Training Program for Asian Veterinarians (TPFAV) 2026

About

The TPFAV program was initiated in 2017 by the JVMA, the Japan Racing and Livestock Promotion Foundation, and our partnering veterinary universities. Our mission is to control transboundary infectious animal diseases by providing a comprehensive educational platform for veterinarians in the Asia and Oceania region. The program operates from Japan but offers a global perspective, making use of the diverse experiences and insights of our international faculty and participants.

TPFAV 2026 Overview

This program runs from April 10, 2026 to March 20, 2027.

Phase	Duration	Description
Orientation	2 weeks	Participants are introduced to the program and prepared for their year-long journey.
Research Student Period	11 months	Participants undergo intense training in their chosen fields of study under the guidance of expert faculty. They will be assigned to one of the following universities: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Rakuno Gakuen University Kitasato University Iwate University The University of Tokyo Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Azabu University Nihon University Osaka Metropolitan University Yamguchi University University of Miyazaki
Study Trip	10 days	Participants visit various veterinary and agricultural sites in Japan to gain practical insights and experience.

Eligibility and Application Process

The TPFAV program is open to applicants from the Asia and Oceania region who meet our eligibility criteria. These include certain nationality, age, education, and work experience requirements. The application process involves a domestic screening, followed by an English proficiency test, an interview and a final selection.

Eligibility criteria
Criteria	Requirements
Nationality	Licensed veterinarians in Asia-Oceania region
Age	Up to 45 years old at the time of April 1st, 2026
Education	Bachelor degree or higher in veterinary science/medicine
Work experience	At least one year of work experience is preferable
Target	Target: Veterinarians working in (a) private, (b) government, or (c) education sectors, and those who are involved in the prevention of livestock infectious diseases or have an interest in it.

Application Process

Those who wish to apply for the TPFAV should contact their country's veterinary association to obtain a recommendation. Individuals who have obtained a recommendation should submit their information via the application form (the URL has been communicated to each country's veterinary association and is not publicly available). The application deadline is July 31, 2025, 17:00 JST.

Applications without a recommendation from the veterinary association or submitted via email will be considered invalid.

Timeline

Important dates

Event	Date
Application deadline	July 31st, 2025
Interview window	September 1st, 2025 - October 31st, 2025
Official announcement of the scholarship winners	No later than December 15th, 2025

Fields of Study

Applicants should clarify in which field of study they hope to join.

Field of Study	Description
Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs)	Prevention of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) in livestock species
One health	"One Health" related themes such as zoonoses or antimicrobial resistance
Virology	Learn lab techniques in virology
Bacteriology/Parasitology	Learn lab techniques in bacteriology/parasitology
Pathology/Pathophysiology	Histopathology, molecular pathology
Clinical practice	Internal medicine, surgery and theriogenology in livestock species

Note: TPFAV is NOT intended to provide a training in companion animal practice.

Financial Support

JVMA covers tuition, living expenses, round-trip airfare, and also provides an additional allowance to each trainee. In this section, you can find comprehensive information about all financial provisions associated with the TPFAV program.

Allowance Item	Amount of payment (JPY)	Frequency
Provision for training	3,450,000-	One time (paid directly to training facility)
Air fee	Actual cost	Two times (arrival and return)
Living allowance	5,000 JPY/day	Every month
Health insurance premium	Actual cost	One time (Valid for one year)
House rent	Actual cost	Every month (paid directly to house owner)
Cell phone fee	Actual cost	Every month
Utility fees	Actual cost	Every month
Insurances premium	Actual cost	JVMA will pay the premiums for liability, medical, and fire insurances

Upon completion of the one-year training, trainees are exempt from any obligation to repay all of these expenses. However, if the trainee intentionally and maliciously interrupts the training (for example, due to criminal activity), the JVMA may demand a partial or full refund of the training expenses incurred up to that point.

FAQs

This section covers a variety of frequently asked questions about the program, the application process, and life in Japan during the program. It's an excellent place to start if you're new to TPFAV.

