METI Japanese Internship Program (JIP)

The METI Japanese Internship Program (JIP) is run by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and places international interns from developing countries into Japanese companies for a hands-on work placement. The program aims to recruit around 200 interns from countries on the OECD/DAC list and runs across summer and winter rounds, with placements lasting about 2 months at specific host companies. The aim is to promote internationalization of Japanese firms, build cross-cultural networks and help interns from developing economies absorb Japanese business strategies and skills they can apply at home. The internship is fully funded: full coverage of the cost of travel to Japan, insurance for the entire placement, and the loan of electronic devices such as a laptop, communication device or mobile phone. Applicants must be aged at least 20 but no more than 40, hold Japanese proficiency at JLPT level N3 or higher or strong English, be enrolled at or have graduated from a university, and provide a recommendation letter. People who took part in earlier fiscal years are not eligible to reapply. Because round dates, the intern quota and the eligible-country list are reset each cycle, confirm the exact current details and deadline on the official METI JIP page before applying.

What's covered

• Travel to Japan — Full coverage of all expenses involved in travelling to Japan for the internship, typically including international airfare worth roughly ~EUR 1,000 (est.) depending on the country of origin.
• Insurance — Insurance coverage for the entire duration of the internship placement in Japan.
• Electronic devices — Access to borrow electronic devices such as a laptop, communication device and mobile phone for use during the placement (equipment worth ~EUR 800 (est.)).
• Company placement — A structured 2-month placement at a specific host Japanese company, working alongside staff for the full internship.
• Training and program support — Mandatory pre-internship training and ongoing program support from the JIP office, designed to develop interns into future global leaders.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through the program office's registration form during the published round windows.

1. Check eligibility — Confirm your nationality is on the eligible OECD/DAC list, you meet the age range and you have JLPT N3 or strong English.
2. Complete the online registration — Fill out the online application via the registration form on the JIP program office's website during the open round.
3. Submit certification documents — Individually submit certification documents such as your university enrolment or graduation certificate, language proof, a recommendation letter, photographs and any visa-related documents.
4. Document screening — The JIP office screens applications based on content, qualifications, internship experience, understanding of the program's purpose and host-company preferences.
5. Attend interviews — Take part in primary interviews (in the local language, English or Japanese) and secondary interviews (in Japanese or English) before final selection.