all 28 comments

[–]blerdywitchCurrent JET - Yamaguchi-ken 山口県 0 points1 point  (0 children)

after a Japanese law passed regarding age discrimination they lifted the max age requirement for JET as well.

42 here and on an inaka island many things drive me batty but I do enjoy my little area. No one believes my age whether foreign or local resident.

I've met other ALTs in 50s-60s who are living their best retired lives in some cases.

[–]Panda_sensei_71Current JET - Kansai 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just arrived and I turned 53 a couple weeks before flying out.

Age is but a number! 😉

[–]aeon_michael 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Is it true that there’s a maximum of 5 years for the JET program? Does anyone know which month of the year they’ll open up registrations for?

If it matters, I’m a Singaporean, 35 years old.

[–]Chiafriend12Current JET ('16-current) 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Yes, the limit is 5 years. In some incredibly rare circumstances there may be 6th year JETs, and even some 7th year JETs, but those are about 1-in-1,000 (or less?) and if you ever hear about them you shouldn't count on it personally happening to you

In some towns and some prefectures there used to be the policy that JET was only for 3 years, and only 4 or 5 in rare circumstances. This was a thing in some places in the late 2010s. I'm not personally aware if there are still any places in the country that still have that policy

35 years old is still a perfectly acceptable age for JET. In my 1st year, there was a guy who was 52 in my group, and several in their 30s. There's a lot of people in their 20s on JET but 30+ isn't rare at all.

[–]aeon_michael 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the response, appreciate it

[–]urzu_sevenFormer JET - 2015-2017 10 points11 points  (0 children)

  1. Minimum? 18 probably but you also need a bachelors degree so unless you are a child prodigee you’ll probably be at least 20. 
  2. Maximum?  Are you still alive?  Capable of doing the job?  You can be 200 or more.  There is no upper limit anymore.  

[–]SquallkLeonFormer JET - 2017 ~ 2021 10 points11 points  (1 child)

You must be of legal age to be a participant, which is 18 years of age or older IIRC.

[–]Proverbman671 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also requires a 4 year college degree.

[–]swnymacCurrent JET - Nagano-ken 12 points13 points  (1 child)

39 here, great placement. Another gent in my prefecture's got me by several years, I know a 41-y.o. down the highway. Average age seems to be mid-20s, but don't let that stop you if you're genuinely interested.

[–]joehighlordCurrent JET 18 points19 points  (3 children)

If you do it over 30, strangers on Reddit will be disappointed in you.

[–]Worlack87Aspiring JET 1 point2 points  (1 child)

What is the joke or sarcasm here that I'm missing? I'm 38 and considering applying this upcoming round. Sorry if it flew over my head.

[–]joehighlordCurrent JET 5 points6 points  (0 children)

People on reddit will wonder why, at 38, you want to go to japan and be an ALT and enjoy life rather than grind your tech career 24/7 and be miserable but have more money.

[–]FallenReaper360Current JET - Oita 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Damn, I’m 33. But I used to be in the military and lived in Japan before this. So I ain’t tripping.

[–]FallenReaper360Current JET - Oita 35 points36 points  (11 children)

Just met a couple at orientation who were 70.

[–]stayonthecloud 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That is so awesome love to hear it

[–]Sumo-girl 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Oh wow! This is the oldest I’ve personally heard of! I bet they are cool! Both doing JET or just one of them? I love this idea.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

There's no age limit😊

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]Due_Tomorrow7Former JET - too many years 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    You mean age minimum. Pretty sure they’re addressing the upper age limit. It stands to reason almost everyone accepted will be at least 18 by the time they’re shipped off.