Teaching Abroad Country Chart
Teaching Abroad Country Chart
Teaching Abroad Country Chart
The job market for English teachers in East and Southeast Asia is the largest
in the world. Most of these nations are highly industrialized and economically
strong with large populations, enormous middle classes and an extremely
high demand for education. This combination has created the strongest
outward recruitment market in the world and hundreds of thousands of jobs
paying wages that far exceed the cost of living. The job markets for teaching both adults and
young learners (children and adolescents) are both strong as native English speakers are
commonly recruited to teach in public schools and many children attend English language
school after their public school day finishes. The hiring seasons in language schools run year
round due to the high demand for teachers. Public school jobs begin in March & September,
and interviews for such jobs are typically conducted 3-6 months in advance.
In most cases, English teachers can expect to save 30-50% of their salary, though exact
amounts will vary based on exchange rates and other factors. With such high competition for
quality teachers, schools charge a considerable amount to their students and provide teachers
with such benefits as free airfare, housing allowances, medical insurance, paid vacation and a
completion bonus. Schools in most Asian countries will also recruit teachers from their home
country by phone in advance of the contract start date.
Country
Degree
Requirement
Typical
Contract
Length
Peak Hiring
Seasons
Expected
Down Times
Interview
Procedures
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in $ USD
& Local Currency
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Estimated
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Cambodia
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
All Year
Round
Lunar
(Chinese New
Year)
2 weeks late
Jan-early Feb
Face-to-face in
Cambodia
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
China
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 &12
months
All Year
Round
Lunar
(Chinese New
Year)
2 weeks late
Jan-early Feb
Phone/skype
in advance &
face-to-face in
China
Work visa in
advance or
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Free
Housing or
Housing
Subsidy
Yes
Hong
Kong
BA/BS
required
12
months
All Year
Round
Lunar
(Chinese New
Year)
2 weeks late
Jan-early Feb
Phone/skype
in advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Sometimes
Country
Degree
Requirement
Indonesia
BA/BS
required
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Phone/skype in
advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Sometimes
Lunar
(Chinese New
Year)
2 weeks late
Jan-early Feb
Phone/skype in
advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
All Year
Round
None
Interview in US,
Canada, UK 3 6 months in
advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Some free
housing or
housing
subsidy
No
All Year
Round
Lunar
(Chinese New
Year)
2 weeks late
Jan-early Feb
Phone/skype in
advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Free
Housing or
Housing
Subsidy
Some round
trip, most
one way
12
months
All Year
Round
Islamic
Holidays
All Year
Round
Japan
BA/BS
required
12
months
South
Korea
Estimated
Start-up Costs*
Interview
Procedures
BA/BS
required
BA/BS
required
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Expected
Down Times
Malaysia
BA/BS
required
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in $ USD
& Local Currency
Peak Hiring
Seasons
12
months
Singapore
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Typical
Contract
Length
12
months
Phone/skype in
advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Lunar
(Chinese New
Year)
2 weeks late
Jan-early Feb
Phone/skype in
advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
All Year
Round
None
Most face-toface in
Thailand; Some
phone/skype in
advance
Work visa in
advance or in
country
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
All Year
Round
Tet Holiday
2 weeks late
Jan-early Feb
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa or
work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
12
months
All Year
Round
BA/BS
required,
some AA
accepted
12
months
All Year
Round
Thailand
BA/BS
required
6 &12
months
Vietnam
BA/BS
required
12
months
Taiwan
None
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in USD
& Local Currency
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Approximate
Start-up Costs*
Face-to-face in
Argentina
Tourist visa
Business
Professionals
ChristmasEnd of
January
Face-to-face in
Bolivia
Tourist visa
Business
Professionals
ChristmasEnd of
January
Tourist visa
Business
Professionals
Country
Degree
Requirement
Typical
Contract
Length
Peak Hiring
Season
Expected
Down Times
Interview
Procedures
Argentina
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
ChristmasEnd of
January
Bolivia
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
Brazil
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
Housing
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Reimbursed
Airfare
No
No
No
Country
Degree
Requirement
Typical
Contract
Length
Peak Hiring
Seasons
Expected
Down Times
Interview
Procedures
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in $ USD
