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Thailand work permit, teaching licence and TEFL certification
If you're planning to teach English in Thailand, your TEFL certificate needs to tick a specific set of boxes: a minimum number of training hours, and documents your school can use to apply for your work permit and teaching licence. A StudyTEFL 120-hour certificate is built to meet the hours side of that.
Why a StudyTEFL certificate works for Thailand
Thai schools typically look for a TEFL or TESOL certificate of at least 120 hours, alongside a bachelor's degree and a clean background check. A StudyTEFL 120-hour certificate meets the hours requirement most schools ask for.
There's also a change on the way worth knowing about. Thailand has agreed to join the Hague Apostille Convention, but it isn't in force yet: Thailand deposited its accession on 30 June 2026, and the Convention is due to take effect on 28 February 2027. Until then, documents still need the traditional legalisation route rather than a simple apostille, which takes a little longer to arrange.
Unlike some destinations, teaching legally in Thailand needs two separate approvals: a work permit and a professional teaching licence (or a temporary licence waiver) from the Teachers Council of Thailand. Both are your employer's responsibility to arrange, so if a school can't provide a work permit, don't take the job.
Thailand work permit and teaching licence requirements at a glance
Most foreign English teachers applying for a work permit and teaching licence will be asked to provide the following.
Requirements can vary between government schools, private schools, international schools and language centres, and between provinces. Your employer's HR team will usually know exactly what's currently expected, so it's worth asking them directly once you have an offer in hand.
Choose your StudyTEFL route
All three routes below are 120 hours or more, meet the common work permit and teaching licence hour requirement, and include tutor support and a QR-verifiable certificate. The $39 Complete course is where most applicants start.
120-Hour Complete TEFL
Our main route, and the one most work permit and teaching licence applicants choose: the fuller 120-hour course with real classroom video and tutor support.
168-Hour Specialist TEFL
Everything in Complete TEFL, plus 40 hours on teaching young learners and 8 hours on teaching adults, useful if you may teach younger students.
120-Hour Practical TEFL
Everything in Complete TEFL, plus two assessed lesson plans and two recorded demo lessons with feedback from a real teacher.
Looking for the leanest option instead? The $29 Online Teacher TEFL also covers 120 hours, though it's built mainly for online teaching rather than in-person classroom work, so most work permit and teaching licence applicants choose Complete TEFL or above.
How to get a Thailand work permit and teaching licence
Find and accept a position with a government school, private school, international school, language centre or Mini English Programme (MEP) in Thailand. Only licensed employers can support a work permit application, so check this before signing anything.
With documents from your school, apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa at a Thai embassy or consulate before you travel. This is what allows you to enter Thailand for the purpose of work.
Your degree, transcripts, TEFL certificate and police check need notarisation and legalisation for use in Thailand before your school can use them.
Once you've arrived, your school submits your work permit application to the Ministry of Labour on your behalf.
Your school helps you apply to the Teachers Council of Thailand for a professional teaching licence, or a temporary licence waiver if you don't hold an education degree.
Getting your StudyTEFL certificate ready for Thailand
Once you've completed your StudyTEFL course and downloaded your certificate, the next step is having it properly notarised and legalised so your school can use it for your work permit and teaching licence applications.
Thailand's accession to the Hague Apostille Convention is not in force until 28 February 2027. Until then, the standard route is notarisation, followed by UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office authentication, then legalisation by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate. Costs and turnaround differ from our other destination guides because of this extra step, so it's worth getting a quote from a legalisation specialist, such as Apostille.org.uk, before you budget for it.
A short travel guide for new teachers in Thailand
Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the most popular cities, with the widest choice of schools and the biggest expat communities. Many first jobs are in smaller provincial towns, which often offer a lower cost of living, a slower pace and a more immersive experience.
The Thai school year runs from May to March, so most contracts start around May, with a smaller intake in October or November. Arriving a couple of weeks early gives you room to settle in and sort your visa and work permit paperwork.
LINE is Thailand's dominant messaging app, and most schools will contact you through it. Grab covers rides and food delivery. Google Maps generally works well. A local SIM card is usually easy to set up in your first week.
Salaries in Thailand are generally lower than in Korea or China, but so is the cost of living. If a school can't provide a work permit, treat that as a serious warning sign, not a minor inconvenience. Your school usually arranges your teaching licence or waiver on your behalf, so you don't need to sort this yourself before you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
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