What do you need to teach English abroad? A comprehensive checklist

Moving abroad to teach English. There’s got to be so much to it, right? A million forms to fill in, visas to acquire, customs to read up on, qualifications to bag?

Well, it doesn’t actually have to be difficult. In this blog post, we’re going to look at everything you need to teach English abroad. If it can fit into a blog post, then is it really that much? Is it such an insurmountable task, something you could never dream of doing?

No! Of course it isn’t. So without much further ado, here’s your comprehensive checklist for teaching English abroad.

TEFL Certification

You want to teach English abroad ? Great. You’ll need a TEFL certificate for that. The industry standard certification is 120 hours . With 120 hours, you should be able to develop a fine understanding of teaching methodologies, approaches and motivations. Though qualifications like the CELTA were amongst the only available TEFL qualifications in the past, you can now get high-quality 120 hour courses online through providers like us.

If you’re looking for something extra, you might want to consider a Level 5 Diploma. These are particularly useful if you don’t have a degree, and you have more time to study for a TEFL course. Alternatively, you can top up your 120-hour certificate with advanced TEFL study, specialising in areas like Business English or Teaching Young Learners . 

To put it simply, you need high quality TEFL certification from an accredited provider to make any real inroads in today’s TEFL job market. Talking of jobs…

Employment

There are two schools of thought when it comes to moving abroad for TEFL work. There’s one school that likes to have everything prepared in advance, with an offer of employment firmly in hand and everything sorted before leaving. Then, there are the anarchists amongst you, who’ll fly over to anywhere and hope to land a job as soon as the wheels of their plane hit the runway tarmac.

We’re not saying either approach is wrong as such, but it’s significantly easier if you’re a member of that first camp. In certain countries, especially in Asia, you’ll need a job offer to even be considered for a visa. If you haven’t found work in advance, you’ll need to take print-outs of your TEFL CV , as well as a list of addresses to drop off those resumés. 

Again, if you haven’t got a job sorted out in advance, take some smart clothes with you so you can make a lasting positive impression when you’re dropping off CVs. In fact, take them with you either way - looking smart for your first and subsequent lessons is never a bad idea.

Visa

Now, we come to the sexiest and most appealing part of moving abroad - sorting out a visa!

Look; nobody likes this bit. The vast majority of the time, though, it’s an integral step towards achieving your TEFL dreams. If you’re moving to an EU nation, and are from another EU nation, you won’t need to worry . Otherwise, it’s very important you have the right visa.

Embassies will become your best friend, as will a half-decent search engine. Don’t be caught out; find out what kind of visa you need before heading off, apply for it well in advance, and make sure you have it before you go. Equally, don’t cut corners - if you’re not going to be a student somewhere, for example, don’t try to get a student visa. It’s common sense.

Accommodation

Now, call us old-fashioned if you like, but if you ask us, you’ll need somewhere to live. 

Accommodation is a major part of the TEFL experience. In some cases, an apartment (or at least a room) will be provided by your employer. This is quite common in countries like South Korea , but if it’s not provided by your employer, then you’ll need to find something yourself.

That doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Make sure you’re au fait with renting laws in whichever country you travel to, and do some research on what’s considered reasonable rent before heading out. There’s no point paying too much.

Remember to set up rent payments, and consider some important factors before committing to anything. For example, is the area you’re wanting to rent in safe? Does it have decent local amenities? Is it close to where you work? Is that commute safe and do-able?

As for the room or apartment itself, does it need significant repairs done, or is it in good condition? Is it furnished, or do you need to buy furniture? There’s a lot to consider but once you make it your home, it’s yours to enjoy!

Criminal background check

It’s easier than ever nowadays to provide a criminal record - or, more specifically, a lack thereof. Depending on where you’re going, you can get this notarised and can use it as part of your visa application, job application, customs, or wherever else you may need to use it.

It's as easy as getting in touch with your local law enforcement or embassy. In some cases, you’ll need to pay a small fee for the documentation, but once you have it, it’s yours to use. Typically, it’s harder for people with criminal records to find work as a TEFL teacher. 

Health tests 

Your health is important. Not just to you, but to the country you’re travelling to, and the people you’re going to work with.

Each country has different requirements, something made abundantly clear during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even in normal times, though, governments of various countries have regulations about health and well-being.

Depending where you go, you may need vaccinations. Consult your local practitioner for information on this, as well as actually organising this treatment. 

Even in 2023, there are countries which will ask newcomers to declare mental illness, and in some cases, visas can be denied on this basis . Similarly, some physical illnesses may bar you from entering certain locations.

Health insurance

To our knowledge, nobody has ever regretted taking out health insurance. It’s great if you don’t need it, and it’s even better if you do. In a lot of cases, though, it’s also mandatory. There are several big, international health insurance providers, and we recommend doing your requisite research before you apply for TEFL jobs abroad.

A lot of the time, it will be inexpensive, but you’ll be covered in the event of a medical emergency or the development of a health condition. We really do recommend prioritising health insurance!

