From its Arctic wilderness to the great northern lights and its 10,000-year-old sauna culture, Finland is mesmerising. On top of its outdoor culture, this Nordic country has excellent standards of living, high life expectancy, and around 90% of the population speak multiple languages (including English).

With one of the highest-ranked education systems in the world and very high levels of English proficiency, you may wonder whether there's room for foreign teachers in Finland. Read on for The TEFL Org's guide on teaching English in Finland, from the salaries, requirements, and visas, to types teaching opportunities and top locations for teaching English in Finland.

Key Takeaways

• Finland has one of the best education systems in the world, and with a bilingual population of 90%, teaching jobs are very competitive.
• Entry-level teachers can find work at summer camps or language schools if they have a TEFL and a bachelor's degree.
• Advanced teachers with a master's, teaching licence, and teaching experience can work in international schools – or public schools if they speak Finnish or Swedish.
• Salaries are high, ranging from €2,000–€4,000 ($2,320–$4,640 / £1,730–£3,465), but so are expectations and entry requirements.
• Helsinki is home to most teaching jobs, with plenty of language schools, international schools, and summer camps.
• Non-EU teachers need a D Visa and Residence Permit to teach in Finland.

Requirements for Teaching English in Finland

Finland consistently ranks as having one of the best education systems in the world. As a result, the teaching requirements are high.

If you want to work as a full-time teacher at public or international schools, you'll need to have qualifications like your degree, TEFL, or teaching licence certified by the Finnish National Agency for Education (OPH). Some teachers need to be able to speak Finnish at public schools (or Swedish at certain language schools).

This can make it challenging – but not impossible. Here's everything you need to know about teaching English in Finland.

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

Yes, you need a TEFL certificate to teach English in Finland. With a high number of English speakers, Finland has plenty of fluent local teachers. You'll need at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate and potentially other academic qualifications to compete with foreign and local teachers for jobs.

Do I need a degree to teach English in Finland?

Yes, you need a degree to teach English in Finland. Finland is one of the hardest TEFL markets to break into, and most jobs list at least bachelor's degree as a requirement. Jobs at public schools or international schools may require a master's in English or education.

Teachers may also need to apply for a review of credentials to get their degree or foreign teacher training recognised by the Finnish National Agency for Education (OPH).

But it's possible to teach English abroad without a degree at Finnish summer camps as long as you're a native speaker with a TEFL certification.

Can I teach English without experience in Finland?

Yes, you can teach English without experience in Finland. But teaching jobs at international schools require a few years of teaching experience.

Entry-level teachers can find jobs at private language schools in major cities like Helsinki or at summer camps.

Visa requirements for teaching in Finland

Finland is a member of the European Union, so EU teachers don't need a visa to teach in Finland.

But non-EU teachers need a work visa – known as the D Visa – and a residence permit to teach English in Finland. You'll need to find a teaching job first before applying for the visa.

You can apply for the Residence Permit online before applying for the visa at the nearest Finland embassy or consulate.

To qualify for the D Visa, you'll need the following:

• Completed and signed long-term D visa application form
• Proof of employment with a Finnish employer
• Residence permit
• Clear criminal background
• Proof of qualifications or education
• Visa fee of €95 ($110 / £80)

Find out more about the visas for teaching English abroad.

Salary and Cost of Living

With an excellent education system, you can assume that teachers are highly rewarded in Finland. But a high salary means nothing if you're not sure about the living costs.

Here's everything you need to know about the teaching salary and cost of living in Finland.

How much can you earn teaching English in Finland?

Inexperienced TEFL teachers with a bachelor's degree can earn around €1,000–€2,000 ($1,160–$2,320 / £865–£1,730) teaching English to children at summer camps or adults at adult language centres. Some summer camp jobs may be unpaid but include benefits like free accommodation, meals, and transport.

English teachers at public or international schools can earn around €2,000–€4,000 ($2,320–$4,640 / £1,730–£3,465) per month, but most of these teachers have a bachelor's or master's degree in English or education, have a teaching licence, or have years of experience.

How much does it cost to live in Finland?

But it isn't a “one size fits all” situation, and living costs depend on many factors like your lifestyle preferences and location.

