teaching english overseas requirements

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