This guide compares countries where anglophone speakers commonly teach English abroad and lists practical selection criteria; sources were checked on 27/09/2026 — verify visa and contract details with the official programme or embassy before committing.
Criteria used for the ranking
The ranking rests on explicit, verifiable criteria chosen to reflect legal safety and realistic hiring channels. Each criterion is explained so readers can weight them against personal priorities.
Visa / work permit ease — countries with clear official programmes and published rules reduce legal risk. Where an official programme exists, its website or government decree is cited for the entry.
Salary / stipend / official programme pay — only official figures from programme pages or government documents are considered. If no official number exists for a cell of the table or entry, the text states that the number is not established and points to the sources section.
Employer demand / hiring channels — presence of large, established schemes (for example EPIK, JET, Auxiliares) or widespread private hiring channels. Official programme pages or FAQs are used to characterise demand.
Qualification requirements — whether a bachelor’s degree, CELTA/CertTESOL, or other recognised credential is required by official programmes. Where qualification rules are given by a programme or recognised awarding body, the entry cites that source (examples: JET FAQ, EPIK pages, Cambridge CELTA documentation, Trinity CertTESOL pages).
Living conditions & benefits — official listing of benefits such as housing support or medical insurance when published by the programme. If no official benefit list exists, this is flagged in the country entry.
Legal risk of teaching on a tourist visa — entries explicitly warn where local law or decree governs foreign work and where teaching without a work permit is a significant legal risk; official decrees or programme rules are cited when available.
Methodology note — the ranking combines the criteria above qualitatively. No invented numeric score or unsourced percentage is used. The order is editorial, based on the relative strength of official programmes, documented pay where available, and legal clarity.
South Korea
Who it’s for: teachers seeking structured public programmes or school placements via official channels.
What distinguishes itestablished national hiring routes for foreign English teachers, notably EPIK; EPIK publishes a Salary & Benefits page (consulted 27/09/2026).
Visa / legal status summarynational programmes like EPIK operate with documented visa/permit guidance on their official pages; check EPIK for details (see sources).
Salary / stipend / official programme payofficial EPIK Salary & Benefits page cited (see sources); numbers must be read on the programme page with its date.
Qualification requirementsprogrammes generally require a bachelor’s degree; specific TEFL requirements vary by employer — consult EPIK and individual contracts.
Main limitations / honest downsidesprivate-sector conditions (hagwons) vary widely and lack a single official scale — private pay figures are not universally established.
Quick action advicecheck the EPIK Salary & Benefits page (EPIK official site, consulted 27/09/2026).
Sourcesepik.go.kr — checked on 27/09/2026.
Japan
Who it’s for: candidates looking for formal government routes or private language school work with clear eligibility rules.
What distinguishes itthe JET Programme remains a large, documented channel with published FAQ on eligibility and remuneration bands.
Visa / legal status summaryJET FAQ lists the requirement of a bachelor’s degree and notes that TEFL is not universally required by JET; consult the JET FAQ for visa and employment details.
Salary / stipend / official programme payJET Programme FAQ includes remuneration bands (see sources); local private-sector pay varies and is not universally sourced here.
Qualification requirementsbachelor’s degree required for JET; TEFL/other certificates optional based on employer — see JET FAQ.
Main limitations / honest downsidesprivate-sector conditions differ by employer; official programme rules do not cover every private eikaiwa employer.
Quick action advicereview the JET Programme FAQ for current remuneration and eligibility (consulted 27/09/2026).
Sourcesjetprogramme.org — checked on 27/09/2026.
Spain
Who it’s for: university students and recent graduates seeking a stipended classroom assistant experience.
What distinguishes itthe Auxiliares de conversación programme is an official pathway with convocatoria and guidance for foreigners.
Visa / legal status summaryofficial programme pages and convocatoria outline eligibility and administrative steps; consult Acción Educativa Exterior guidance.
Salary / stipend / official programme paythe programme documentation and convocatoria include stipend-related information; read the official pages for exact numbers and conditions (consulted 27/09/2026).
Qualification requirementsprogramme pages describe eligibility for foreign assistants; consult the official guide for precise conditions.
Main limitations / honest downsidesthe programme is a stipend arrangement (often described as ayuda/estipendio) rather than a salaried teaching contract; private-sector school pay is not universally sourced here.
Quick action adviceconsult the Acción Educativa Exterior programme pages and the convocatoria (consulted 27/09/2026).
Sourcesaee.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es — checked on 27/09/2026; aee.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es — checked on 27/09/2026.
Vietnam
Who it’s for: teachers who prioritise explicit legal frameworks and want to verify permit rules before applying.
What distinguishes itrecent legislative change affecting foreign work permits is documented in an official decree (Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, in force 07/08/2025).
Visa / legal status summarythe government decree governs work permits for foreign workers; consult the official decree and its English summary provided by government channels.
Salary / stipend / official programme payno universal official national pay scale for foreign teachers is provided in the listed decree — commercial figures are contradictory; do not assume a single national rate.
