Notes for Overseas Applicants

ALTIA CENTRAL primarily conducts the majority of its recruiting and interviewing within Japan. However, overseas interviews are becoming increasingly common, and we welcome native English-speaking candidates from around the world.

Overseas applicants are especially valuable, as their flexibility allows us to fill positions where we don't have local candidates available or to fill ‘Standby ALT’ positions for sudden openings that may arise during the school year.

Placement & Location Preference

Placement is like a giant puzzle for us. We don't place candidates randomly (as some other organizations might). Instead, we consider many factors: the contract area, the school levels, the customer’s needs, the history of the contract, and the background and abilities of the applicant. Of course, we will ask for your preferences (e.g., rural vs. suburban vs. urban location, driving vs. non-driving, elementary school vs. junior high school) and do our best to match as much as we can.

While we can’t guarantee specific placements, especially at the time of the interview, we will strive to find the most suitable match based on your needs, preferences, and skill set. As we interview hundreds of in-country and experienced applicants, the more specific your preferences, the more challenging it may be to secure a placement. However, the more flexible you are as an overseas applicant, the easier it can be to find you a placement.

For most new overseas recruits, placement locations can be confirmed ahead of your arrival in Japan. However, there may still be some uncertainty in the specifics until just a few weeks before. In rare cases, we may need to guarantee your position and salary but hold off on finalizing the exact placement until after you have arrived and started Orientation/Training.

We will always do our best to confirm your location before you arrive, but since many contracts and positions are not officially decided until quite late, we ask for your patience and understanding. We will keep in touch with you regularly and update you on how things are progressing.

Starting Date

The Japanese school year runs from April to March. Typically, our ALT contracts begin on April 1st and end on March 31st for overseas recruits (though the first and last days of school are usually around April 3rd and March 26th, respectively). We also fill a number of contracts starting on September 1st, which marks the beginning of the second semester in Japan.

New ALTs generally arrive in mid- to late March to participate in Orientation/Training before moving to their new placement locations and starting their contracts on April 1st.

Orientation/Training (O/T)

Our training is led by dedicated staff with many years of experience in Japan. It is designed to introduce you to the Japanese school system, prepare you for your role, and help you feel confident and comfortable when you arrive at your schools. Our Orientation/Training (O/T) and subsequent Follow-Up Training events will give you a strong foundation, ensuring you have a solid understanding of your role and the expectations of the schools, teachers, and students you'll be working with.

Support from your Supervisor

A key benefit of being an ALTIA CENTRAL ALT is the support provided by our talented and dedicated supervisors. Each ALT is assigned a native English-speaking Supervisor who has lived and worked in Japan for many years. With extensive experience as an ALT, they have a deep understanding of how schools and Boards of Education operate. Supervisors are responsible for supporting ALTs in their schools, conducting lesson observations, and providing personalized feedback. While you can contact your supervisor during normal business hours for personal needs, they are also on call 24/7 for emergencies.

The COE

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the first step in obtaining a visa for Japan. ALTIA CENTRAL will apply for your COE with the Immigration office here in Nagoya.

To proceed, we will need the following documents from you:

2 passport photographs
A copy of your degree
Copies of any previous Japanese visas and any entry or exit stamps in your passport
A signed employment contract*
A copy of your resume.

*At this stage, we will ask you to sign a generic contract solely for the purpose of applying for the COE. Once your placement is finalized, we will send you your specific contract with your designated location.

After ALTIA CENTRAL applies for your COE, it typically takes about four weeks to be issued by the Immigration authorities. Once it is issued, ALTIA CENTRAL will send it to you via email. You will then need to take the COE to your local Japanese Embassy or Consular Office to have it processed into an entry permit (visa) in your passport.

The processing time for the visa may vary depending on your location, but it typically takes about one week. Once the visa is in your passport, you will be able to enter Japan and begin work.

From the date of issue, the COE is valid for three months. During that time, you must complete the visa process and enter Japan. We usually apply for most COEs in early January for April start positions, and in early July for September start positions.

Arrival

Before you arrive, you will be officially introduced to several key departments at our head office, who will guide you through the final steps of the process. They will provide you with details about when and where to go for Orientation/Training, how to get to your hotel or apartment, and what to bring or prepare. We will handle all the details related to your BOE and schools, and if you have chosen ALTIA CENTRAL-sponsored accommodation, we will set up your apartment as well.

(Please note that overseas applicants are responsible for booking and paying for their own airfare to Japan.)

Have a safe flight, and we look forward to seeing you soon!