Teach in Latvia

Options for teaching in Latvia

Overall, teachers in Latvia will find the majority of job opportunities in bigger towns and cities in Latvia, where most of the international schools and private language schools typically are.

Primary and secondary schools in Latvia

To find work teaching abroad at a public school in Latvia, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate.

Language schools in Latvia

There are several language schools in Latvia, including the International School of Riga and Berlitz Latvia.

Universities in Latvia

Universities in Latvia offer English courses for their students, so it’s possible to find a job teaching English at a university. To be considered for these roles, teachers will need to be certified and have previous teaching experience.

International schools

There are a number of international schools in the country looking to employ ESL teachers.

Teaching in Latvia – Hiring

The school year in Latvia runs from the middle of August until middle of June. Teachers can be hired for international and private language schools in Latvia throughout the year, but the most popular time for hiring teachers runs from September to January.

Qualifications to teach in Latvia

Ideally, teachers looking for jobs at private language schools in Latvia should have, at minimum, a Bachelor’s degree and an internationally recognized TEFL certificate to stand the best chance of finding a job teaching in Latvia.

The University of Toronto’s TEFL online certificate can give you the edge over other candidates applying to teach English abroad in Latvia.

International schools in Latvia will often require teachers have a postgraduate certificate in education as well as relevant teaching experience. The pay is consequently higher at international schools compared to private language schools.

Visas for teachers in Latvia

Latvia is a member of the European Union, therefore EU nationals won’t require a visa to teach in Latvia. As a result, schools in Latvia will often favor EU over non-EU citizens when it comes to filling teaching positions. If you come from a country outside of the EU, then you will need to apply for a work permit to teach in Latvia.

Latvia’s cost of living is reasonably low, so teachers can expect to live a comfortable lifestyle. Latvian schools vary when it comes to salary, working conditions, teaching hours and more.

As requirements to teach at an international school in Latvia tend to be higher, they often offer teachers a generous salary and benefits packages as well as excellent professional development opportunities.

Things for teachers to do in Latvia

In your free time, you’ll find lots to see and do in Latvia. The vibrant capital, Riga, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an architecture lover’s dream. A hub for artists, there are plenty of bars for you to check out and delicious authentic Latvian food to sample.

From Riga, you can plan day trips all over the small country. For nature lovers, there are mountain ranges to trek, pine forests to explore and many, many miles of stunning coastline with white sands and sea dunes to discover.

Register for a teacher account to apply for teaching jobs in Latvia.