TEFL jobs online and abroad
Find TEFL jobs that actually fit your qualifications.
Teaching English abroad and teaching online are two very different job markets. Start with the kind of work you want, then check the degree, visa and TEFL requirements before you spend money or apply.
This page brings together online teaching companies, regional guides, recruiters and job boards, and keeps the qualification side clear.
Which route sounds like you?
Pick one to jump to the right place.
I want to teach online →Compare 40 online teaching companies, with and without a degree. I want to teach abroad →Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and Europe. I don't have a degree →The countries and platforms where it can still work. I know where I want to go →Recruiters and job boards by country.TEFL jobs abroad by region
Choose the market before you choose the job.
Each region has its own pay, visa rules and degree expectations. Guides are general and rules change, so always check the current requirements.
High demand · strong savings
Asia
China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and Thailand are some of the biggest TEFL markets. Formal work visas often need a degree, and pay and benefits vary a lot by country.
Higher pay · higher entry bar
The Middle East
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman can offer strong salary and benefits packages, but degree, experience and document requirements are usually stricter.
Lifestyle first · more flexible
Latin America
Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina suit teachers who put culture and lifestyle ahead of savings. Many jobs are local hires and some don't need a degree.
Varied markets · growing demand
Africa
Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana and other markets have language-school, private-school and volunteer roles. Degree expectations and pay vary widely.
Competitive · great lifestyle
Europe
Spain, Italy, Czechia, Poland and others are popular, but your right to work, citizenship and local hiring rules can matter as much as your TEFL.
Teach from anywhere
Online
If you don't want to move, compare 40 online teaching companies and marketplaces, from flexible no-degree platforms to specialist employers.
TEFL jobs with or without a degree
A degree changes how many doors are open.
If you have a degree
You can apply for far more formal work-visa routes, especially in the big Asian and Middle Eastern markets. A 120-hour TEFL is then usually the teaching qualification employers ask for on top.
Degree rules come from employers or immigration law, not from TEFL course providers.
If you don't have a degree
You still have options. Online platforms are especially useful, and some countries are more flexible than others. Don't trust lists that say a country needs “no degree” without checking the current legal work route.
The safest approach: find real jobs you qualify for first, then get the training they ask for.
Before you apply for a TEFL job
Six things to check on every job.
- 1
Legal work status
Can the employer actually sponsor the visa or work permit your nationality needs?
- 2
Degree requirement
Is the degree required by the employer, by the visa, or by both?
- 3
TEFL requirement
Does the advert ask for a 120-hour TEFL, Level 5, CELTA or another named qualification?
- 4
Real pay after costs
Compare the salary with rent, tax, unpaid prep, transport, commission and the local cost of living.
- 5
Contract conditions
Check teaching hours, office hours, probation, cancellation rules, notice period and deductions.
- 6
Document legalisation
Your degree, police check and TEFL certificate may each need a different apostille or authentication route.
TEFL recruiters and job boards
Where to look, and how to apply.
We link to trusted recruiters and job boards rather than posting vacancies that go out of date in days. Check each one yourself before you apply.
Good for international schools, recruiters and larger language companies. Check who posted the job.
Legitimate recruiters are paid by the employer. Be careful with upfront placement fees, vague visa promises, unusually high salaries with no detail, or pressure to send personal documents before you've checked the company.
Job resources for StudyTEFL students
Current vacancies live inside your course.
Public job pages go out of date fast. So instead of filling this page with vacancies that disappear in days, StudyTEFL students get a regularly updated jobs resource inside the course, with hand-picked openings and links to apply.
Everyone else can use this page and our regional guides to work out where to teach, what employers ask for and which recruiters are worth checking.
Cheap TEFL certification for TEFL jobs
Accredited TEFL, from $39.
Made by teachers and supported by teachers. Fully online, with no essays: you're assessed through quizzes and scenario-based tasks instead. Every course includes a QR-verifiable digital certificate.
120-Hour TEFL-TESOL
The standard most TEFL job adverts ask for, with real classroom video and tutor support.
- 24 core units
- Six complete ESL lessons
- 15+ teaching scenarios
- 12 months of access
- QR-verifiable certificate
168-Hour TEFL-TESOL
Adds 48 hours on young learners and adults, the classes most new teachers abroad start with.
- Everything in the 120-hour course
- 40 hours on young learners
- 8 hours on adults
- Tutor support
Want practical experience? Every course already includes practical tasks with tutor-made feedback. For individual tutor feedback on lesson plans and demo lessons you create yourself, add Demo Lessons to any course for $30. How Demo Lessons work → · Is StudyTEFL legit?
TEFL jobs FAQs
Short answers before you apply.
Do I need a degree for TEFL jobs?+
Do I need a 120-hour TEFL certificate?+
Can I teach English online instead?+
Which countries are easiest for new TEFL teachers?+
Can I get a TEFL job without experience?+
Does StudyTEFL place teachers in jobs?+
Should I apostille my certificate before applying?+
Are the salaries on job pages guaranteed?+
Find the job first
Then get the TEFL the job asks for.
If your target jobs ask for a standard 120-hour TEFL, ours is accredited, self-paced and $39, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.