• Japan Tips

A Guide to working in Japan as an ALT for Filipinos

Two smiling Filipino people, standing in front of the national flag of the Philippines.
An example overseas employment certificate, issued by the Filipino Department of Migrant Workers.

Many residents of the Philippines find themselves seeking adventure and career opportunities outside their home country, with many choosing to pursue teaching careers. 

 

A position as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Japan appeals to many individuals, and at Interac we are proud to employ a number of dedicated Filipinos, and help them to grow in their careers.

 

In this article, we will discuss the migrant worker system, and the steps that Filipinos must follow in order to become an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. 

What requirements do Filipinos need to meet to teach in Japan?

Filipinos looking to work abroad must meet requirements set by both the Philippine government for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Japanese immigration. This double regulation is a burden applied to Filipino workers that is unlike any other nationality. 

 

The management of OFWs is the domain of the Department of Migrant Workers (or the DMW — formerly known as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)). The DMW is responsible for administering OECs (Overseas Employment Certificates), which are right-to-work documents held by an estimated 2.16 million Filipino workers, according to the 2023 Survey of Overseas Filipino Workers, reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Obtaining an OEC is a process that can only be completed in the Philippines. All OFWs must have an OEC when leaving the Philippines to go to a job abroad. For OFWs coming to Japan, this is an additional requirement on top of getting a working visa for Japan. Interac assists with obtaining a visa for Japan, but obtaining an OEC is the responsibility of the OFW. For Japan, the offices in charge of managing OFWs is are the MWOs (Migrant Worker’s Office.) in Tokyo and Osaka.

Filipinos living outside of the Philippines, but not in Japan, are also subject to the rules of DMW and are required to have OECs to work abroad. An OFW can only go from a third country (US, UK, UAE, South Korea, Thailand, etc.) to Japan after first returning to the Philippines and obtaining a new OEC to work in Japan.

An official Overseas Filipino Worker registration form, used by the Department of Migrant Workers.

Application Process for Filipinos by country of residence

There are five slightly different application processes for Filipino nationals to become a certified ALT with Interac. The different processes are based upon where you are currently living, and we will describe each one in more detail below, so that you can be sure of your next steps.

 

For Filipinos living in the Philippines or a third country other than Japan:

Application Process #1: Living in the Philippines

If you are living in the Philippines, you should apply to our agent in Manila, Chesham Recruitment. This will be the quickest way to have your application reviewed by one of the dedicated recruitment professionals in the Philippines.

Application Process #2: Living outside the Philippines, but not in Japan

If you are living in a third country like the US, UK, UAE, South Korea, etc., then you should return to the Philippines and apply through Chesham Recruitment. Please note that Chesham is only able to work with applicants living in and applying from the Philippines. 

For Filipinos currently living in Japan:

Application Process #3: Living in Japan with a status of residence allowing work at any job in Japan

If you are living in Japan and have a status of residence allowing you to work at any job, like a spouse visa, permanent residence, long-term resident, etc., then you can apply directly to interacnetwork.com without an OEC. This is because your main purpose for being in Japan is not to work, and the MWO does not consider people under these visa statuses an OFW.

Application Process #4: Living in Japan with a status of residence allowing work in one job category and also having an OEC for a job in Japan.

If you are an OFW with a valid OEC for a job in Japan and have a status of residence allowing work at that one type of job, then you can apply directly to interacnetwork.com. 

 

In this case, you’re likely working for the employer who recruited you from the Philippines, and your visa and OEC were arranged for that job. Therefore, Interac can assume you were recruited by your current company properly, and have been meeting all the requirements of being an OFW up to that point. If your visa type is not Instructor, Interac will give you the necessary paperwork to change your Japanese visa to Instructor.

Application Process #5: Living in Japan with a status of residence that restricts work, but not having an OEC for a job in Japan.

If you are living in Japan with a status of residence that restricts work, but do not have an OEC for a job in Japan, you will need to return to the Philippines and apply to Interac through Chesham Recruitment.

 

Some common examples of this case are people who came to Japan to be a student, or to visit family in Japan, or to stay with a family member as a dependent. Others, such as workers in a trainee program may be required to return to the Philippines as part of their status of residence category. In these cases, Interac is not able to work with these statuses of residence.

 

For more clarity on which of these application processes is right for your situation, our Interac team have put together the handy infographic below, which includes a helpful flowchart to determine the correct application process.

An Interac flowchart to determine the most relevant ALT application process for Filipino workers.
Click to enlarge

Is Japan a popular destination for Filipinos seeking work abroad?

The Filipino community in Japan is the fourth-largest foreign group within the country, with an estimated population of 332,293 individuals in June 2024 (approximately 0.27% of Japan’s total population). Many of those who live in Japan are of working age, meaning that Japan is a popular destination for Filipinos looking for opportunities to work abroad. 

 

Although there are many reasons that Japan is a popular destination for Filipino workers, OFWs often tell us that they have the opportunity to earn more money by working in Japan, rather than remaining in the Philippines. 