Qualification requirementswhether TEFL is legally required across all establishments after the decree is not established in the official sources here; avoid asserting a country-wide TEFL legal obligation without a primary source.
Main limitations / honest downsidesregulatory changes may alter hiring practices; verify with the ministry and employers before accepting work.
Quick action adviceconsult Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP and its English summary (consulted 27/09/2026).
Sourceschinhphu.vn — checked on 27/09/2026; en.baochinhphu.vn — checked on 27/09/2026.
China
Who it’s for: applicants prepared to verify provincial rules and to use official immigration and provincial education bureau pages.
What distinguishes ithiring and age/practice rules vary by province; national practice has shifted in recent years for K-12 and online teaching, but definitive, uniform national figures for private pay or age caps are not established in the sources listed here.
Visa / legal status summarywork permit rules are administrative and can be province-specific; verify with the local municipal education bureau or embassy.
Qualification requirementsnational and provincial authorities differ; do not assume one rule nationwide without a current official source.
Main limitations / honest downsidesprovincial variation and policy shifts (for example in K-12 restrictions) create uncertainty; consult official local sources before accepting roles.
Quick action advicecheck the relevant provincial education bureau or embassy for up-to-date permit and age rules.
Sources:
Hong Kong
Who it’s for: qualified teachers aiming for public school or NET scheme placements and those who can verify remuneration via the Education Bureau.
What distinguishes itthe NET scheme and EDB-regulated appointments have distinct pay structures administered by the Education Bureau and local employers; exact net pay figures for 2026 require EDB/paie official confirmation.
Visa / legal status summaryformal work permits and teacher appointment procedures are governed by local authorities — consult the Education Bureau pages for exact details.
Salary / stipend / official programme payprecise NET net-pay figures for 2026 and MPS conversions are not established in the sources provided here; verify on EDB official pages before acting.
Qualification requirementsEDB appointment rules and NET scheme criteria are the primary reference for eligibility.
Main limitations / honest downsidespay conversions and net take-home amounts vary with allowances and taxation; confirm with EDB or employer documentation.
Quick action adviceconsult the Education Bureau (EDB) for current remuneration and appointment conditions.
Sourcesno EDB URL were found in the sources we checked; consult EDB official pages and list the consultation date when checking.
Quick comparison table
South Korea
Best forPublic programme applicants
Visa / permit (short)Official programmes (see EPIK page)
Qualification requiredBachelor’s degree for JET; private employers vary
Main limitPrivate-sector variation; programme pays documented but private pay differs
Spain
Best forStudents and assistants
Visa / permit (short)Auxiliares programme — official convocatoria
Pay (currency + source/date)Programme stipend details in convocatoria — checked on 27/09/2026
Qualification requiredProgramme eligibility as per official guide
Main limitStipend (ayuda) rather than salaried contract in many cases
Vietnam
Best forApplicants checking legal permits
Visa / permit (short)Governed by Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP
Pay (currency + source/date)— not established (see sources)
Qualification requiredLocal rules vary; TEFL legal obligation not established in listed sources
Main limitRegulatory changes; verify with ministry
China
Best forTeachers tolerant of provincial variation
Visa / permit (short)Province-specific work permits
Pay (currency + source/date)— not established (see sources)
Qualification requiredVaries by province and employer
Main limitProvincial rules and policy shifts; check local bureau
Hong Kong
Best forNET scheme and public school applicants
Visa / permit (short)Local appointment rules via EDB
Pay (currency + source/date)— not established (see sources)
Qualification requiredEDB appointment criteria
Main limitNet pay conversions require EDB/employer confirmation
UAE / Gulf
Best forExperienced teachers for licensed private schools
Visa / permit (short)Licensing and work permits managed by local authorities
Pay (currency + source/date)— not established (see sources)
Qualification requiredLicensing and employer requirements vary
Main limitPrivate-sector rules differ by emirate/country; verify with local authority
How to choose — short checklist
Practical checklist before committing:
Verify the employer and job offer against an official programme page or the embassy/immigration authority; note the consultation date of the source (27/09/2026 for sources cited here).
Do not teach on a tourist visa; obtain a work permit or the programme’s documented authorisation before starting paid instruction.
Ask for a written contract with clear salary, benefits and visa sponsorship terms; confirm details with the programme or ministry website cited in the entry.
Check qualification rules on the awarding body or programme pages (examples: Cambridge CELTA pages, Trinity CertTESOL pages, JET FAQ, EPIK site).
Ex-ESL teacher, South Korea (2016-2022) — EPIK, hagwons & Asia visas
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…
Answer a few quick questions (goal, country, TEFL status) and we point you to a fit — using the same sourced country data as this page, checked 2026-09-27.
Get matched
Before you go
Not sure which TEFL course is worth the money?
Compare accredited 120h+ courses, not marketing pages
See which countries actually require it — and which don't
Get matched with a course that fits your budget and timeline
We use a first-party contact form to log requests you submit. See our privacy policy.
