Teaching Abroad Country Chart
Teaching Abroad Country Chart
Teaching Abroad Country Chart
This country chart provides a general overview of the top English teaching markets around the globe. Refer to country profiles on
our website (links in the chart) for more detailed information on hiring preferences, the job market, and links to more articles and
helpful information. Make sure to check currency exchange rates, speak with an admissions advisor, and do further research to
determine which teaching markets are best for you.
Disclaimer: International TEFL Academy tries to provide the most up to date and accurate information. This document is based on citizens of the United States as
requirements vary by country. Exchange rates were accurate at time of publication on March 1, 2019 Please consult www.xe.com for the most up to date exchange rate.
*Startup costs are estimates in a country for housing, food, expenses until receiving first paycheck which is typically 30 days after start of contract. International TEFL
Academy assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of this document as information changes daily around the world.
Edits made 31 October, 2023 – The information is provided only as a guide and not a guarantee. Copyright 2019 by International TEFL Academy, Inc.
TEACHING ENGLISH IN ASIA
The job market and demand for English teachers in East and South East Asia is arguably the largest in the
world. Many of these nations are highly industrialized, economically strong, and culturally put an emphasis on
the importance of education. This combination has created a large outward recruitment market and many open
positions for certified English teachers.
Asia is an excellent region of the world to consider for your career teaching abroad if you are looking to:
• Find a job in advance of being in the country
• Save money
• Receive benefits such as accommodations, medical insurance, flight allowance, work visa assistance,
bonuses, vacation time, etc.
• Find a job at virtually any time of the year
• Teach children (there are opportunities to teach adults as well!)
Keep in mind this is a general overview of all the teaching markets in Asia and a few exceptions may apply so
please read the specifics of each country in the chart below.
Average Monthly
Typical Average Monthly
Degree Peak Hiring Expected Interview Typical Cost of Living Estimated Reimbursed
Country Requirement
Contract
Seasons Down Times Procedures
Visa Info
Students in $ USD
Salary in $ USD
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Airfare
Length & Local Currency
& Local Currency
Lunar $700 - 1,000 USD Self-pay,
BA/BS (Chinese) New Tourist visa Business $500 - 1,000 USD (2,796,500 - $1,000 - 1,500 USD Housing
preferred, 6 & 12 All Year Face-to-face in
Cambodia months Round
Year
Cambodia
convert to Professionals, (1,997,500 - 3,995,000 KHR) (3,995,000 - advice No
not required 2 weeks late work visa Children 3,995,000 KHR) Can save $200 - 5,992,500KHR) provided by
Jan-early Feb $500 USD/Mo employer
Interview in US, $800 - 2,000 USD $1,500 - 2,500 USD Some free
Business $2,500 - 3,000 USD
BA/BS 12 All Year Canada, UK 3 - Work visa in (88,650 - 221,650 (166,250 - 277,050 housing or
Japan months Round
None
6 months in advance
Professionals,
JPY) JPY) Can save
(277,050 - 332,500
housing
No
required Children JPY)
advance Plus housing $225-$450 USD/Mo subsidy
Phone/skype in
BA/BS Business $700 - 850 USD $350 - 1,250 USD $800 - 1,000 USD
12 All Year advance, Work visa in Some Free No/Some
Kazakhstan preferred, months Round
None
sometimes advance
Professionals, (253,000 - 316,000 (126,000 - 474,000 (301,050 - 376,300
Housing return flight
Children KZT) KZT) KZT)
not required face-to-face
Phone/skype in
BA/BS Business $400 - 800 USD $400 - 800 USD $800 - 1,000 USD
6 & 12 All Year advance, Work visa in Some Free
Kyrgyzstan preferred, months Round
None
sometimes advance
Professionals, (27,000 - 54,000 (27,000 - 54,000 (54,000 - 68,000
Housing
No
Children KGS) KGS) KGS)
not required face-to-face
Self-pay,
BA/BS Business $500 - $1,000 USD $500 - $1,000 USD $1,000 - $1,500 USD Housing
6 & 12 All Year Face-to-face in Tourist Visa
Laos preferred, months Round
None
Laos or Work Visa
Professionals, (4,180,000 LAK - (4,180,000 LAK - (8,360,000 LAK - advice No
Children 8,360,000 LAK) 8,360,000 LAK) 12,540,000 LAK) provided by
not required employer
Lunar Self-pay,
