One of the trickiest parts of moving abroad to teach is figuring out where you should actually go.
(Been there, done the excessive amounts of paperwork…and fallen into our fair share of internet rabbit holes along the way).
At Teach Away, there isn’t a day that goes by without someone asking one of us what the requirements for teaching English abroad are and where the best place to go is. But the fact is, there’s just no one quick answer and no one-size-fits all ESL destination. It really varies from country to country and person to person, especially when it comes to factors out of your control, like visa regulations, education and experience requirements, age and nationality limits…the list goes on.
So, if you’re not sure where you want to teach abroad, our chart below is a great place to start. At a glance, you can see which countries pay the most, what the average salary for an ESL teacher is overseas, what the visa situation looks like, who your students are likely to be, the average contract length, education requirements and information about common perks like housing and flights.
So have a look – maybe you know all about South Korea but never considered options like Bolivia or Costa Rica.
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But before you scroll any further…read
this
You just want to get out there and travel the world, amirite?
Our advice is to buckle down, get your TEFL certificate out of the way and move to the next action point on the list.
(And yes, you should get TEFL certified before you teach abroad!)
But keep this in mind while you’re TEFL shopping – most countries hiring ESL teachers want to see a 120-hour TEFL on your application (either online or in-person will do). If you’re planning on investing in a TEFL course (and we suggest you think of it as an investment – this is your future we’re talking about ) you might as well choose one that meets the minimum requirements for most countries.
In short, we like to think of a 120-hour TEFL course as your passport to teaching English practically anywhere in the world.
Now, onto the good stuff – our humongous beast of a chart.
TEFL country comparison chart
Asia
| Country | TEFL | Degree | Teaching experience | Age limit | Nationality restrictions | Visa | Typical students | Average salary (USD)/month | Benefits (housing, flights, etc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambodia
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | Sometimes required | Under 65 years old | None Proof of fluent English |
Tourist / Work visa | School children, private tutoring & business professional | $700 – 1,000 | Not included |
| China
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Most positions Require BA/BS | Not required | Under 55 years old | None Prefer fluent English speakers |
Work visa in advance | School children, private tutoring & business professionals | $1,500 – 2,000 | Housing,flights & benefits |
| Hong Kong
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA(English major preferred) | Preferred | Under 60 years old | None | Work visa | Business professionals, children (public & private schools) | $2,000 – 3,000 | Sometimes cover flights & accommodation |
| India
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | B.Ed. OR any BA/BS with teaching experience | Experience required If you don’t have a B.Ed. | None | English speakers Proof of fluency required |
Work visa | Business professionals, private language schools, adults and children | $680 – 1,400 | Not usually included |
| Indonesia
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA required | Not required | Under 60 years old | English speakers | Work visa | Private & public schools, business professionals & children | $700 – 1,100 | Sometimes housing and flights are covered |
| Japan
|
TEFL preferred | BA required | Preferred | Under 65 years old | Educated through English for a minimum of 12 years | Work visa in advance | Public & private schools, adults & children | $2,200 – 3,000 | Usually included |
| Kazakhstan
|
TEFL preferred | BA/BS preferred | None | None | No preference | Work visa | Business professionals & children | $800 – 1,500 | Sometimes flights & housing |
| Kyrgyzstan
|
Required no minimum | BA/BS preferred | Not required | None | English speakers | Work Visa | Business professionals & children | $400 – 800 | Sometimes provide housing |
| Laos
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS preferred | Teaching experience preferred | None | Fluency proficiency English speakers | Tourist/work visa | Private & public schools, Business professionals & children | $500 – 1,000 | Not included |
| Lebanon
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS required | Teaching experience preferred | None | Fluent English speaker | Tourist/work visa | Private & public schools, Business professionals & children | $900 – 1,500 | Not included |
| Malaysia
|
CELTA or TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA/BS required MA preferred | 2-3 years’ teaching experience preferred | Under 60 years old | Fluent English speakers preferred Proof of fluency |
Work visa | Business professionals, school children, public & private | $1,200 – 2,300 | Occasionally provide housing & flights |
| Myanmar (Burma)
|
TEFL required 120 hour Minimum preferred | BA/BS required | Some experience required | None | Knowledgeable English speaker preferred | Work visa | Business professionals & children | $1,500 – 2,000 | Sometimes included |
| Russia
|
100 hour TEFL required minimum | Not required | Teaching experience required | None | English speakers Proof of English fluency |
Work visa | Business professionals, school children & private schools | $500 – 2,000 | Sometimes included |
| South Korea
|
120 hour TEFL required | BA/BS required | Teaching experience preferred | Under 60 years old | English speakers | Work visa in advance | Private & public schools | $1,800 – 2,500 | Flights & housing included |
| Thailand
|
120 hour TEFL required minimum | BA required | 2 years’ teaching experience preferred | Under 60 years old | English speakers South African candidates need an IELTS test |
Work visa | Business professionals, children, public & private schools | $950 – 1,300 | Usually includes housing & flights |
| Vietnam
|
