Prepare a Garda Police Certificate and apostilled degree certificate early (paperwork checklist).
• Ask about housing: some placements provide or arrange it, others leave you to find a flat with deposits.
• Check tax: Ireland has a double taxation treaty with Japan, but your residence status decides what you owe where. Ask Revenue or an accountant.
• Japan is a popular destination, so interviews can be competitive. Read the CV and interview guide.

Tax treaty and residence

Ireland and Japan signed a double taxation convention in 1974. It includes an article for visiting teachers: a teacher who visits the other country for up to two years to teach at a university or school can be exempt from host-country tax on that teaching income if they were resident in their home country just before the visit. Whether that applies to you depends on your employer, your residence status and how long you stay, and private language schools may not qualify. Do not assume the exemption applies. Ask Revenue or an accountant before you accept an offer, and note that your Irish tax residence may also change.

Choosing between roles

Contract details differ, so ask about guaranteed hours, who pays for housing and what happens if you are placed far from a city. Japanese immigration can scrutinise a visa if your actual duties differ from those stated, so keep your job title and tasks aligned.