BA/BS (Chinese) New Business Housing
required, 12 All Year Phone/skype in Work visa in $900 - 1,800 USD $1,200 - 2,300 USD $1,350 - 2,700 USD
Malaysia months Round
Year
advance advance
Professionals,
(3,500 - 7,000 MRY) (4,700 - 9,000 MRY) (5,300 - 10,550 MRY)
advice No
Master’s 2 weeks late Children provided by
preferred Jan-early Feb employer
Self-pay,
Phone/skype in
BA/BS All Year Business $650 - $800 USD $900 - $1,800 USD $1,100 - 2,000 USD Housing
12 advance, Business
Myanmar preferred, not months
Round, May- None
sometimes Visa
Professionals, (1,027,400 - (1,371,200 - (1,676,500 - advice No
Sept Children 1,232,900 MMK) 2,739,700 MMK) 3,048,200 MMK) provided by
required face-to-face
employer
Lunar Self-pay,
(Chinese) New Business Housing
BA/BS 12 All Year Year Phone/skype in Work visa in $2,750 - 3,400 USD $2,750 - 3,550 USD $5,500 - 6,800 USD
Singapore months Round advance advance
Professionals,
(3,700 - 4,600 SGD) (3,700 - 4,800 SGD) (7,450 - 9,200 SGD))
advice No
required 2 weeks late Children provided by
Jan-early Feb employer
Lunar
BA/BS After Lunar $1,000 - 2,000 USD Self-pay,
(Chinese) New
required, (Chinese) Business $500 - 1,500 USD (30,800 - 61,500 $1,500 - 2,500 USD Housing
12 Year Phone/skype in Work visa in
Taiwan some AA months
New Year
2 weeks late advance advance
Professionals, (15,400 - 46,150 TWD) (46,150 - 76,900 advice No
and July - Children TWD) Can save $600- TWD) provided by
accepted Jan - early
August $800 USD/Mo employer
Feb
Latin America is an excellent region of the world to consider for your career teaching abroad if
you are looking to:
• Head overseas in January/February or July/August
• Teach adult students (there are some opportunities to teach children as well!)
• Interview with potential employers face-to-face in country
• Live a comfortable lifestyle while breaking even financially
• Teach in a country that doesn’t necessarily require a bachelor’s degree
Keep in mind this is a general overview of all the teaching markets in Latin America and a few
exceptions may apply so please read the specific of each country in the chart below.
Average Monthly
Typical Average Monthly
Degree Peak Hiring Expected Interview Visa Typical Cost of Living Approximate Reimbursed
Country Requirement
Contract
Season Down Times Procedures Info Students in USD
Salary in $ USD
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Airfare
Length & Local Currency
& Local Currency
Self-pay,
BA/BS Christmas- Business $800 - 1200 USD $600 - 1100 USD $1,500 - 2,500
6 & 12 Feb-Mar, Face-to-face in Tourist Housing advice
Argentina preferred,
months July-Aug
End of
Argentina visa Professionals (31,200 - 47,000 (23,500 - 43,000 USD (58,600 -
provided by
No
not required February ARS) ARS) 97,700 ARS)
employer
Self-pay,
BA/BS $300 - 600 USD $300 - 600 USD
3, 6 & 12 All Year Christmas- Face-to-face in Tourist visa $1,000 - 1,200 USD Housing advice
Nicaragua preferred,
months Round Mid January Nicaragua
All Ages (9,400 - 18,800 (9,400 - 18,800
(32,650 - 39,150 NIO) provided by
No
not required NIO) NIO)
employer
Self-pay,
BA/BS Christmas-
6 & 12 Feb-Mar, Face-to-face in Business $900 - 1,300 Housing advice
Panama preferred,
months July-Aug
End of
Panama
Tourist visa
Professionals
$900 - 1,300 USD
USD
$1,350 - 2,000 USD
provided by
No
not required January
employer
Self-pay,
BA/BS Christmas- $500 - 1,000
3, 6 & 12 Feb-Mar, Face-to-face in Business $500 - 1,000 USD $1,000 - 1,500 USD Housing advice
Peru preferred,
months July-Aug
End of
Peru
Tourist visa
Professionals (1,650 - 3,300 PEN)
USD (1,650 -
(3,300 - 4,900 PEN) provided by
No
not required January 3,300 PEN)
employer
Self-pay,
BA/BS Christmas- $900 - 1,300 USD $900 - 1,300
6 & 12 Feb-Mar, Face-to-face in Business $1,600 - 2,200 USD Housing advice
Uruguay preferred,
months July-Aug
End of
Uruguay
Tourist visa
Professionals
(30,100 - 42,000 USD (30,100 -
(52,300 - 71,900 UYU) provided by
No
not required January UYU) 42,000 UYU)
employer
TEACHING ENGLISH IN EUROPE
The English teaching market in Europe is vast. Learning English has become more
essential since 1993 when the EU was founded, making English a common language for
business and education. Although there are many member countries of the EU, each
country has their own hiring practices and visa rules for non-EU citizens. However, if you
have EU citizenship, you will not need to apply separately for a work visa.
