JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan 2027 support established overseas researchers who are invited by eligible researchers at Japanese institutions for collaborative research, academic exchange, lectures and related activities. The FY2027 first recruitment for Long-term [L] and Short-term [S] closed on 28 August 2026. The next scheduled opportunity is Short-term [S], second recruitment, with the host-institution-to-JSPS deadline of 23 April 2027 at 5:00 PM JST.
JSPS Invitational Fellowships 2027: Current Application Status
| Programme | JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan |
|---|---|
| Funding body | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) |
| FY2027 first recruitment | Long-term [L] and Short-term [S] — closed 28 August 2026 |
| Next recruitment | Short-term [S], second recruitment |
| Next JSPS deadline | 23 April 2027, 5:00 PM JST |
| Expected selection result | Early August 2027 |
| Permitted arrival period | 1 October 2027 to 31 March 2028 |
| Approximate awards | 75 for the FY2027 Short-term second recruitment, subject to budget |
| Submission route | Japanese host researcher → host institution → JSPS |
| Last verified | 10 October 2026 |
The next round should be treated as an upcoming host-led application, not as a direct individual application. JSPS states that its electronic application system becomes available approximately two months before the relevant deadline.
Long-term [L] vs Short-term [S]
| Category | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Long-term [L] | 2–10 months. Designed for sustained collaborative research with Japanese colleagues. FY2027 first-round deadline was 28 August 2026; no second Long-term round is listed for FY2027. |
| Short-term [S] | 14–60 days. Designed for discussions, opinion exchange, lectures and other collaborative activities. A second FY2027 recruitment is scheduled for 23 April 2027. |
Both categories cover all fields in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The appropriate category should be determined by the actual purpose and duration of the proposed visit, not simply by which funding level appears more attractive.
JSPS Invitational Fellowship Funding
| Long-term [L] | FY2027 Financial Support |
|---|---|
| Maintenance allowance | JPY 387,600 per month |
| Airfare | Roundtrip economy-class air ticket under JSPS regulations |
| Insurance | Overseas travel insurance |
| Research support allowance | Up to JPY 150,000, applied for by the host researcher through the host institution |
| Short-term [S] | FY2027 Financial Support |
|---|---|
| Maintenance allowance | JPY 18,000 per day |
| Airfare | Roundtrip economy-class air ticket under JSPS regulations |
| Insurance | Overseas travel insurance |
| Research support allowance | Up to JPY 150,000, applied for by the host researcher through the host institution |
Who Is Eligible for the JSPS Invitational Fellowship?
For FY2027 Invitational Fellowships, the invited overseas researcher must satisfy the programme-specific conditions during the relevant eligibility period.
| Nationality / permanent residence | Citizen or permanent resident of a country having diplomatic relations with Japan. JSPS treats Taiwan and Palestine in the same manner for this purpose. |
|---|---|
| Research employment/status | Normally a full-time researcher, or a person with full-time researcher status, at a university or research institution outside Japan. |
| Career level | Position equivalent to professor, associate professor or assistant professor in Japan; this may include professor emeritus. |
| Alternative route | Researchers of other status may qualify if at least six years have passed since the doctorate and the Japanese host institution judges that they have continuously conducted research at a foreign university or research institution. |
| Japanese nationals | May qualify when they have lived in a foreign country for at least 10 years at the time of application and the host institution judges that they have played an active role in that country’s scientific community. |
| Field restriction | None by broad discipline: humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included. |
Who Can Be the Japanese Host Researcher?
The Japanese host researcher is the formal applicant. For the Invitational Fellowship, JSPS requires the host to be affiliated with an eligible Japanese research institution and eligible to apply for KAKENHI funding.
| Host affiliation | Eligible Japanese university, inter-university research institute, MEXT-affiliated research institution, college of technology or other institution designated under the relevant MEXT procedure |
|---|---|
| KAKENHI status | Host researcher must be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant |
| Employment | Normally full-time; certain non-full-time researchers may qualify if the host institution confirms they can fulfil the host responsibilities throughout the fellowship |
| Research environment | The host institution must be able to provide a suitable research environment, including required facilities and personnel |
| Submission responsibility | The host researcher prepares/submits the application through the host institution; the overseas researcher does not submit directly to JSPS |
If you do not yet have a host, the practical first step is to identify Japanese researchers whose current work genuinely overlaps with your proposed research or academic-exchange plan. A host invitation should emerge from a substantive collaboration concept, not from mass emailing.
Application Forms and Documents
FY2027 Long-term and Short-term applications use parallel document structures, with the Japanese host completing the online entry and the host and candidate jointly preparing the proposal.
| Long-term [L] Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| L-1 | Online entry by the host researcher: applicant details, affiliation, research theme and fellowship tenure |
| L-2 | Seven-page Research Proposal Document prepared by the host researcher and invited overseas researcher |
| L-3 | Two-page Fellow’s Curriculum Vitae covering CV information and research achievements/results |
| Short-term [S] Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| S-1 | Online entry by the host researcher: applicant details, affiliation, research theme and fellowship tenure |
| S-2 | Five-page Research Proposal Document prepared by the host researcher and invited overseas researcher |
| S-3 | Two-page Fellow’s Curriculum Vitae covering CV information and research achievements/results |
JSPS states that, except where otherwise indicated, forms may be completed in English or Japanese. The proposal and CV forms are uploaded through the electronic application system.
How to Apply for the JSPS Invitational Fellowship
- Identify an eligible Japanese host researcher. Confirm real research or academic overlap before discussing an application.
