Hello all, I am currently about to wrap up my degree in my home country, Portugal, and was looking into joining the JET Programme, but, after taking a look into the affiliated countries, Portugal isn’t one of them. But, per the Programme itself, participants from other countries are still able to join, on a few conditions, namely that a prefecture or region is looking for someone out of that specific country. How often does this happen? Has anyone that you know, or even yourself joined JET from a country that isn’t a regular attendent? How difficult is it? Is there another programme that you reccomend?
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**JET Programme from country that isn’t normally on the list**
Hello all, I am currently about to wrap up my degree in my home country, Portugal, and was looking into joining the JET Programme, but, after taking a look into the affiliated countries, Portugal isn’t one of them. But, per the Programme itself, participants from other countries are still able to join, on a few conditions, namely that a prefecture or region is looking for someone out of that specific country. How often does this happen? Has anyone that you know, or even yourself joined JET from a country that isn’t a regular attendent? How difficult is it? Is there another programme that you reccomend?
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Not how bilateral visa swaps work.
The program gives short term cultural experiences in exchange for business and research visas in the participating nation. If your nation is not on the list, they aren’t giving Japan what Japan wants in return.
Participants from other countries do not join. This is a diplomatic program where the participating countries have a deal with Japan to send delegates with the goal of helping English education and cultural exchange at a community level.
There are some countries that do not send JETs to be assistant language teachers (ALTs) but only CIR (coordinators of international relations) who work in local governments, often in translation. These are usually countries that are not English speaking countries. To do this role you need to be fluid in Japanese. Unfortunately, if your country is not part of this deal for the JET programme, you do not qualify and you cannot join.
With that being said, I have no idea about individual prefectures who may be looking for a Portuguese person to fill a role which would be completely unrelated and outside of the JET programme. I’ve heard of internationally focused schools with a variety of language classes that hire ALTs in additional languages, or maybe local governments who might want to increase tourism with your country. But It doesn’t seem like something that would happen often though.