Application Deadline: June 30, 2025
Applications are now open for the 2025 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Government of Japan Internship Program. This program aims for people from developing countries to get a great opportunity to learn overseas business strategies in Japanese businesses and to acquire the skills and expertise from Japanese companies. You would be trained as a global leader capable of working in Japan, in your home country and all over the world in the future.
This project aims to improve the environment for highly skilled foreign human resources in Japanese mid-tier and small-sized companies through the implementation of internships, strengthen the system for companies to work on overseas expansion, and promote their growth. In addition, for foreign human resources who are willing to work for Japanese companies, the program provides an opportunity to get an idea of what the work will be like when they work in Japan through participating in an internship. In addition, this year, the program will contribute to actual employment and retention by providing matching follow-up support for employment after the internship and Japanese language education to interns.
Eligibility Requirements
Those who meet all of the following requirements are eligible
- ・Can support the aims of this program and contribute to the promotion of internationalization of Japanese companies, the expansion of overseas business of Japanese companies, and the building of networks with overseas universities through the internship.
- ・Have nationality of a country on the OECD/DAC list (excluding the People’s Republic of China)
*Applicants who reside in a country other than their nationality (including developed countries) are eligible to apply.
However, applicants currently residing in Japan are not eligible to apply. - ・Those who have a certain level of Japanese language proficiency (JLPT Japanese Language Proficiency Test N3 or above) or English proficiency
- In principle, applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old as of August 25, 2025.
- ・Those currently enrolled in or who have graduated from a junior college, technical college or other higher education institution
- ・Students must be able to submit a certificate of enrollment from their affiliated university and a letter of recommendation from their affiliated university or university faculty. Graduates must be able to submit a graduation certificate from their affiliated university and a letter of recommendation from their affiliated institution or university faculty.
- ・Those who can submit certificates of various qualifications (IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, CEFR, JLPT, etc.)
- – Those who are able to devote themselves to internships and training at companies and are able to carry out their activities on the dates of their planned activities submitted to the secretariat
- ・Those who have not yet found employment and are willing to work in Japan (if you are already employed, this is possible if you strongly desire to move to Japan)
- -Other individuals who meet the individual conditions set by each company
- – Those who have not participated in this program between 2016 and 2024
Internship Location
- – Small and medium-sized enterprises with their main business in Japan (excluding industry associations, non-profit organizations, and local governments)
- ・The host company will be selected through matching by the secretariat.
- ・For online courses, the intern will conduct the internship at his/her home or workspace, etc., under the direction and management of the host company.
Benefits
- ・Providing various training for interns (cross-cultural understanding training, crisis management training, business Japanese training, mid-term follow-up training, career training, etc.)
- ・Internship insurance (contract performance cost insurance, liability insurance, personal credit insurance)
<Support by Course> - [Online Course]
- ・Providing a communication environment such as a PC, internet, and means of communication necessary for internship activities
- ・Allowance: 1,000 yen per day will be paid in local currency depending on the number of days of internship activity.
- [Course for coming to Japan (first and second semester)]
- ・Transportation costs to the training facility, accommodation during the training
- ・Allowance: 3,000 yen per day will be paid in multiple installments depending on the number of days of the internship stay
- ・Mobile phone rental
- ・Provision of round-trip airfare (economy class), travel insurance for visiting Japan, assistance with obtaining a visa
- *The accepting company will provide the living environment, including accommodation and transportation to the company.
Selection Criteria
- When selecting candidates, the Japan office will screen applications and conduct a first interview (in Japanese or English).
- At the time of the interview, you will be asked to submit individual documents such as certificates (certificate of enrollment, language proficiency scores, etc.) and letters of recommendation.
- The secretariat will match the experience and preferences of internship applicants with the company’s registration details and activity plans, and will prioritize selection of combinations that are expected to achieve the objectives of this project.
- Selected intern applicants will have an interview (second interview) with the company, and the final intern candidate will be selected by the company. (The interview is optional, so it may not be held.)
- The results of the matching will be notified to the company and the intern applicant, and the match will be completed upon mutual agreement.
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