METI AI and Tech Talent Internships in Japan 2025

Omran Aburayya
May 25
2 min read

The METI AI and Tech Talent Internship in Japan 2025 offers a fully funded opportunity for emerging AI and IT professionals from developing countries to gain hands-on experience with Japanese companies.

🎯 Program Overview

Organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan
Duration: 1.5 months (October 31 – December 15, 2025)
Location: Japan (in-person internships at small and medium-sized enterprises)
Eligibility: Citizens of OECD/DAC-listed countries (excluding China)
Application Deadlines:
- AI Engineers: June 19, 2025 (JST)
- IT Engineers: June 26, 2025 (JST)

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Nationality: Citizenship of an OECD/DAC-listed country (excluding China)
Residency: Must reside outside Japan
Education:
- Current students or recent graduates (within the last three years) from universities, junior colleges, or technical colleges
Language Proficiency:
- English proficiency required
- Japanese language proficiency must be below JLPT N5
Commitment: Ability to fully participate in the internship and training sessions

💼 Internship Activities

Digital transformation and new business development leveraging AI technology
Web design and production for overseas markets
Market research and marketing in the intern’s home country
Service development for overseas markets

💰 Financial Support

Living Allowance: 3,000 yen per day during the internship
Travel: Round-trip airfare to and from Japan
Accommodation: Provided for the duration of the internship
Training: Lectures and training for cross-cultural communication
Insurance: Internship insurance coverage

📅 Application Process

For AI Engineers:

May 1 – June 19, 2025: Application period
June 21–22, 2025: AI Contest and preliminary selection
July–August 2025: Matching interviews with prospective companies
End of August 2025: Selection of internship company
Early September 2025: Pre-departure online training
October 31 – December 15, 2025: Internship in Japan

For IT Engineers:

May 1 – June 26, 2025: Application period
June 28–29, 2025: Coding Contest
July–August 2025: Matching interviews with prospective companies
End of August 2025: Selection of internship company
Early September 2025: Pre-departure online training
October 31 – December 15, 2025: Internship in Japan

📄 Required Documents

Updated resume/CV
Enrollment or graduation certificate
Letter of recommendation from university faculty
Language proficiency certificate (e.g., IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL)
Passport-sized photographs
Valid passport

🌐 How to Apply

Visit the official METI Internship Program website
Register and create an account
Complete the application form with accurate personal, academic, and professional details
Upload all required documents in the specified format
Submit the application before the respective deadline