TEFL required 120 hour preferred | BA/BS required | Under 60 years old | No nationality restrictions Proof of English fluency | Tourist / Work visa | Business professionals, school children, Private & public schools | $1,000 – 2,000 | Not included |
Europe
| Country | TEFL | Degree | Teaching experience | Age limit | Nationality restrictions | Visa | Typical students | Average salary (USD)/month | Benefits (housing, flights, etc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria
|
TEFL required no minimum | BA/BS required | Preferred | None | EU, American & Canadian | EU members can legally work here Work visa | School children, private tutoring & business professionals | $1,900 – 2,800 | Not included |
| Belgium
|
TEFL required no minimum | BA/BS Required | Not stated | None | EU citizenship, some exceptions | EU members don’t need one, work visas in exceptional cases | Business professionals & private students | $1,400 – 2,000 | Not included |
| Bulgaria
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | Some teaching experience | Under 65 years old | EU members preferred | EU member or work visa | School children, private tutoring & business professionals | $350 – 650 | Not included |
| Czech Republic
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA in English usually required | Preferred | None | EU members preferred Proof of fluent English | EU member or tourist visa change to work visa or work visa in advance | Private schools, summer camps & foreign language schools | $700 – 1,100 | Not included |
| France
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA/BS required | Preferred | None | EU members preferred Proof of English fluency | EU members or work/tourist visa | Business professionals, summer camps, language schools, children | $900 – 2,000 | Not included |
| Georgia
|
TEFL preferred no minimum | Associate’s degree or diploma | Not required | Under 60 years old | UK, EU, IRE, USA, CAN, AUS, NZ, SA nationals preferred | Tourist Visa can depend on nationality | Foreign language schools, private students, children | $220 | Accommodation & flights possible |
| Germany
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA/BS preferred | Not required | None | English speakers, proof of fluency required | EU members preferred or tourist visa converted to a work visa | Business professionals, private schools & tutoring, children in summer camps | $900 – 2,200 | Not included |
| Greece
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA/BS preferred | Not required | None | EU citizens preferred Prove of fluency in English | Eu citizens with some exceptions for private tutors on holiday visas | Business professionals, private students, public school children | $800 – 1,200 | Not included |
| Hungary
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA/BS required | Some experience required | None | No preference stated | Tourist or Work Visa | Business professionals, private students, public school children | $650 – 950 | Not included |
| Italy
|
TEFL required 100 hours minimum | Not required but is preferred | 1-2 years preferred | None | EU members preferred Proof of fluency in English | EU members preferred Tourist/Work visa | Public schools & private language schools | $1,100 – 1,850 | Not included |
| Lithuania
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS required | Teaching experience required | None | Fluency proficiency English speakers EU members | EU citizenship required | Business professionals, private schools | $550 – 900 | Not included |
| Poland
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS required | 1 year of teaching experience | None | EU citizenship preferred | EU citizenship, work/tourist visa | Business professionals, private tutoring | $750 – 1,000 | Often include housing & travel allowance |
| Portugal
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS required | Some teaching experience preferred | None | EU members Proof of English fluency | EU citizens | Business professionals, private tutoring | $1,000 – 1,300 | Not included |
| Romania
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | Teaching license usually preferred | Teaching experience preferred | None | Eu citizenship preferred Proof of English fluency | EU member/ work visa | Business professionals, school children & private schools | $600 – 1,000 | Not included |
| Russia
|
100 hour TEFL required minimum | Not required | Teaching experience required | None | English speakers preferred Proof of English fluency |
Work visa | Business professionals, school children & private schools | $500 – 2,000 | Sometimes included |
| Slovakia
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS required | Teaching experience usually required | None | EU member preferred Proof of English fluency | EU member or work visa | Business professionals, school children & private schools | $425 – 950 | Not included |
| Slovenia
|
TEFL required no minimum | BA/BS preferred | Teaching experience preferred | None | EU member preferred | EU member, student visa or youth mobility visa | Business professionals & private tutoring | $700 – 1,200 | Not included |
| Spain
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | Not required | Not required | None | EU members preferred | EU members preferred, work/tourist visa | Business professionals & children, private & public schools, summer camps | $900 – 1,800 | Not included |
| Turkey
|
TEFL required 120 hour preferred | Not required | ESL experience strongly preferred | Under 65 years old | English speakers Proof of English fluency |
Tourist/work visa | Business professionals, school children, Private & public schools | $1,000 – 1,800 | Sometimes housing/flights can be included |
| Ukraine
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS preferred | 2 years’ teaching experience preferred | None | Proof of English fluency | Work visa | Business professionals, private schools | $600 – 1,000 | Sometimes housing is included |
| United Kingdom
|
CELTA required | BA/BS required | Experience required | Under 55 years old | EU members preferred Proof of English fluency | Work visa | Business professionals & private schools | $800 – 1,000 | Not included |
Middle East
