What's in this guide
- Quick summary / Who this guide is for
- What qualifications employers and programmes ask for
- Key visas & work‑permits by major destination
- Salaries, benefits & typical contracts (how to read them)
- How to find jobs (trusted routes and red flags)
- Online teaching — rules and limits (China‑focused note)
- Choosing the right TEFL/CELTA/Course — checklist
- Practical checklist before you sign a contract
- Further reading & official sources
- Legal note
- What we could not establish
This guide explains who should read it and what to check before applying for ESL jobs abroad. Confirm visa, work-permit and salary rules with the embassy or official programme before you act. Teaching on a tourist or visa‑exempt entry is illegal in most countries and can lead to deportation or fines; always verify with official authorities.
- Quick summary / Who this guide is for
- What qualifications employers and programmes ask for
- Key visas & work‑permits by major destination
- Salaries, benefits & typical contracts (how to read them)
- How to find jobs (trusted routes and red flags)
- Online teaching — rules and limits
- Choosing the right TEFL/CELTA/Course — checklist
- Country mini‑guides
- Practical checklist before you sign a contract
- FAQs
- Further reading & official sources
- Legal / disclaimer block
Quick summary / Who this guide is for
This guide is for adults considering teaching English abroad: recent graduates, career changers, and experienced teachers exploring overseas options. It focuses on legal eligibility, common qualifications employers value, where to check official requirements, and how to read contracts and offers.
Before applying, confirm visa and work‑permit requirements with embassies or the official programme. Visa, work‑permit and salary rules change often; confirm with embassy/official programme.
What qualifications employers and programmes ask for
CERTAINTIES from recognised bodies matter when recruiters or ministries set eligibility rules. CELTA and CertTESOL are commonly referenced standards.
CELTA is a Cambridge English qualification that includes at least 120 hours of contact time and supervised teaching practice; the official syllabus specifies a minimum of 120 contact hours and observed practice with assessment. See Cambridge English for details.
Trinity CertTESOL is issued at Level 5 (Ofqual equivalence) and is documented with a TQT around 200 hours and guided hours of at least 130; the Trinity summary also records a requirement for approximately six hours of practice with real learners.
Generic TEFL courses vary widely in scope and rigour. When comparing certificates, prioritise verified course documentation that shows total guided hours and observed teaching practice.
Practical advice when choosing a certificate: prefer programmes that publish a syllabus showing contact hours and assessed teaching practice; check regulatory status where relevant (Ofqual, recognised awarding bodies). A checklist later in this guide summarises exact items to request from course providers.
Key visas & work‑permits by major destination
This section summarises legal status or common permit routes for several destinations. It restricts itself to eligibility categories and points to official programme sites or immigration authorities for full rules and forms.
South Korea: public and private sectors use distinct sponsorships. The EPIK programme and hagwon E‑2 arrangements differ; consult EPIK documentation and the Korean immigration site for exact eligibility and required documents. EPIK publishes a Salary & Benefits page with its terms and updates.
Japan: official programmes such as JET define eligibility separately from private eikaiwa. JET eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree or a formal teacher training certificate in some cases; TEFL/CELTA are not legally required by JET but can be advantageous. See JET official pages for eligibility and timelines.
China: national policy on K‑12 education has constrained foreign tutoring for mainland K‑12 since the policy known as “double reduction”; official English‑language summaries explain the limits on foreign-based private tutors and platforms. For on‑site work permits, consult Chinese immigration and education ministry guidance.
Spain: the Auxiliares de conversación scheme operates under Ministry of Education rules; the programme presents a stipend and defined hours rather than a full teacher salary. Check the Ministerio de Educación pages for application windows and official conditions.
Other jurisdictions: Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE, Taiwan each have distinct authorities (education ministry, immigration or designated programme) that determine whether a degree, licence or specific paperwork is required. Always follow the cited official source for final eligibility details.
Salaries, benefits & typical contracts (how to read them)
Official programme pages sometimes publish gross salary figures and benefit lists. Where a programme states gross pay or specific allowances, reproduce the figure exactly with the source and date. For example, consult EPIK or JET pages when quoting programme pay.
Understand gross versus net: programmes often list gross annual or monthly figures; local tax, social security and mandatory contributions alter net take‑home pay. Employers may offer installation allowances, housing subsidies, flight reimbursements or repatriation clauses; treat these as negotiable contract items that must be written into the contract.
