What does Interac require, and what does it pay?
Last checked: 2026-11-06
Interac says ALTs need a bachelor's degree in any subject, native-level English, 12 years of education in English, and to be under 60. It says pay is typically 2.4 to 3.0 million yen a year, though its FAQ says 2.4 to 2.7 million. Every figure here comes from Interac's own pages, which are mostly undated, so check the live offer.
We are not connected to Interac. This page does not tell you whether you would be hired.
Requirements
| Item | What Interac says |
|---|---|
| Degree | At least a bachelor's degree in any subject from an accredited university. You may apply if you will receive it within six months, but the process may pause until you graduate. |
| English | A native-level speaker of English |
| Schooling | Education conducted in English for at least 12 years |
| Age | Under 60 |
| TEFL | Not mandatory. Interac calls these credentials preferable for employers. |
| Japanese | Not required. Interac says a small amount is very helpful. |
| Driving, if you apply from overseas | The requirement is firm. You should be able to drive, and get an International Driver's Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention. |
| Driving, if you apply from Japan | May be required, depending on the location. |
| Health | A company-paid health check. Overseas recruits have one on arrival and then yearly. |
The 12-year item matches an immigration rule. The Instructor landing criteria ask language teachers at some schools for 12 or more years of education in that language. See non-native speakers. For courses, see do you need a TEFL.
Pay, and how it compares with JET
| Source | Yearly pay before tax |
|---|---|
| Interac requirements and job pages | About 2.4 to 3.0 million yen |
| Interac FAQ | About 2.4 to 2.7 million yen |
| JET, year 1, 2027 guidelines | About 4,020,000 yen |
By our sum, JET's first year is about 1,020,000 yen above the top of Interac's range. The jobs are not the same, so this is a rough comparison. See JET pay.
Older numbers are around. Interac's own January 2025 comparison lists JET at 3,360,000 to 3,960,000 yen, which is below the current JET figures. The same page says its comparisons come from a small anonymous survey, mostly of Interac staff and ALTs.
How pay works
- Pay comes in equal monthly payments. The first and last months are prorated.
- It arrives on the 20th of the following month, so plan for a gap at the start.
- National income tax and employment insurance are deducted each month.
- Local residence tax is not deducted, so you pay it yourself. See resident tax.
- The company covers half of the social insurance cost.
- Work-related transport is reimbursed monthly.
Start-up costs Interac gives
| Item | Interac's figure |
|---|---|
| Cash to have ready | About 500,000 yen for setup and living costs until your first payday |
| Flight to Japan | You organise and pay. Do not buy a ticket until told to. |
| When you sign a lease | Around 200,000 yen for key money and related costs |
| Rent | 50,000 yen (rural) to 80,000 yen (urban) a month |
| Utilities | Around 10,000 yen a month |
| Internet | Around 5,000 yen a month, if not in the rent |
Interac arranges a single-occupancy apartment near your work, and you pay the moving-in costs, furnishings, rent and utilities. On JET, the flight from your designated airport is provided. Add your own numbers in the start-up cost calculator, then test them in the savings calculator.
Contract and hours
- Most positions start in early April or late August and run until March of the next year. Interac says only people who can commit to the full term are considered.
- Standard hours are weekdays between 8:00am and 5:00pm.
- Teaching is typically three to five classes of 45 or 50 minutes a day.
Visa and how to apply
Interac says the main status for its ALTs is Instructor, and that its Tokyo team provides the documents for your visa application. If you already live in Japan, you need a status that lets you live and work here. Interac also lists Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of a Japanese National, Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident, Special Permanent Resident and Long-Term Resident. The pages we read do not mention a Working Holiday visa. See working holiday and teaching and the visa guide.
- Complete the online application.
- If you pass the resume screening, a team member arranges a phone interview.
- Successful candidates have an online interview and send documents.
- Hiring managers make the final decision.
How we checked: we opened these Interac pages directly on November 6, 2026. Most show no date, and the job page uses July 2024 exchange rates, so the figures may be old. We have not worked for Interac. Compare these figures with your written offer.