With 235 miles of the Black Sea coastline, relics of Persian, Celtic, Roman, and Soviet culture, Bulgaria is as interesting as it gets. With a low cost of living, growing tech sector, and outdoorsy lifestyle that ranges from alpine hikes to paragliding the Balkan mountains, Bulgaria is a great place to take your TEFL career.

Tourism in Bulgaria is only increasing, feeding a growing demand for an English speaking workforce. Check out how to break into the Bulgarian TEFL market with our guide to teaching English in Bulgaria, including all the requirements you'll need, salary insights, work visas, and more.

Key Takeaways

• English speakers are common in Bulgaria, but a growing tourist sector creates a high demand for English teachers.
• Teachers generally need a TEFL certificate and a bachelor’s degree to teach in Bulgaria, but non-EU citizens can teach without a degree at private schools.
• TEFL teachers can earn a salary of around €600–€1,200 ($685–$1,365 / £515–£1,030) per month, but advanced teachers at international schools can earn more.
• Bulgaria is a member of the European Union; EU teachers don’t need a visa, but non-EU teachers need the Single Residence and Work Permit to teach legally.
• Top locations for teachers include the capital city, Sofia.

Requirements for Teaching English in Bulgaria

Bulgaria saw a surge in English education since it joined the EU in 2007. While Bulgarian is the official language, Russian is the most spoken foreign language (especially among the older generation) but English is overtaking it. Today, Bulgaria has a high English proficiency score and is especially popular with young students.

With this in mind, what are the teaching requirements in Bulgaria?

Do I need a TEFL certification to teach English in Bulgaria?

Yes, you need at least 120 hours of TEFL training to teach in Bulgaria. Most teaching abroad jobs in Bulgaria list a TEFL course as a requirement, and it’s especially important for the visa process if you’re a non-EU citizen.

Can I teach English in Bulgaria without a degree?

Generally, you need a degree (in any subject) to teach English in Bulgaria. Most employers prefer teachers who have a bachelor’s degree at minimum, and it helps if your studies are in English or education.

EU teachers can teach abroad without a degree in Bulgaria at a summer camp or private school if they’re TEFL certified. But if you’re a non-EU teacher, you need a bachelor’s degree to get the work visa for teaching abroad.

Can I teach English in Bulgaria without experience?

Many employers in Bulgaria welcome inexperienced teachers – just as long as they’ve learned the essentials with a TEFL certificate. If you have an EU citizenship, you’ll have an easier time teaching English abroad without experience in Bulgaria due to the freedom of movement.

Higher paying jobs at reputable private or international schools only hire experienced teachers, so you’ll start off with a lower salary as an entry-level teacher.

Visa requirements for teaching English in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, which is good news if you’re an EU citizen. EU teachers don’t need to apply for a visa – it’s as easy as finding a job and booking your flight!

It’s trickier if you’re a non-EU teacher. The lengthy paperwork can make non-EU teachers unattractive for employers, but it’s still possible if you’ve got the right qualifications.

You’ll need the Type D National Visa and the Single Residence and Work Permit to teach English in Bulgaria. Once you’ve got these, you can apply for the Type D visa at a Bulgarian embassy in your home country. Soon after arrival, you’ll need to apply for your residence and work permit.

Here’s what you’ll need to get the visa and work permit:

• Job contract with Bulgarian employer
• Proof of academic qualifications and experience
• Clean criminal background check
• Health insurance

Find out how to teach English in Europe as an American.

Salary and Cost of Living

To really make the most of such a varied and beautiful country, you’ll need to find a job with a salary that covers your basic expenses as well as room for excursions. Bulgaria is known for being an affordable destination, but affordable destinations usually come with lower teaching salaries.

How much can you earn teaching English in Bulgaria?

TEFL teachers in Bulgaria earn around €600–€1,200 ($685–$1,365 / £515–£1,030) per month depending on their experience and teaching job. This salary is enough to provide a comfortable lifestyle in this Balkan country.

International schools pay the highest salaries in Bulgaria, and teachers here can earn around €2,000 ($2,280 / £1,720) per month. But to qualify for these salaries you’ll need qualifications like a master’s degree in English or education or a teaching licence and 3+ years of experience. While private language schools and summer camps pay lower salaries, their requirements are much more relaxed.

Private tutoring can be a teacher’s full-time job (especially for EU teachers), but it’s generally used alongside a permanent teaching job. Depending on experience and qualifications, tutors can earn upwards of €15 ($17 / £12.70) per hour, but you’ll need to market yourself to students.

How much does it cost to live in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria offers TEFL teachers a low cost of living, which means you can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle on a low salary. TEFL teachers in Bulgaria typically spend around €750–€800 ($855–$915 / £640–£685) per month, but living costs in the capital city, Sofia, float at around €1,400 ($1,600 / £1,200) per month.

