Teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Though it isn’t the most obvious destination for TEFL teachers, Bosnia and Herzegovina is an alluring option with a low cost of living and plenty to see and do.

TEFL Org is an internationally accredited and market leading TEFL course provider

Most accredited
TEFL course provider

Internationally recognised
TEFL certificate

Over 185,000
teachers trained

80% of graduates
find work within 2 months

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which currently has EU “candidate” status, is an outward-looking, modern republic aspiring to a connected future. Its historic capital, Sarajevo, is a cultural and educational epicentre in south-eastern Europe. Like its Balkan neighbours, especially Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina has become a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty, friendliness, and historic intrigue.

TEFL teachers can find many opportunities to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in state and private language schools. In this article, we’ll tell you about teaching English abroad in this fascinating part of the world, from requirements to salaries and key tips to get you started.

Why teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Knowing just how strong English proficiency is in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be difficult. It isn’t featured on the EF English Proficiency Index, and the exact data on the success of English teaching in Bosnia and Herzegovina is challenging to find.

We know that Bosnianis the official language of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbian and Croatian are also used officially. English, though, is used commonly and is the most popular “foreign” language. In 2016, when Bosnia and Herzegovina was on the English Proficiency Index,it was ranked 26th out of 72 nations. Anecdotally, Bosnians say that English is widely used nationwide, with English-language media proving particularly popular.

Unsurprisingly, given the Balkan conflicts of the 90s and the break-up of Yugoslavia into distinct ethnic and cultural regions, language is highly political in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You’ll find that, when using the “local language”, you’ll see a mixture of Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian used interchangeably.

The high levels of English proficiency, at least by 2016 standards, are fascinating. Geographically, Bosnia and Herzegovina isn’t near any countries where English is the native language. It’s far from northern European countries like Norway and the Netherlands, where English proficiency is exceptionally high. To teach English abroad in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a fascinating challenge - it’s hard to determine just how popular English is. Still, there’s a willing audience and an understanding of the value of English.

Quick Facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina

Country Name: Bosna i Hercegovina/Босна и Херцеговина
Capital: Sarajevo
Official Language: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Population: 3.1 million (Worldometer)
Currency: Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Marka (BAM)

Requirements to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina

You'll need a job offer to gain entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina and teach English abroad. This means there isn’t a standard set of requirements for teaching English there. However, based on job adverts, we can get a useful overall picture of the typical teaching requirements in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

TEFL certification

Completing a TEFL course is necessary to get an English teaching job in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You need an accredited TEFL certificate with at least 120 hours of TEFL training. This is the industry standard for TEFL teaching jobs abroad and online.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a growing tourism sector. If you complete an Advanced TEFL certification course in Business English, you’ll find plenty of great opportunities teaching private students or tutoring corporate clients. Similarly, a certificate in English for Academic Purposes is useful, as plenty of students hope to take English-language courses in universities worldwide.

Education requirements

Employers in Bosnia and Herzegovina often ask for an ISCED level 6 qualification. If this doesn’t look familiar, don’t worry: an ISCED level 6 qualification is an undergraduate degree. The ISCED is being used more frequently in mainland Europe.

You won’t always need a degree, but it’s very common for employers to ask for one. If you have a bachelor’s degree in education, English, or a closely related field, this is a bonus.

Visa and work permit requirements

To get a visa, you’ll need an offer of employment from a school or other educational institution.

You’ll need a long-stay visa to be an English teacher in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This renewable visa lasts six to twelve months, with one, two, or multiple entries. With a long-stay visa, you can eventually apply for a temporary residence permit, which will help you stay longer in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To successfully apply for the long-stay visa,you’ll require:

A valid passport: at least two blank pages and six months of further validity.
Previous visas: if you have any previous visas, you’ll need to submit them.
ID: Valid ID, such as a driver’s license.
Application form: You can download an application form online, print it, sign it and submit it.
Fees: Complete the fee payment when submitting the documents at the embassy or consulate of Bosnia. Payments must be made in cash there.
Photo: Your photo must be passport-size, in colour, and taken within the last six months.
Travel health insurance: Your health insurance must be valid for your stay in Bosnia.
Proof of accommodation. A rental agreement, hotel reservation, letter of invitation from a host, etc.
Letter of invitation: A signed document is required for those moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina to stay with friends or family. This document confirms that you have a place to stay while in Bosnia.
Bank statements: You require at least one bank statement to demonstrate financial stability.
Flight itinerary: Proof of travel intentions.

Language proficiency

Given the variety of languages spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina, English teachers aren't expected to be fluent in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. Of course, it's easier to find teaching jobs if you can speak the local languages, but it's not usually a requirement.

As for English fluency, non-native speakers can find teaching jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but will often require a certificate like a TOEFL or IELTS to prove their credentials. Alternatively, a degree from an English-speaking institution will usually be enough.

Download our teaching English in Europe guide

Salary & cost of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina

How much do teaching jobs pay in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Compared to the rest of Europe, teaching wages in Bosnia and Herzegovina might look low, but it’s important to note that the cost of living is also low – even in major cities like Sarajevo.

A full-time English teaching salary in Bosnia and Herzegovina is typically around BAM 800 - 1,800 per month (£350 - £787 / $466 - $1,048).

Independently-financed institutions like international schools and private schools can pay teachers as much as BAM 7018 (£3,069 / $4,083) per month.