Europe is an excellent region of the world to consider for your career teaching abroad if
you are looking to:
• Head overseas in September or January for the two main hiring seasons
• Interview with potential employers face-to-face in country (there are some
opportunities to find work in advance!)
• Teach adult students (there are some opportunities to teach children as well!)
• Live a comfortable lifestyle while breaking even financially
Keep in mind this is a general overview of all the teaching markets in Europe and a few
exceptions may apply so please read the specifics of each country in the chart below.
Average Monthly
Typical Peak Average Monthly
Degree Expected Down Interview Typical Cost of Living Approximate Reimbursed
Country Requirement
Contract Hiring
Times Procedures
Visa Info
Students in $ USD
Salary in $ USD
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Airfare
Length Season & Local Currency
& Local Currency
Self-pay,
$2,550 - 3,800
BA/BS 10 & 12 Aug, Christmas- Face-to-face in EU Business $1,700 - 2,500 USD $1,800 - 2,500 USD Housing advice
Austria required months
Sept & Jan
2nd week in Jan Austria Citizenship Professionals (1,500 - 2,200 EUR) (1,600 - 2,200 EUR)
USD (2,300 -
provided by
No
3,400 EUR)
employer
Self-pay,
Aug, Christmas- $2,250 - 3,000
BA/BS 10 & 12 Face-to-face in EU Business $1,500 - 2,000 USD $1,500 - 2,000 USD Housing advice
Belgium required months
Sept & Jan 2nd week in Jan Belgium Citizenship Professionals (1,300 - 1,800 EUR) (1,300 - 1,800 EUR)
USD (2,000 -
provided by
No
2,800 EUR)
employer
Phone/skype in Self-pay,
Aug, Christmas- Business $1,000 - 1,450
BA/BS 9 & 12 advance or EU $650 - 950 USD $650 - 950 USD Housing advice
Bulgaria required months
Sept & Jan 2nd week in Jan face-to-face in Citizenship
Professionals,
(1,150 - 1,650 BGN) (1,150 - 1,650 BGN)
USD (1,700 -
provided by
No
Children 2,500 BGN)
Bulgaria employer
Average Monthly
Typical Average Monthly
Degree Peak Hiring Expected Interview Typical Cost of Living Estimated Reimbursed
Country Requirement
Contract
Seasons Down Times Procedures
Visa Info
Students in $ USD
Salary in $ USD
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Airfare
Length & Local Currency
& Local Currency
Self-pay,
Aug, Business $1,350 - 2,000
BA/BS 10 & 12 Face-to-face $900 - 1,300 USD $900 - 1,300 USD Housing advice
Croatia required months
Sept & Jan
Christmas- 2nd in Croatia
EU Citizenship Professionals,
(6,000 - 8,400 HRK) (6,000 - 8,400 HRK)
USD (9,000 -
provided by
No
Children 13,100 HRK)
week in Jan employer
Most face-to-
Tourist visa, $2,400 - 4,500
Aug, face in Czech Self-pay,
convert to Business $1,000 - 1,500 USD USD (55,000 -
Czech BA/BS 10 & 12 Christmas- 2nd Republic; $800 - 1,600 USD Housing advice
Sept & Jan contractor visa Professionals, (23,000 - 34,000 103,000 CZK) No
Republic required months week in Jan Some (18,000 - 37,000 CZK) provided by
or EU Children CZK) **Zivno Visa costs
phone/skype not included employer
Citizenship
in advance
Student visa,
Aug, work visa $800 - 1,800 USD Self-pay,
$2,100 - 3.500
BA/BS 10 & 12 Christmas- 2nd Face-to-face through Business $1,400 - 2,300 USD (700 - 1,600 EUR) Housing advice
France required months
Sept & Jan
in France government Professionals (1,200 - 2,000 EUR) *TAPIF Stipend: 965
USD (1,900 -
provided by
No
week in Jan 3,100 EUR)
program, EUR employer
EU Citizenship
Aug, Phone/skype
BA/BS $220 USD $220 USD $300 - 400 USD Housing
6 & 12 Christmas- 2nd in advance or
Georgia preferred,
Months
Year Round
Face-to-face
Tourist Visa Children (600 GEL) (600 GEL) (800 GEL - 1,100 provided by TLG Yes
not required week in Jan *Stipend for TLG *Stipend for TLG GEL) program
in Georgia
Tourist visa,
Aug, Self-pay,
BA/BS convert to Business $3,000 - 4,500
10 & 12 Christmas- 2nd Face-to-face $1,100 - 2,000 USD $1,000 - 2,200 USD Housing advice