But it’s important to remember that these figures are higher in popular cities like Sofia and Varna. If you want to save up while teaching in Bulgaria, here are our top budgeting tips:

• Live outside the city center: If you’re living in Sofia, for example, living outside the city center can save you up to €400 ($455 / £345) per month. To get around, you can buy a monthly transport pass for as little as €25 ($28 / £21).
• Split the rent: Teachers often share accommodation to meet other teachers and split costs. In Sofia, a 1-bed apartment costs around €590 ($455 / £345), but a 3-bed apartment costs around €365 ($415 / £315) per person, per month.
• Eat like a local: Bulgaria is full of delights, and you can eat at a local eatery called a Mehana. From banitsa and kebapcheta to the shkembe chorba, these local dishes or snacks are not only tasty but significantly cheaper than imported western food.
• Embrace free activities: You don’t need to splash the cash to enjoy what Bulgaria has to offer. From free walking tours, UNESCO world heritage sites, and mountains that you can hike for free (or extremely cheap!).

English Teaching Jobs in Bulgaria

English teaching jobs in Bulgaria come in both public and private schools, and teachers can find opportunities on job forums like The TEFL Org Job Centre. Or, you can apply directly to schools on their website.

But not all jobs are advertised online, and EU teachers have the advantage of looking for work in-country. It’s costly for public schools (which usually have less funding) to spend time and money on visa sponsorship, so non-EU teachers will find more luck in the private sector.

Teaching programmes are rare, but American teachers can apply for the Fulbright scholarship or the Teach for Bulgaria programme to earn a spot as an English teaching assistant at public schools in Bulgaria.

Public schools

Public school jobs are less common for foreign teachers, but they’re still an option if you have an EU passport. The national curriculum teaches second-languages from a young age, and English is the most popular choice. Most English teachers work as a language assistant (unless they have Bulgarian fluency) and the academic school year runs from September to late-June.

What to expect teaching at public schools in Bulgaria:

• Working as an English teaching assistant (unless you have local language fluency)
• Following the national curriculum
• Teaching large classroom sizes with modest facilities

Private language schools

Private language schools are popular for TEFL teachers because they offer relaxed entry-requirements and year-round hiring. Most language schools offer students courses in ESP subjects (English for Specific Purposes), with adult students often looking to improve Business English skills and school students looking to join the Bulgaria foundation programme and study abroad.

Class sizes are usually smaller than at public schools, and take place in the evening and on weekends. Popular language centres include Britanica, Executive Options, and English Academy.

What to expect teaching at private language schools in Bulgaria:

• Teaching ESP (English for Specific Purposes) subjects
• Wide age range, but mainly teenagers and adults
• Teaching evening and weekend classes

International schools

Since the end of its communism rule, Bulgaria has tightened relations with western countries. This led to a growth in international schools, which offer local and foreign students education from a US, UK, or IB (international baccalaureate) curriculum with English as the primary language.

These jobs offer some of the best teaching salaries and benefits, but requirements are high, often include master’s degrees, TEFL certification or teaching licences, and previous teaching experience. Reputable international schools in Bulgaria are typically found in the capital city, including Anglo American School of Sofia and International House Sofia.

What to expect teaching at international schools in Bulgaria:

• Following an international curriculum
• English taught as a primary language
• Smaller class sizes
• Excellent salary and benefits, but very high entry requirements

Summer camps

Summer camps are excellent for inexperienced teachers looking to gain experience, or for current teachers to keep working over the school holidays. Students at summer camps learn English and other skills in a playful and informal environment, with plenty of focus on team-building activities, games, and so on. Teachers usually work as a “team leader” to promote speaking English, rather than a traditional classroom teacher.

What to expect at summer camps in Bulgaria:

• Active-based learning environment, promoting conversational English
• Short-term contracts
• Teachers receive a stipend and free accommodation

Teaching English in Major Cities

Here are the most popular locations for English teachers to consider teaching in Bulgaria.

Teach English in Sofia

From Roman ruins, art nouveau, brutalist architecture, and more, Sofia is a diverse capital city. Despite relics of ancient and middle-aged history, Sofia chooses not to ignore its past as a Communist state, with the Museum of Socialist Art welcoming modern art enthusiasts from across the globe.

With theatres and galleries like the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, hiking routes like Vitosha Mountain, energetic bars and cheap beer, there’s so much to do whatever your desired tempo.

Ready to Teach English Abroad? Don’t Forget Your TEFL Certificate!

Before you jet off to teach English abroad, it's important that you're TEFL certified and ready to go. Although a TEFL certification will help you find the best teaching positions in Bulgaria and across the world, you'll gain essential teaching skills by studying how to manage large classrooms, create lesson materials, teach complex grammar rules, and much more.

By becoming TEFL certified, you'll not only help your students develop English language skills, but you'll be confident in your abilities and enjoy your time in the classroom. Get started today with our 120-hour TEFL course.