Here's how you can keep costs down as a teacher in Finland:

• Look beyond Helsinki: While rent averages at around €775–€1,100 ($900–$1,275 / £670–£950) in Helsinki, it's as low as €580–€730 ($670–$845 / £500–£630) in cities such as Kuopio or Lappeenranta.
• Share housing with others: Sharing housing with other expats, teachers, or locals will cut costs significantly. While rent for a 1-bed apartment averages at €690 ($800 / £600), monthly rent for a 3-bed apartment averages at around €400 ($465 / £350) per person.
• Use public transport: Finland has one of the best public transportation systems in Europe, with extensive bus, train, tram and metro networks, and monthly transportation pass costing around €62 ($72 / £52).
• Cycle to work: Finland also has a strong cycling culture, making it easy to navigate cities with your bike even in winter.
• Cook at home: Shopping at local markets and shops is cheaper than eating out at restaurants, with Prisma and Lidl being one of the most affordable supermarket chains in the country.
• Indulge in Lounas: If you do eat out, choose lunch over dinner! Finnish buffet-style lunches or lounas offer excellent value for money from 11am–2pm.
• Buy hävikki: If you want to buy food at a 60% mark down, consider hävikki! Translating to waste, this edible food is discounted due to overproduction.

Data sourced from Numbeo. Last updated May 2026.

English Teaching Jobs in Finland

While it's a difficult market to break into, English teaching jobs in Finland exist for both inexperienced and advanced teachers.

Public schools

With such a high standard of education, public school teaching jobs require not only advanced qualifications but also proficiency in the Finnish language (or Swedish depending on the school). Teachers generally need a master's and a teaching licence to teach in public schools.

What to expect at public schools in Finland:

• Typical work schedule
• High salary, but high job responsibilities
• Very high entry requirements, including a master's, teaching licence, Finnish or Swedish language proficiency, and previous experience

Private language schools

Private language schools are a common and entry-friendly route into teaching in Finland, especially in major cities like Helsinki. With a bachelor's degree and a TEFL certificate, teachers can find work in language schools that teach ESP (English for Specific Purposes) from IELTS exam preparation, business English, and so on. Classrooms are typically smaller than at public schools and take place on evenings and weekends.

What to expect at private language schools in Finland:

• Evening and weekend classes
• Varied student ages, from young learners to adults
• Language courses ranging from exam preparation, business English, and more
• Competitive salary, monthly or hourly depending on contract

International schools

International schools offer a high salary and benefits for teachers, catering mostly to international students from expat families. However, due to the country's excellent education system and high number of multilingual speakers, international schools are more rare in Finland, making them even more competitive than in other countries.

What to expect at international schools in Finland:

• Teaching international students
• Smaller classrooms than public schools
• Following an international baccalaureate curriculum with English as a primary language
• High salary and benefits, but also high requirements

Summer camps

Inexperienced teachers can teach in Finland at summer camps, which is an excellent way to gain experience in a country that has a competitive TEFL market.

What to expect at summer camps in Finland:

• Informal and activity-based learning
• Unpaid or low salaries, but typically includes benefits such as accommodation
• Low entry-requirements
• High-energy activities, excellent insight into Finnish culture

Teaching English in Major Cities

Here's the most popular TEFL locations in Finland for entry-level and experienced teachers.

Teach English in Helsinki

From the futuristic design of the Oodi library to Suomenlinna Fortress and Helsinki Cathedral, Helsinki blends the traditional and modern to form a unique environment.

On the weekend, start your day by hitting the sauna, then head to one of Helsinki's trendy cafes – you'll be pleased to hear that Finland is one of the highest consumers of coffee in the world. Whether you're layering up for the snowy winter or sipping upscale cocktails during its sunny-midnight summers, this modern and cultural city caters to any lifestyle.

• Language schools: Berlitz, Finnbrit, Mark Richard's Business English Oy
• Bilingual & international schools: The English School, International School Helsinki
• Summer camps: Linguajoy, Nordic School

TEFL Org Teacher Story

If you want on-the-ground insight from teachers in Finland, find out what Emma had to say about her experience.

Emma in Finland

"I have been teaching at a Finnish summer camp now for two weeks and I am halfway through my experience. I cannot begin to explain how much I love this job: I live right by a huge lake, I can go rowing, swimming, and cycling (all for free) whenever I like. My days start at 8.45am and finish at 1.30pm.

My office is a jetty and I plan my lessons with the other English teachers down at the lake, watching the sunset. It doesn't get dark here very much so at first it was hard to adjust, but now, I already feel like this is a home away from home and I will be sad to leave.

This is the only job I have ever truly loved! I was extremely nervous when I first arrived here as the idea of standing in front of a group of children terrified me. It has only been two weeks but now I cannot wait to get back into the classroom each day."

Want to find out what our other graduates get up to? Check out our student stories to hear from teachers across the globe.

Ready to Teach English Abroad in Finland? Get TEFL Certified First

Before you teach English abroad, don't underestimate the value of a TEFL certificate. Whether you want to teach at summer camps, international schools, or private language schools, you'll need to understand lesson planning, classroom management, teaching methodologies, and student-centred learning.

Get TEFL certified today to lead the classroom with confidence.