Q	A
When is the deadline for the application form?	Applications submitted by 17:00 Japan Standard Time on July 31, 2025, will be considered valid.
How can I apply for this program?	Please contact your country's veterinary association to obtain a recommendation. JVMA has already provided information about the application form link to veterinary associations in each country. All applications are accepted online.
Can I bring my family to participate in the program if I cover the expenses myself?	No. The Training Program for Asian Veterinarians 2026 does not permit participants to be accompanied by their family members.
What are the obligations for participating in TPFAV2026?	Participants in the training are required to adhere to the following: - Do not leave Japan during the training period. - Dedicate themselves to the training during the training period. - Submit at least one report to a journal during the training period.
How proficient in English do I need to be?	English is the official language of TPFAV. At the very least, you need to have enough English proficiency to communicate orally about the training. Specifically, you need to be able to understand explanations from instructors, be familiar with veterinary medical terminology in your specialty, and express your own ideas.
Can I drive a car in Japan?	Participants in this program are required NOT to drive a car, even if they hold an international driving license.
Can I choose the university where I will be trained?	While you can state your preferred training site during the interview, the final decision is not yours to make. The accepting university will make its decision based on your preferences and your application documents. If you are dissatisfied with the university you are assigned to, you may decline to participate in the program within one week of receiving the results.
Can I earn a degree by participating in this program?	No. This program is not intended for the acquisition of degrees. Only a completion certificate issued by JVMA will be provided.
What expenses should I expect to cover myself when participating in this program?	The expenses for preparing the application documents (obtaining certificates) and participating in the interview will be borne by the applicant. After selection, you will need to cover the cost related to visa applications. Participants are also required to bring their own laptop. For items supported by JVMA, please refer to the Financial Support section.
I want to undertake clinical training for companion animals. Can I study this in the program?	No. This program primarily aims at controlling infectious diseases in livestock, and it is not intended for those who want to study the treatment of companion animals. Please look for another program.
What documents are required for the application?	Please prepare a recommendation letter, graduation certificate of veterinary school, academic transcript, copy of passport, and health certificate. Scan these documents and upload them via the application form.
Who should write the recommendation letter?	It would be desirable to obtain a recommendation from your workplace supervisor, a professor from your alma mater (veterinary school), or an officer from the veterinary association to which you belong.
What universities are participating in this program?	Thirteen universities are participating in the 2026 program: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Rakuno Gakuen University, Kitasato University, Iwate University, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Azabu University, Nihon University, Osaka Prefecture University, Yamaguchi University, University of Miyazaki, and Kagoshima University.
Can applicants choose the university?	No, they cannot. Applicants can choose up to three fields they want to study, and they can express their interest in specific themes during the application form submission and interview.
I am currently in my final year of university. Can I apply if I don't have work experience?	While it is desirable to have at least one year of work experience, you can still apply. However, please be aware that even if you are selected for the program, your acceptance may be revoked if you fail to graduate from university or fail the veterinary licensing examination.
I can't speak Japanese at all. Is this a problem?	Not at all. The official language of the Training Program for Asian Veterinarians (TPFAV) is English. However, we believe that having a basic level of Japanese will make your life in Japan more comfortable. For this reason, we provide Japanese 101 lessons to accepted participants right after they arrive in Japan. It's okay to start studying Japanese after you have been accepted.
Can I participate in the TPFAV even if I have a chronic illness?	Even if you have health issues, you can apply if a doctor certifies that they will not be a problem for your one-year training life in Japan. The JVMA pays for participants' health insurance premiums, so you can receive medical services if you get injured or sick during your stay in Japan. However, you will have to partially bear the cost of treatment for chronic diseases.
Are there any disqualifications?	If you are in a state not covered by health insurance (for example, pregnancy) or if you have serious health problems that would prevent you from completing the one-year training, your participation will be declined. Also, if you have a criminal history or have been deported from Japan in the past, you will not be able to obtain a residence status, and you will be automatically disqualified.
Can you tell me about the selection process? When will I know if I am accepted or not?	Interviews are conducted in person or online in September and October, 2025. In December, the accepting universities and JVMA hold a meeting to select 14 participants. The notification of acceptance or rejection to applicants will be done no later than December 15, 2025.
Can you tell me the period of TPFAV 2026?	The program runs from April 10, 2026, to March 20, 2027. Depending on flight schedules, the start and end dates may slightly vary.
Specifically, what species of animals can I learn about?	The main species treated by veterinarians in Japan are cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, and chickens. Water buffalos, ducks, and donkeys, which are common in Asia, are not so common in Japan, and therefore they are not the subject of the TPFAV.

Participant Obligations and Policies

As part of the TPFAV program, each trainee agrees to certain obligations. These, along with JVMA's policies regarding privacy, copyright, and compliance, are described in detail here.

・ JVMA policies

(a) Privacy Policy

Scope of Use

Any information used for identifying individuals that JVMA acquires will be stored, used, or analyzed only within the scope of JVMA activities. JVMA reserves the right to use such identifying information and other materials following the provisions of this privacy policy.

Limitations of Use and Provision

JVMA shall never intentionally provide information that can be used to identify individuals to any third party, with the following three exceptions:

(a) In cases of legally mandated disclosure requests;

(b) In cases in which the provider of information grants permission for its disclosure to a third party;

(c) In cases where JVMA commissions a party to process the information collected, the information provided will be within the scope of the designated tasks.

Security Notice

JVMA takes measures required to prevent leakage, loss, or destruction of acquired information and to manage such details otherwise correctly.

