# Instructor visa in Japan: teaching English at schools

URL: https://japanhow.com/visa/visas/instructor-visa-japan/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 27, 2026

## Summary

As of October 2026, Japan's Instructor status (教育) covers language and other teaching at schools such as elementary, junior high, senior high, vocational and miscellaneous schools. For a miscellaneous school you need a university degree (or equivalent, a vocational-school course or a teaching license), 12 years of education in the language you teach, and pay equal to a Japanese teacher. Stays are 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. Private-company language teachers fall under the Specialist in Humanities status instead.

## Key facts

- Language rule: 12+ years educated in the language
- Pay: Equal to a Japanese teacher
- Period of stay: 5 yrs, 3 yrs, 1 yr or 3 months
- Renewal fee (5 yrs): ¥75,000 at the counter

The Instructor visa in Japan (在留資格「教育」, kyōiku) is the residence status for teaching at schools. It covers language and other teaching at schools such as elementary, junior high, senior high, vocational and miscellaneous schools. For a miscellaneous school you need a degree or equivalent, **12 years of education in the language you teach**, and pay equal to a Japanese teacher. This is the position as of October 2026, from the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA).

**Informational only:** This guide summarizes ISA's published rules. It does not assess your case, and it cannot tell you which status your own job needs. Ask the immigration bureau or a certified administrative scrivener (行政書士).

## What does the Instructor visa cover?

ISA defines the activity as language education and other education at these Japanese institutions:

- elementary, junior high, compulsory-education, senior high and secondary-education schools
- special-needs schools (特別支援学校)
- vocational schools (専修学校)
- miscellaneous schools (各種学校)
- institutions that are equivalent to these in facilities and organization

ISA's own example is language teachers at junior and senior high schools and similar. Periods of stay are **5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months**.

## What are the requirements?

The criteria depend on where you teach. For a miscellaneous school or equivalent institution, or a non-teacher post at another institution, you must meet all of these.

| Test | What ISA requires |
|---|---|
| Education | One of: a university degree or equivalent; a Japanese vocational-school course in the subject you will teach; or a license for the education you will give |
| Language or subject | To teach a language: **12 or more years of education in that language**. For other subjects: 5 or more years of teaching that subject at an educational institution |
| Pay | Equal to or more than a Japanese person would receive for the work |

**12-year rule:** Educated in the language for 12+ years (ISA asks you to submit documents that prove it. Check with the immigration bureau what counts for your schooling.)

One exception: for miscellaneous schools set up to give elementary or secondary education in a foreign language to children of diplomats, officials or Dependent holders, only the education test applies.

## Instructor or Specialist in Humanities?

This is where many English teachers get confused. Two statuses touch language teaching.

| | Instructor (教育) | Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services |
|---|---|---|
| ISA example | Language teachers at junior and senior high schools and similar | Language teachers at private companies |
| Language teaching test | 12 years of education in the language; degree, vocational course or license | 3 years' related experience, but none needed if you are a university graduate doing language instruction |
| Pay | Equal to a Japanese person | Equal to a Japanese person |

The Specialist in Humanities status states that it excludes activities listed under Instructor. So the two do not overlap on paper. ISA's pages do not say exactly which status an English conversation school (eikaiwa) or a dispatched assistant language teacher (ALT) receives. That depends on the institution and contract, and ISA decides. Don't assume it from a job ad. Ask your employer which status they will apply for, and see our [Engineer/Specialist in Humanities guide](/visa/visas/engineer-humanities-visa-japan/) for the other route.

## How do you apply?

From abroad, your school or employer normally applies for a Certificate of Eligibility first. See the [Certificate of Eligibility guide](/visa/visas/certificate-of-eligibility-japan/). If you are already in Japan on another status, such as Student, you apply for a [change of status of residence](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/).

Bring or ask your employer to prepare:

- your diploma, or proof of your teaching license or vocational course
- proof of 12 years of education in the language you will teach, if you teach a language
- proof of 5 years of teaching experience, if you teach another subject

## How do you renew it, and what does it cost?

Apply on or before the day your period of stay ends. If your period is 6 months or longer, you can apply from 3 months before. Counter fees for applications from October 1, 2026 depend on the period granted.

| Period granted | Counter fee |
|---|---|
| 1 year | ¥33,000 |
| 3 years | ¥64,000 |
| 5 years | ¥75,000 |

Applications received by September 30, 2026 paid the old fee of ¥6,000. See [visa fees in Japan](/visa/visas/visa-fees-japan/) for all fees and [visa renewal in Japan](/visa/visas/visa-renewal-japan/) for the steps.

## What about family and side jobs?

For family, see the [Dependent visa guide](/visa/visas/dependent-visa-japan/) and ask the immigration bureau whether your status can sponsor dependents. For work outside your status, see [freelance and side jobs on a work visa](/visa/visas/freelance-side-job-visa-japan/).

If you change schools or employers, see [changing jobs on a work visa](/visa/visas/changing-jobs-visa-japan/).

## Questions people ask

### What is the Instructor visa in Japan?

It is the status of residence 教育 (kyōiku). ISA says it covers language education and other teaching at Japanese elementary, junior high, senior high, special-needs, vocational and miscellaneous schools, or institutions equivalent to them.

### Do I need a degree for the Instructor visa?

For a miscellaneous school or similar, you need one of three things: a university degree (or equivalent), a relevant Japanese vocational-school course, or a license for the education you will give. To teach a language you also need 12 years of education in that language.

### Can I teach English at an eikaiwa on the Instructor visa?

ISA lists language teachers at private companies under the Specialist in Humanities status. Where a particular language school falls depends on the school, so ISA or a 行政書士 should confirm it. ISA's pages do not draw that line for you.

### How long does the Instructor visa last?

5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. ISA decides the length. Counter renewal fees from October 2026 are ¥33,000 for 1 year, ¥64,000 for 3 years and ¥75,000 for 5 years.

### When can I renew the Instructor visa?

On or before the day your period of stay ends. If your period is 6 months or longer, you can apply from 3 months before it ends.

## Sources

- [在留資格「教育」](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/instructor.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [在留資格「教育」 (activity and landing criteria, PDF)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001367639.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/gijinkoku.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [技術・人文知識・国際業務 活動・上陸許可基準 (PDF)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001366995.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [在留期間更新許可申請 (Extension of period of stay)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-3.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)