Germany preferred,
months
Sept & Jan
in Germany
contractor visa Professionals,
(1,000 - 1,800 EUR) (900 - 1,950 EUR)
USD (2,600 -
provided by
No
not required week in Jan or EU Children 4,000 EUR)
employer
Citizenship
Aug, Self-pay,
$1,200 - 2,000
BA/BS 10 & 12 Christmas- 2nd Face-to-face Business $800 - 1,100 USD $800 - 1,100 USD Housing advice
Greece required months
Sept & Jan
in Greece
EU Citizenship
Professionals (700 - 1,000 EUR) (700 - 1,000 EUR)
USD (1,000 -
provided by
No
week in Jan 1,800 EUR)
employer
Aug, Self-pay,
Tourist visa, $1,200 - $2,100
BA/BS 10 & 12 Sept, Oct Christmas- 2nd Face-to-face Business $900 - 1,150 USD $900-1500 USD Housing advice
Italy required months & Jan in Italy
student visa,
Professionals (800 - 1,000 EUR) (800 - 1,300 EUR)
USD (1,050 -
provided by
No
week in Jan EU Citizenship 1,850 EUR)
employer
Phone/skype Self-pay,
May and Aug Aug, Business
BA/BS 10 & 12 in advance or Housing advice
Lithuania required months
for a Christmas Face-to-face
EU Citizenship Professionals, $500 - 900 USD $500 - 900 USD $900 - 1,500 USD
provided by
No
Sept start Children (450 - 800 EUR) (450 - 800 EUR) (800 - 1,300 EUR)
in Lithuania employer
Self-pay,
$2,300 - 2,900
BA/BS 10 & 12 Aug, Face-to-face Business $1,300 - 1,700 USD $1,300 – 1,700 USD Housing advice
Portugal Sept & Jan EU Citizenship USD (2,000 - No
required months Christmas- 2nd in Portugal Professionals (1,150 - 1,500 EUR) (1,050 - 1,500 EUR) provided by
2,550 EUR)
week in Jan employer
Expected Average Monthly
Typical Average Monthly
Degree Peak Hiring Interview Typical Cost of Living Estimated Reimbursed
Country Requirement
Contract
Seasons
Down Times
Procedures
Visa Info
Students in $ USD
Salary in $ USD
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Airfare
Length & Local Currency
& Local Currency
The Middle East is an excellent region of the world to consider for your career teaching
abroad if you are looking to:
Keep in mind this is a general overview of all the teaching markets in the Middle East and a
few exceptions may apply so please read the specifics of each country in the chart below.
Degree Typical Peak Hiring Expected Interview Visa Info Typical Average Monthly Cost Average Monthly Salary Estimated Housing Reimbursed
Country Requirement Contract Seasons Down Procedures Students of Living in $ USD in $ USD Start-up Costs* Airfare
Length Times & Local Currency & Local Currency
Bahrain 12 All Year Phone/skype in Work visa in Business $650 - 1,050 USD $1,500 - 3,000 USD $1,100 - 1,500 Free Housing or Yes
BA/BS months Round/ advance advance Professionals, (250 - 400 BHD) (550 - 1,100 BHD) Can USD Housing Subsidy
required/ May – Aug Islamic Children Plus housing save $800+ USD/Mo (400 - 550 BHD)
preferred
MA preferred Holidays
Egypt 6 & 12 All Year Islamic Face-to-face in Tourist visa Business $300 - 700 USD $300 - 700 USD (5,200 - $1,000 - 1,500 Self-pay, Rarely
months Round/ Holidays Egypt; Some convert to Professionals, (5,200 - 12,300 12,300 EGP) USD (17,600 - Housing advice
BA/BS May – Aug phone/skype in work visa Children EGP) 26,400 EGP) provided by
preferred, preferred advance employer
not required
Average Monthly
Typical Expected Average Monthly
Degree Peak Hiring Interview Typical Cost of Living in Estimated Reimbursed
Country Requirement
Contract
Seasons
Down
Procedures
Visa Info
Students $ USD
Salary in $ USD
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Airfare
Length Times & Local Currency
& Local Currency
Self-pay,
BA/BS Tourist visa Business $900 - 1,500 USD $900 - 1,500 USD $1,800 - 3,000
6 &12 All Year Islamic Face-to-face in Housing advice
Lebanon preferred, months Round Holidays Lebanon
convert to Professionals, (1,400,000 - 2,300,000 (1,400,000 - 2,300,000 USD (2,700,000
provided by
No
work visa Children LBP) LBP) - 4,500,000 LBP)
not required employer