 

Some Filipino workers also express a positive impression of the country, due to its strong economy and low crime rate. Many of our ALTs are pleasantly surprised by how clean the streets are in Japan, how polite the people you encounter are, and how safe they feel while living there.

 

A lot of Filipinos also share cultural values with Japanese people, such as a belief in hard work, discipline, and showing respect to others. Due to these cultural similarities shared by many East-Asian countries, OFWs may find it easier to adjust to living in Japan, than some other countries where these values may be expressed differently.

How do Japanese people feel about Filipinos in general?

n our article Highest Paying Jobs In Japan For Foreigners, we discuss some of the unfortunate stereotypes that exist around foreign workers in Japan. While it’s true that some Japanese employers may feel wary about hiring foreign workers, this certainly won’t be everybody’s experience. 


While there may be some old-fashioned employers who prefer to hire native Japanese employees, many OFWs report a positive experience of working in Japan. As an employer of teaching professionals in Japan, the recruitment team at Interac are open to applicants from all countries and backgrounds, including the Philippines. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and supporting environment for OFWs, so if you’d like to apply to join our vibrant team of ALTs, you can easily submit your application via our website.

ALT Testimonial: Working as a Filipino in Japan

We recently caught up with one of our valued ALTs, Jon Kiefer Sta. Clara Yap, who is a Filipino national and worked as an ALT in Japan with Interac between 2017 and 2021. He was able to share some first-hand insight into life in Japan, and his experience working in Japan as a Filipino. 

 

When asked about the ways in which he spent his time outside of his ALT position, Jon shared:

 

“As an ALT, I had summer break, spring break, and winter break, so I had a lot of free time to study Japanese and travel around, but it also gave me time to develop my skills as a software engineer, as I still loved programming. In the end, I made a personal web application that helped manage my lesson plans, flashcards, and schools. “

 

He also shared the positive ways in which Interac were able to support him, and help him to settle into life in Japan:

 

“Interac Kanto South also had monthly lectures focusing on announcements and bridging the cultural gap between Japan and our respective countries. One of the lectures was about the difference between high-context and low-context cultures, and it was very helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.”

 

At Interac, we take great care to ensure our ALTs are supported in all aspects of their role. Transitioning from one country’s culture to another can be daunting, but our specialist team is on-hand to offer advice, training and other support to our ALTs from the Philippines, the United States, and beyond. Visit our Testimonials page to read more experiences from our talented ALTs.

Advice for Filipinos beginning their first job in Japan

We spoke to a number of our current ALTs, and other professionals within the Interac team, who have offered their top pieces of advice for Filipinos who are about to start their first job in Japan.


  1. Brush up on your Japanese corporate culture etiquette. Whilst a great deal of the social etiquette in Japan is common sense, being aware of things like the honorifics system and how to refer to your superiors in the office can help you to make a good first impression with your new boss and coworkers!
  2. Be punctual. In Japan, punctuality is a strong cultural value, and lateness may be seen as disrespectful. Always plan your journeys ahead, and give yourself plenty of time in case of delays.
  3. Take note of the dress code. In Japan, how you present yourself is important, and many workplaces have a rather conservative dress code. Always check your employee handbook for guidelines on proper work attire, or err on the side of caution by wearing business attire. If you’re preparing for a role as an ALT, we have an article on appropriate clothing for an ALT, which you may find helpful.
  4. Get involved. Although Japan is a rather polite and reserved society, this doesn’t mean that they don’t appreciate enthusiasm and a willingness to be social. Don’t be afraid to sign up to work social events, volunteer for after-work activities, and take part in the team bonding ritual which is nomikai.
  5. Seek out your community. There’s no way around it — moving to a new country and starting fresh can sometimes feel a little lonely. Engaging with your colleagues, and even seeking new friends outside of work can make a huge difference, and help you to feel more at home. If you’re a Filipino living in Japan for the first time, see if there are any nearby Filipino restaurants or social spots that you can visit. You may even find that there are groups and networks that exist in your local community for other OFWs to connect.

No matter whether this is your first time living in Japan, or you’re a well-traveled individual who is now working as an ALT, your Interac team will be on hand to support you every step of the way.

Become an ALT with Interac

We’ve summarized the requirements for OFWs looking to work in Japan. The most important thing to remember is that there are double requirements: Japanese immigration requirements and the Philippine government requirements. Both must be completed to work as an ALT with Interac. 


Interac consults closely with authorities in the Philippine government and requires one hundred percent compliance with both Philippine and Japanese laws and regulations. There are employers in Japan who do not follow these laws and regulations, and from our point of view, they do not respect Filipino workers and are not worthy of consideration from jobseekers.

 

If you have any questions about the requirements for OFWs, please feel free to contact us via our website. r, if you already have the right to work in Japan and are ready to start the process to become an ALT, you can access our ALT Careers portal and begin your application.

For more informative articles about living and working in Japan, feel free to check out our Interac blog to learn more.