Always request a written contract or offer letter specifying currency, gross amount, what is paid by the employer, which benefits are conditional, and the visa sponsorship procedure. If a salary figure is not published on an official page, mark it as a market indicator rather than a fact.
How to find jobs (trusted routes and red flags)
Trusted routes include official national programmes (JET, EPIK, national auxiliary schemes), accredited university teaching jobs, and recognised recruitment portals run by reputable institutions. Accredited TEFL providers sometimes offer job boards but treat them as channels rather than guarantees.
Red flags to avoid: upfront fees to secure placement, requests to hand over a passport or original documents offsite, employers who insist you start work on a tourist entry, and promises of guaranteed visas without sponsorship paperwork. If an offer uses pressure tactics or asks for payment to obtain a visa, treat it as high risk.
Online teaching — rules and limits (China‑focused note)
Mainland China’s double reduction policy restricts cross‑border provision of K‑12 tuition by foreign entities; platforms and tutors operating online to K‑12 students in mainland China face specific limits. For adult education and non‑K‑12 markets, platform rules and local law evolve rapidly; always verify platform terms and local regulations.
Check the official policy summaries and the platform’s legal statements before accepting online contracts that mention teaching students in mainland China.
Choosing the right TEFL/CELTA/Course — checklist
Concrete checklist to request from any course provider before enrolling:
South Korea
Visa and sponsor categories differ between public programmes and private hagwons. Consult EPIK and Korean immigration pages for document lists and eligibility windows. Use the official EPIK Salary & Benefits page for programme terms and updates (see Further reading).
Japan
JET has a distinct application cycle and eligibility requirements; TEFL certificates are an asset but not a statutory requirement for JET. Refer to JET eligibility and FAQ pages for timelines and required documents.
China (onsite and online)
Online K‑12 teaching to mainland China is affected by the double reduction policy; check the government summary for scope and limits. For on‑site work permits, consult the immigration authority and provincial guidance.
Spain (Auxiliares)
The Auxiliares de conversación scheme is managed by the Ministry of Education; it provides a stipend and specified weekly hours rather than a full teacher salary. Consult Ministerio de Educación pages for application windows and official guidance.
Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE, Taiwan
Each territory uses its education ministry or immigration service to set teacher eligibility and visa categories. Check the relevant official body for up‑to‑date criteria and official application portals.
Practical checklist before you sign a contract
- Request the written contract in the stated currency with gross amount and list of benefits.
- Ask for the employer’s registration/licence to hire foreigners and the visa sponsorship procedure.
- Clarify who pays for initial travel, installation allowance, housing or housing subsidy, and repatriation clauses.
- Confirm tax and social security obligations in writing or with a local tax authority.
- Do not begin work on a tourist entry; verify the correct visa type and processing timeline.
Do I need a TEFL?
It depends on the employer and country. Official programmes may accept a bachelor degree without TEFL, while many private schools prefer or require a recognised certificate such as CELTA or CertTESOL. See the course pages listed below for certificate details.
Can I teach on a tourist visa?
No. Teaching on a tourist or visa‑exempt entry is illegal in most countries and can result in deportation or fines. Confirm permitted activities with the embassy or immigration authority.
Is CELTA necessary?
CELTA is widely recognised and specifies at least 120 contact hours and supervised teaching practice. It is often preferred for certain posts and can improve employability, but some official programmes accept other credentials or rely on degree requirements.
Legal note
This page is informational only. Confirm visa, work‑permit and salary rules with embassies, immigration authorities, or official programme pages before acting. Teaching on a tourist or visa‑exempt entry is illegal in most countries; check the relevant authority for penalties and compliance requirements.
What we could not establish
Do not assume the following items without primary official confirmation:
- Any private salary figures for hagwons, eikaiwa or private Gulf contracts not published by an official programme or government page.
- Whether Vietnam has a universal statutory TEFL requirement under any post‑2025 decree without a confirmed government text.
- Definitive net salary figures for Hong Kong in 2026 absent an official table confirming conversions and rates.
- Any claim of guaranteed placement, verified teacher networks, or similar labels without a published methodology and a functioning verification module.
- Any data from an internal DATA‑BANK absent from the public dossier; those figures are not included here.
Keep reading in this section
Sam Reyes
Sam taught English in South Korea for six years, first with EPIK in a public middle school, then at a Seoul hagwon. He now writes about hiring seasons, visa paperwork and what public and…
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