& Local Currency
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Estimated
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Chile
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
ChristmasEnd of
January
Tourist visa
or work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children with
Public
Schools
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Colombia
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Jan-Mar,
July-Aug
ChristmasEnd of
January
Face-to-face in
Colombia or
Phone/skype in
advance
Tourist visa
or work visa
Children or
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Costa Rica
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Christmasnd
2 week in
January
Early July
for 2 weeks
Face-to-face in
Costa Rica
Tourist visa,
Independent
Contractor
License
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Ecuador
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
ChristmasEnd of
January
Phone/skype in
advance, or
face-to-face in
Ecuador
Work visa
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Mexico
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
All Year
Round
ChristmasEnd of
January
Work visa
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Nicaragua
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
3, 6 & 12
months
All Year
Round
ChristmasMid January
Face-to-face in
Nicaragua
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Panama
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
ChristmasEnd of
January
Face-to-face in
Panama
No
Peru
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
3, 6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
ChristmasEnd of
January
Face-to-face in
Peru
Uruguay
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug
ChristmasEnd of
January
Face-to-face in
Uruguay
DecJan,
June-July
Tourist visa
Tourist visa
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Tourist visa
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Tourist visa
Business
Professionals
$ 1,200 1,400
USD
(29,000 - 34,000
UYU)
$ 1,200 1,400
USD
(29,000 - 34,000
UYU)
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Country
Degree
Requirement
Typical
Contract
Length
Austria
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Belgium
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Bulgaria
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
9 & 12
months
Peak Hiring
Season
Expected
Down Times
Interview
Procedures
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in $ USD
& Local Currency
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Approximate
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Face-to-face in
Austria
Tourist visa,
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Face-to-face in
Belgium
Tourist visa,
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Phone/skype in
advance or
face-to-face in
Bulgaria
Tourist visa,
convert to
work visa or
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Country
Degree
Requirement
Typical
Contract
Length
Croatia
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Czech
Republic
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Expected
Down Times
Interview
Procedures
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in $ USD
& Local Currency
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Face-to-face in
Croatia
Tourist visa,
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals,
Children
Tourist visa,
convert to
contractor
visa or EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals,
Children
Face-to-face in
France
Student visa,
work visa
through
government
program,
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Aug,
nd
Christmas- 2
week in Jan
Face-to-face in
Germany
Tourist visa,
convert to
contractor
visa or EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals,
Children
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Face-to-face in
Greece
EU
Citizenship
Phone/skype in
advance or
Face-to-face in
Hungary
Peak Hiring
Seasons
Aug,
nd
Christmas- 2
week in Jan
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Tourist visa,
convert to
work visa or
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
France
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Germany
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
10 & 12
months
Greece
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Hungary
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Italy
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Sept, Oct
& Jan
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Face-to-face in
Italy
Tourist visa,
student visa,
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Lithuania
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Aug,
Christmas
Face-to-face in
Lithuania
Tourist visa,
student visa,
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Poland
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
9 & 12
months
Sept, Oct
& Jan
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Face-to-face in
Poland
Tourist visa,
convert to
work visa
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Aug,
Christmas- 2nd
week in Jan
Portugal
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Face-to-face in
Portugal
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Estimated
Start-up Costs*
$600 - 1,000USD
