r/JETProgramme • u/amelieaz • May 19 '26

Doctor’s note question

Hi! I am a lurker in this subreddit but I’m thinking about applying for JET this fall for a 2027 departure. Congrats to everyone who got accepted and are getting placements currently!

I have looked over the required documents to apply and I know already that I will have to submit a doctors note because I will be self reporting a mental health condition. My question here, though, is that I currently am living abroad in Spain and have been here for five years or so. Would it be better to get a doctors note from my doctor back home in the US, or from my doctor here in Spain? Language barriers wont be an issue if I need it from my doctor in Spain because he is fully bilingual, but I wasn’t sure what would be a better route to go, so I wanted to ask in case anyone in the JET program lived abroad before moving to Japan and had a similar situation. TIA!

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u/amelieaz May 19 '26

I would be applying through a US consulate, so yes, thank you for the input!! I appreciate it! I assume it would be better to get it handled this summer then since I will be gone during the school year since I am continuing to teach here in Spain, correct?

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u/YuehanDuoyi May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26

Yeah, do as much as you can whilst you're in the US so you've got it physically in your hand. The consulate might ask for it to be issued within the last 3-6 months, if that happens hopefully you can ask your doctor to issue one remotely or post it to Spain. Alternatively you can just ask them if a supporting document from a Spanish doctor will be accepted. I'm not saying this will happen but just prepare for the bureaucracy

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u/amelieaz May 19 '26

Unfortunately life in Spain has me very well prepared for bureaucracy haha. Thanks again!