Tip: Taking on private tutoring by teaching English online or finding students locally is a great way to supplement your income.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Bosnia and Herzegovina	800 - 1,800 BAM £350 - £787 GBP $466 - $1,048	Preferred	September	Preferred	Sometimes		None

Cost of living

The cost of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina is low compared to other major European TEFL destinations. A helpful comparison is Prague, a popular tourist destination where English teachers can live and work. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Sarajevo is about 23% lower overall, while renting costs around 62% lower. Restaurants are also significantly cheaper - on average, dining out in Sarajevo is about 23% lower than in Prague.

What costs should you consider if you choose Sarajevo as your new base? Renting a one-bedroom apartment in central Sarajevo costs about £312 / $415, which drops to about £224 / $297 if you go further into the city.

As for monthly bills, utilities (including electricity, water and heating) are usually about £143 / $190, depending on your service providers. Internet access, meanwhile, costs about £24 / $32 on average.

For more information on the cost of living in Sarajevo, consult our table below:

Restaurants	BAM	USD	GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	BAM	USD	GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	BAM	USD	GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	BAM	USD	GBP
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage (for a regular apartment)
Regular prepaid monthly mobile tariff with 10GB+ data
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)
Clothing and shoes	BAM	USD	GBP
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes

Other benefits

Teachers can receive excellent benefits in international and private schools across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Benefits for teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina include annual bonuses, flight reimbursement, medical coverage, visa processing fees and relocation compensation packages.

However, these benefits shouldn't be expected in state schools, private language schools or through tutoring. State teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina can expect a good amount of annual leave, retirement contributions and opportunities for training and advancement.

Types of English teaching jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Across Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is keen interest in English language tutoring, and a range of institutions where it’s possible to find teaching jobs. Here are some of the best routes into teaching English in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Public schools
Private Language schools
International schools
Private tutoring

Public schools

Bosnian schools teach a foreign language from an early age, usually English. At the state school level, teachers must usually have a 120-hour TEFL certificate and an ISCED level 6 qualification (a degree).

English Teaching Assistant (LTA) roles are sometimes available across schools. These roles help students learn English through immersive, interactive lessons. They aren’t paid as well as permanent teaching positions, but are a valuable stepping stone for newer TEFL teachers.

Private language schools

Private language schools are primarily found in bigger cities,like Sarajevo and Banja Luka. They are usually used by adult learners who want to improve their level of English. A TEFL certificate is typically required, and experience is highly valued, though new teachers can find work in these institutions.

You'll be a popular candidate for teaching jobs in private language schools if you can prepare lessons in specific areas, like Business English or English for Academic Purposes.

International schools

With the best salaries, facilities and benefits packages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, international school TEFL jobs are highly sought-after by the most qualified teachers. The issue is that there aren’t many international schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To land a job at a Bosnian international school, you’ll need extensive teaching experience, a master’s degree, a teaching license from your home country, and impeccable timing when applying for the limited number of jobs!

Private tutoring

Once you’ve established yourself in Bosnia and Herzegovina, private tutoring can be a great option to boost your income. Like many countries, you’ll have the most luck finding clients working in business, and students looking for opportunities in English-speaking countries. Additionally, English is used in the school system, so there’ll be plenty of interest even in smaller towns and cities.

How to find teaching opportunities

You need a teaching job before you move to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, the best option is to use online resources to find teaching opportunities rather than apply for in-person jobs.

Check out the TEFL Org Jobs Centre to start with! We regularly update our Jobs Centre with various opportunities across multiple nations and regions, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. (If you take a course from The TEFL Org, you get lifetime access to the Jobs Centre!)

It’s worth trying the likes of Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn and Serious Teachers to broaden your scope. In addition, networking is always a great idea. The best way to do this, apart from joining online groups, is by attending conferences about the English language. For example, the International University of Sarajevo has conferences and workshops about English.

Get started teaching English in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A country steeped in historic intrigue, with Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Balkan influence, Bosnia and Herzegovina is an understated and underrated destination for English teachers with an eye on Europe.

Here are our key takeaways to get started teaching English in this unique part of Southeast Europe:

Salary: The average salary for a TEFL teacher in Bosnia and Herzegovina is about BAM 800 - 1,800 per month (£350 - £787 / $466 - $1,048), though it can rise as high as BAM 7,018 (£3,069 / $4,083) in international schools.
Requirements: TEFL jobs at any level will require a 120-hour TEFL certificate. A bachelor’s degree is usually required, and experience helps out significantly.
Visa: To teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the long term, you’ll need a long-stay visa.
Cost of living: The cost of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina is considerably lower than that of top European destinations.
Jobs: The best options include private language schools, state schools and tutoring private students. Jobs at international schools and universities are limited.

It may not be the most obvious or famous destination, but teaching in Bosnia and Herzegovina is hard to beat for an authentic Balkan experience in a growing TEFL market.

Frequently Asked Questions

The internet has many great questions about TEFL in Bosnia and Herzegovina - here are our answers.

Q. Do I need a degree to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

You won't need a degree for every teaching position in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but an undergraduate degree will help significantly in finding a job. Job adverts commonly ask for an ISCED level 6 qualification - this is a degree.

Q. Is a TEFL or TESOL certificate required to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

You need at least 120 hours of top-quality TEFL training to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Advanced TEFL courses in Business English and English for Academic Purposes are also beneficial.

Q. Do I need to speak Bosnian to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

No, you don't need to speak Bosnian to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian are the country's most commonly spoken languages; of course, it helps to have proficiency in all three. Employers won't mind if you don't speak any of them fluently, though.

Q. What kind of visa do I need to teach in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

You'll need a long-stay visa to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time. These visas depend on a job offer, so having something in place before applying is crucial.