(1,550 2,580 LTL)
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Expected
Down Times
Country
Degree
Requirement
Typical
Contract
Length
Romania
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
9 & 12
months
Aug
Russia
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
12
months
All Year
Round
Aug
Slovakia
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
Spain
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
10 & 12
months
Turkey
BA/BS
required
12
months
All Year
Round
Ukraine
BA/BS
required
10 & 12
months
Mostly Sept /
All year
around
Peak Hiring
Seasons
Aug
Aug
Aug
Aug
Interview
Procedures
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in $ USD
& Local Currency
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Estimated
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Most face-toface in
Romania; Some
phone/skype in
advance
Tourist visa,
convert to
work visa or
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Phone/skype in
advance or
face-to-face in
Russia
Work visa
Business
Professionals
Some Free
Housing
No/Some
return flight
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Business
Professionals
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Phone/skype in
advance or
face-to-face in
Slovakia
Face-to-face in
Spain except
government
program in
advance
Tourist visa,
convert to
work visa or
EU
Citizenship
Tourist visa,
student visa,
work visa via
Government
program, EU
Citizenship
Phone/skype in
advance or
face-to-face in
Turkey
Work visa
Business
Professionals
Some free
housing or
housing
subsidy
No
Phone/skype in
advance or
face-to-face in
Ukraine
Tourist visa,
EU
Citizenship
Business
Professionals
Some Free
Housing
No
Degree
Requirement
Typical
Contract
Length
Peak Hiring
Seasons
Bahrain
BA/BS
required/
MA preferred
12
months
All Year
Round/
May Aug
preferred
Egypt
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 & 12
months
All Year
Round/
May Aug
preferred
Israel
BA/BS
required
6 &12
months
All Year
Round
Expected
Down
Times
Interview
Procedures
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Phone/skype
in advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Islamic
Holidays
Face-to-face in
Egypt; Some
phone/skype in
advance
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Jewish
Holidays
Face-to-face in
Israel
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Islamic
Holidays
Estimated
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Free Housing
or
Housing
Subsidy
Yes
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Rarely
$1,000 USD
(3,428 ILS)
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Country
Degree
Requirement
Jordan
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
Typical
Contract
Length
6 & 12
months
Peak Hiring
Seasons
All Year
Round/
May Aug
preferred
Expected
Down
Times
Interview
Procedures
Visa Info
Typical
Students
Average Monthly
Cost of Living in
$ USD
& Local Currency
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency
Estimated
Start-up Costs*
Housing
Reimbursed
Airfare
Islamic
Holidays
Face-to-face in
Jordan; Some
phone/skype in
advance
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
Rarely
Free Housing
or
Housing
Subsidy
Yes
12
months
All Year
Round/
May Aug
preferred
Islamic
Holidays
Phone/skype
in advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 &12
months
All Year
Round
Islamic
Holidays
Face-to-face in
Lebanon
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Morocco
BA/BS
required
6 & 12
months
All Year
Round
Islamic
Holidays
Face-to-face in
Morocco
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Oman
BA/BS
required/
MA preferred
12
months
All Year
Round/
May Aug
preferred
Islamic
Holidays
Phone/skype
in advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Free Housing
or
Housing
Subsidy
Yes
Saudi
Arabia
BA/BS
required/
MA preferred
12
months
All Year
Round/
May Aug
preferred
Islamic
Holidays
Phone/skype
in advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Free Housing
or
Housing
Subsidy
Yes
Syria
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
6 &12
months
All Year
Round
Islamic
Holidays
Face-to-face in
Syria
Tourist visa
convert to
work visa
Business
Professionals,
Children
Self-pay,
Housing
advice
provided by
employer
No
Turkey
BA/BS
required
6 & 12
months
All Year
Round
Aug
Phone/skype
in advance or
face-to-face in
Turkey
Work visa
Business
Professionals
$1,050 - 1,650
USD
(2,250 - 3,530
TRY)
Some Free
Housing or
Housing
Subsidy
No
BA/BS
required/
MA preferred
12
months
All Year
Round
Islamic
Holidays
Phone/skype
in advance
Work visa in
advance
Business
Professionals,
Children
Free Housing
or
Housing
Subsidy
Yes
Kuwait
Lebanon
UAE
(including
Dubai &
Abu Dhabi)
BA/BS
required/
MA preferred
Disclaimer: International TEFL Academy tries to provide the most up to date and accurate information. Work visa requirements vary by citizenship.
This document is based on citizens of the United States. Exchange rates were accurate at time of publication, please consult www.xe.com.
*Startup costs are estimates in a country for housing, food, expenses until first receiving first paycheck 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.
The information is provided only as a guide and not a guarantee. Copyright 2014 by International TEFL Academy Inc.