(b) Copyright Policy

Participants of TPFAV are requested to comply with the following copyright policy;

Article 1. Compliance matters with participants' drafting of documents (various reports, action plans, etc.) and presentations (report meetings, lectures, speeches, etc.)

Any contents of the documents and presentations shall be created by themselves in principle.
comply with the following matters, if you, over the limit of quotation, have to use a third person's work (reproduction, photograph, illustration, map, figure, etc.) that is protected under laws or regulations in your country or copyright-related multinational agreements or the like:

(1) Obtain a license to use the work on your responsibility. In this case, the scope of the permit shall meet the provisions of Article 2.

(2) Secure evidential material that proves the license grants and specifies the license's scope.

(3) Consult with the third party and perform the payment procedure on your responsibility regarding negotiations with a third person about the consideration for granting the license and the process for paying the care.

Article 2. Details of the use of works used for TPFAV

(1) The copyright on a work that a participant prepares for TPFAV shall belong to the participant. The copyright on the parts where a third party's work is used shall belong to the third party.

(2) When using texts, supplementary educational materials, and other materials distributed for TPFAV, participants shall comply with the purposes and scopes approved by each copyright holder.

(c) Compliance Policy

JVMA shall improve the transparency and fairness of its operations and financial activities to secure public trust.
JVMA shall contribute to the sound development of the international economic community through development assistance to secure the international community's trust.
JVMA shall meet the needs of developing regions and swiftly and flexibly provide quality service.
JVMA shall consider natural and social environments when conducting its operations.
JVMA shall communicate well with various levels of society and maintain an organizational culture of transparency.

・ Disclaimers

The applicants to TPFAV2026 have to agree with the articles below:

I declare that I apply for Training Program for Asian Veterinarians (TPFAV), which is organized by Japan Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA), with a full understanding of the articles stipulated below:

(1) APPLICATION

all the information answered and provided in this application form by me, is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and ability. My application will be cancelled if any information is proven to be false.
all the information provided by me in application form had been approved by supervisor in my organization.
an application form which is incomplete or missing any necessary document(s) will be deemed ineligible and not considered.
the selection procedure and results rest entirely with JVMA as the secretariat of TPFAV. No inquiries or objections by applicant regarding the result of the selection process will be considered.

(2) OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM

When I am accepted for the program, I agree

that the objective of the program. Therefore, I will participate in orientation, academic training program in universities or other veterinary related facilities, study trip, and other events as designated by JVMA,
that I am required to contribute to the development of my nation's relationship with Japan after completing TPFAV program in Japan,
that the objective of the program is not provision of employment, acquisition of Master/PhD/other degree, in Japan upon completion of the program.

(3) JVMA's WRITTEN CONTRACT

When I am accepted for the program, I agree

not to live with my family in the accommodation which JVMA provides,
all the information answered in health condition is true, and to accept that medical conditions resulting from an undisclosed pre-existing condition may not be financially compensated by JVMA and may result in termination of the program,
to carry out such instructions and abide by such conditions as may be stipulated by both the nominating veterinary association and JVMA regarding the program,
to follow the program, and abide by the rules of the institution or establishment that implements the program,
to refrain from engaging in political activity or any form of employment for profit or gain,
to return to my home country at the end of the program in Japan on the designated flight schedule arranged by JVMA,
to discontinue the program if JVMA and the applicant's current organization agree on any reason for such discontinuation and not to claim any cost or damage due to the said discontinuation,
to observe Japanese laws and ordinances (including, for example, such as 'Sexual Harassment') during my stay, if I violate, I will return the total amount or a part of the expenditure required for TPFAV depending on the extent of the violation,
to understand that JVMA does not assure issuarance of Japan entry visa even after JVMA decide to accept me. I understand the Embassy of Japan will decide it according to necessary formalities upon the submission of visa application from each participant,
to refrain from operating any vehicles that require a license during the training period.
In the event that I violate any of above conditions, I agree to be removed from the program and to reimburse JVMA for any necessary costs.
to understand that if any trouble between I and JVMA will be filed a lawsuit, I agree the First Instance will be filed at Tokyo District Court, in accordance with Japanese laws and ordinances.

Applicants accepted into TPFAV2026 and who have agreed to participate are required to carry out necessary procedures such as visa acquisition and application to their workplace smoothly to be able to come to Japan by the start date. After arriving in Japan, trainees must sign a contract with JVMA, explicitly agreeing to the above obligations and policies. In case of a breach of contract, depending on the extent of the breach, JVMA may interrupt the training and request a return to the home country, and may claim compensation for liability arising from intentional damage. In the event of a legal dispute between JVMA and the trainee, the first instance will be judged at the Tokyo District Court, in accordance with Japanese laws and regulations.