| Country | TEFL | Degree | Teaching experience | Age limit | Nationality restrictions | Visa | Typical students | Average salary (USD)/month | Benefits (housing, flights, etc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA/BS Required MA preferred |
Usually, need 1-2 years’experience.Competitive | None | Not stated | Work visa(sponsored by school) | Business professionals & children | $1,500 – 3,000 | Housing, flights & benefits |
| Egypt
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | University Diploma | Preferred | None | English speakers | Work visa preferred | Private language schools, private students, children & adults | $1,000 – 1,500 | Not included |
| Iraq
|
TEFL required no minimum | BA required | Preferred | None | English speakers preferred | Work visa | Children & adults at language schools | $1,500 – 3,000 | Usually covered |
| Jordan
|
TEFL required no minimum | BA/BS preferred | None | None | English teachers preferred | Work visa | Children & business professionals | $1,000 – 1,500 | Not included |
| Kuwait
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS required Licensed teachers & MA preferred | 1-2 years’ experience | None | English speakers preferred | Work visa | Business professionals & children | $1,500 – 3,000 | Often includes flights & housing |
| Qatar
|
TEFL required 120 hour preferred | BA/BS required MA preferred | Teaching experience preferred | None | Preferred: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa | Work visa | Business professionals & school children, private schools | $1,600 – 4,000 | Flights & housing included |
| Saudi Arabia
|
CELTA/TESOL | BA required in English/TESOL/ Linguistics | 2 years of teaching experience preferred | None | English speakers | Work visa in advance | Business professionals, school children & private schools | $3,000 – 4,000 | Housing & flights included |
| United Arab Emirates
|
TEFL required 120 hour | BA/BS required Licensed teachers preferred | Experience required | None | English speakers | Work visa in advance | Business professionals, school children, Private & public schools | $2,000 – 5,000 | Housing & flights included |
Central and South America
| Country | TEFL | Degree | Teaching experience | Age limit | Nationality restrictions | Visa | Typical students | Average salary (USD)/month | Benefits (housing, flights, etc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | Required, but a relevant degree can replace it | None | None Proof of fluent English |
Tourist visa for 6 months, work visa for longer | Private school students(children & adults) | $500 – 1,100 | Not included |
| Bolivia
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | 1-year teaching experience | None | None Proof of fluent English |
Tourist visa for 6 months, work visa for longer | Private & Public schools(children & adults) | $500 – 900 | Not included |
| Brazil
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | Not required | None | None English speakers preferred |
Tourist visa for 6 months, work visa for longer | Business professionals & private studentsl | $800 – 1,300 | Not included |
| Chile
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | Not required | None | None Proof of fluent English |
Tourist visa for 6 months, work visa for longer | School children, private tutoring & business professionals | $750 – 1,000 | Not included |
| Colombia
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | Not required | None | None Proof of fluent English |
Tourist visa for 6 months, work visa for longer | School children, private tutoring & business professionals | $500 – 1,500 | Not included |
| Costa Rica
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | Not required | Not required | None | None Proof of fluent English |
Tourist visa for 6 months, work visa for longer | Private tutoring & private schools | $700 – 900 | Not included |
| Ecuador
|
TEFL required 120 hours preferred | BA/BS preferred | Preferred | None | Fluent English speakers | Tourist visa for 6 months, work visa for longer | Private schools & English language schools | $500 – 800 | Not included |
| Guatemala
|
TEFL not required | BA/BS preferred | Not required | None | No preference stated | Tourist visa | Business professionals, private tutoring | $500 – 600 | Not included |
| Haiti
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA required | 2 years | None | English proficiency but no preference for citizenship | Work visa | International schools | $1750 – 2,200 | Included |
| Honduras
|
TEFL preferred 120 hours preferred | BA/BS required | Preferred | None | No preference stated | Tourist / Work visa | Children or business professionals, usually private | $500 – 1,200 | Not included |
| Nicaragua
|
TEFL preferred | BA/BS required | Teaching experience preferred | None | Fluent English speaker | Tourist visa | Business professionals & children | $500 – 700 | Not included |
| Peru
|
TEFL 120 hour Minimum preferred | BA/BS required | Teaching experience preferred | None | EU members preferred Proof of fluency required | EU members preferred Tourist/work Visa | Private students & business professionals | $500 – 700 | Often include housing & flights |
| Uruguay
|
120 hour TEFL preferred | BA/BS preferred | Teaching experience preferred | None | No nationality restrictions | Tourist/work visa | Business professionals & private schools | $500 – 1,000 | Not included |
North America
| Country | TEFL | Degree | Teaching experience | Age limit | Nationality restrictions | Visa | Typical students | Average salary (USD)/month | Benefits (housing, flights, etc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haiti
|
TEFL required 120 hours minimum | BA required | 2 years | None | English proficiency but no preference for citizenship | Work visa | International schools | $1750 – 2,200 | Included |
| Mexico
|
TEFL 120 hours Minimum preferred | BA/BS preferred | Teaching experience preferred | None | Proof of English fluency | Tourist / Work visa | Business professionals & children | $1,000 – 1,800 | Sometimes include housing |
| United States of America
|
CELTA required | BA/BS required MA preferred |
Teaching experience required | Under 70 years old | English speakers Proof of English fluency |
Work visa in advance | Business professionals & private schools | $2,000 – 2,500 | Not included |