Finances

Our first tip: save before you move. Travelling and especially moving comes with all sorts of costs that you might not have thought about. If you can save before making a life-altering change, then… you know, do.

As for when you’re abroad? You can set up a local account eventually, but at first, the best plan is to have a bank account with a provider that doesn’t charge for international purchases, or interest on exchanges. Banks like Monzo , Starling , Revolut and others are very popular for this reason.

Finally, and we can’t stress this enough, check the cost of living and typical salary for TEFL teachers before you move. We have TEFL country guides where you can find this information, while the likes of Numbeo provide up-to-date cost-of-living data.

Flights

Airports, and flying in general, can be stressful. The best action for this isn’t reaction, but planning ahead.

What do we mean by this? Well, before you head out, get everything you can printed out physically. Your visa, a scan of your passport, your boarding passes (if you can), your criminal record - all of it. It’s so much better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

If you can’t print things off en masse, then make sure you have a phone charger with you. By that we mean a traditional charging cable and plug, but also an on-the-go rechargeable battery that you can use while you’re travelling.

When you’re booking your flights, remember: give yourself time. Nobody wants a 10-hour layover half the world away from their destination, but nobody wants a 15-minute gate-to-gate sprint, either. 

Finally, and we’ll expand on this, pack light. If you can avoid carrying an immense amount of luggage, then do it.

Belongings 

We said we’d get to packing and here we are. You can pick your method, whether it’s Marie Kondo , Swedish Death Cleaning or some other practice, but chances are you’re going to have a big clear-out before you move abroad to teach. 

That’s a good thing. When you pack for your move, ask yourself “Do I really need this?”. If not, discard. The more you bring with you, the more hassle it is.

International shipping can be hugely expensive. If you think you need to move furniture across oceans, or your collection of Beanie Babies/football shirts/both, you probably don’t. If you absolutely have to have something shipped, our best advice is to book that way ahead of time, so you can save a bit of money.

Asking your friends and family to keep things for you is fine, too. If you’re only moving away for a little while, consider using a local storage facility.

Documents 

Here is a list of documents you should move with, in no particular order:

• Passports
• Birth and marriage certificate
• Proof of citizenship
• Vaccination, medical, and dental records
• Driving licence
• Insurance policies
• Academic records and diplomas
• Employment records
• Proof of residence and/or your new job
• Living will and testament

Customs and laws

When you move somewhere new, you don’t necessarily need a full, academic understanding of their laws. You’re unlikely to go from TEFL teacher to legal representative straight away. That said, having an understanding of distinct laws and customs in a country is hugely important.

Where are you moving to? Depending which region, country, or even area within a country you go to teach, you might find there are very different interpretations and practices of law. If you’re a victim of crime, it helps to know what kind of legal protections you have, for example. We hate to bring it up, but it’s true.

When it comes to what we mean about laws and customs, the LGBTQ+ community are a perfect example. There are countries where it’s unsafe to be a TEFL teacher who’s a member of the LGBTQ+ community. We wrote a blog post on safe countries for LGBTQ+ teachers for Pride, and we also recommend this comprehensive guide to LGBTQ+ legislation around the world . 

There are also countries where voting in elections is mandatory. So, you’ll need to find out about the electoral roll, eligibility and what your responsibilities are, if any. In short, law matters, and it’s much better to have an understanding of it than not.

Bits and pieces

Finally, we come to the parts that are important, but tricky to categorise. So, here goes: our “bits and pieces for teaching English abroad” section:

• Adaptors : You will need electricity. This is just factual. Laptops, phones, whatever - make sure you’ve got adaptors for whatever country you’re going to.
• Downloaded/physical maps: You can download maps nowadays, if you’re a savvy phone user. In a pinch, though, it’s always worthwhile getting a map of where you’re going to be living and working.
• Bug spray/first aid kit: Mosquitos and the like don’t tend to discriminate. They don’t really care if it’s your first week in a new country and you can’t really get stung right now: carry bug spray or wear repellent. While we’re here, a small first aid kit is never a bad idea. Again: better to have it and not need it.
• Be contactable : Before you head out, see what the mobile phone situation is like. Some phone companies will have affiliate providers in other nations. Or, you might have to get a new phone contract. Whatever the case is, do the research beforehand.
• Spare electronics : If it’s vital, get a spare. 

Are you ready?

We know, it sounds like a lot of work. A lot of things to do, boxes to tick. Trust us, though, it’s not so bad if you put your planning into bitesize chunks. You’ll be amazed at what you’re able to achieve in one afternoon, while you’re setting up what might be the move of a lifetime.

Whether you’re off to Japan to be a JET Program whizz, you’re moving to Spain to see all the amazing festivals , Cambodia , Vietnam or anywhere, make sure you’ve got everything prepared. It’s so much less of a headache if something goes wrong at home.

Once you’re done prepping, the adventure can begin. What better career could there be?

Your TEFL adventure starts with a brilliant, highly acclaimed and properly accredited TEFL course . Start your journey today!