- Select the correct fellowship category. For the next FY2027 opportunity, the available scheduled route is Short-term [S], second recruitment.
- Agree on the research theme, visit period and outputs. The host and candidate should establish contact and develop a concrete plan before submission.
- Ask the host institution for its internal deadline. It may be more than one month earlier than the JSPS deadline.
- Prepare S-2 and S-3 collaboratively. The Short-term proposal is prepared jointly; the candidate CV is prepared in cooperation with the host.
- The host enters S-1 in the JSPS Electronic Application System.
- The host institution completes institutional review and transmits the application to JSPS.
- For the next round, institutional submission to JSPS must reach JSPS by 23 April 2027 at 5:00 PM JST.
What JSPS Looks for in Selection
JSPS’s published screening criteria emphasize the quality and feasibility of the collaboration rather than treating the fellowship as a travel award.
| Scientific contribution | The collaboration should contribute to advancing science in Japan and other countries and advance research in the relevant field |
|---|---|
| Candidate quality | Evaluation places emphasis on the researcher being invited from overseas |
| Prior contact | Host and candidate should have established contact in advance |
| Research plan | A concrete, feasible collaborative plan should already exist |
| Host readiness | The Japanese institution should have an adequate system and environment for receiving the candidate |
| Feasibility | The plan should be achievable within the proposed fellowship tenure |
| Collaborative character | The visit should involve joint research or other genuine collaborative activity with researchers in Japan |
CareerAidHub Application Strategy
1. Start with the host fit, not with the fellowship
The strongest applications begin with a credible scientific or scholarly relationship. Approach researchers whose recent publications, facilities, datasets or expertise connect directly to your proposed activity.
2. Make the invitation plan specific
For Short-term [S], the 14–60 day period should have a tightly defined schedule. Identify the meetings, experiments, lectures, workshops, writing sessions or collaborative outputs that can realistically be completed within the visit.
3. Show reciprocal value
The proposal should explain both what the invited researcher contributes to the Japanese host group and what access to the Japanese research environment makes possible. A one-sided travel narrative is weaker than a genuine joint programme.
4. Match outputs to tenure
A 30-day visit should not promise a multi-year research programme. Use staged outputs such as a joint manuscript plan, pilot measurements, a workshop, a lecture series, a joint grant concept or a defined follow-on collaboration.
5. Work backward from the internal deadline
The published 23 April 2027 deadline is the deadline for the host institution to JSPS. Your actual working deadline may be weeks earlier. Ask the host research office before finalizing the proposal calendar.
Pre-Submission Checklist
- The candidate satisfies FY2027 Invitational Fellowship eligibility.
- The Japanese host is KAKENHI-eligible at an eligible institution.
- The correct [L] or [S] category has been chosen.
- The host institution’s internal deadline is confirmed.
- The research theme and invitation plan are jointly agreed.
- The proposed outputs are realistic within the fellowship duration.
- The CV highlights research achievements directly relevant to the collaboration.
- All factual claims, dates, titles and publications are accurate and verifiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next JSPS Invitational Fellowship deadline?
The next scheduled FY2027 deadline is for Short-term [S] second recruitment: 23 April 2027 at 5:00 PM JST. This is the deadline for the Japanese host institution to submit to JSPS, so the institution may set an earlier internal deadline.
Can an overseas researcher apply directly to JSPS?
No. The Japanese host researcher is the applicant and the application is submitted through the host institution using the JSPS Electronic Application System.
How long is the JSPS Invitational Short-term Fellowship?
Short-term [S] fellowships run for 14 to 60 days. JSPS states that extensions are not authorized.
How long is the Long-term Fellowship?
Long-term [L] fellowships run for 2 to 10 months in full-month units. The FY2027 Long-term first recruitment closed on 28 August 2026.
How much does the Short-term Fellowship pay?
For FY2027, JSPS lists a maintenance allowance of JPY 18,000 per day, plus economy roundtrip airfare under JSPS rules, overseas travel insurance and a host-applied research support allowance of up to JPY 150,000.
How much does the Long-term Fellowship pay?
For FY2027, JSPS lists JPY 387,600 per month, economy roundtrip airfare under JSPS rules, overseas travel insurance and a research support allowance of up to JPY 150,000.
Is a PhD compulsory?
The Invitational Fellowship is primarily for established overseas researchers with appropriate full-time research status and academic-equivalent rank. JSPS also allows certain researchers of other status where at least six years have passed since the doctorate and the host institution confirms continuous research activity abroad. Applicants should check the full FY2027 eligibility wording rather than assuming a generic PhD rule.
Are all academic fields eligible?
Yes. JSPS states that the Invitational Fellowships cover humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
When will the application system open for the April 2027 deadline?
JSPS states that the electronic application system becomes available approximately two months before its application deadlines. The exact internal opening and closing dates should also be confirmed with the Japanese host institution.
Official JSPS Sources
| Programme | JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan |
|---|---|
| Current guideline | FY2027 Application Guidelines |
| Next deadline | Short-term [S] second recruitment — 23 April 2027, 5:00 PM JST |
| Application route | Host researcher and host institution through the JSPS Electronic Application System |
| Last verified | 10 October 2026 |
Editorial note: CareerAidHub is not the funding agency. Fellowship terms, eligibility, deadlines, allowances and submission requirements can change. The official JSPS guideline and the Japanese host institution’s internal instructions are controlling.
