It may get less attention from its other Mediterranean counterparts like Spain or Italy, but Portugal has a lot to offer TEFL teachers. English is a mandatory subject in the national curriculum, but the millions of incoming tourists, multinational companies, and a growing expat scene, creates a high demand for English speakers on the Iberian peninsula.

Read on for The TEFL Org's guide to teaching English in Portugal, from the visa requirements, salary expectations, top locations, and more.

Key Takeaways

• Local students already learn English at school, and English proficiency is high in Portugal.
• English teachers generally need a TEFL certificate and a bachelor's degree. Native English speakers and previous teaching experience is preferred.
• Teaching jobs exist in public and private sectors, with most jobs coming in the form of private language academies, summer camps, and international schools.
• English teachers can earn €900–€1,800 ($1,045–$2,095 / £780–£1,555) per month, or more at international schools.
• Top locations include cities such as Lisbon and Porto.
• EU citizens are often preferred because they don't need a visa; non-EU teachers need to get a work / residence visa to teach in Portugal.

Requirements for Teaching English in Portugal

The requirements for teaching in Portugal are generally relaxed for EU citizens, but non-EU teachers face more obstacles. Employers can't hire non-EU teachers if local teachers are available under EU law, so you'll need to know the requirements to successfully find a job teaching English in Portugal.

Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach English in Portugal?

Yes, you generally need a TEFL certificate to teach English in Portugal. While it's not a legal requirement, but most employers prefer teachers who have at least 120 hours of TEFL training. If you want to expand on your knowledge, you can study a 250-hour Level 5 TEFL or top your current training with an advanced course.

Do I need a degree to teach English in Portugal?

Yes, TEFL teachers need a bachelor's degree to teach English in Portugal. Degrees in English or education are preferred, and for roles in international or private schools, you'll also typically need a master's degree.

Can I teach English without experience in Portugal?

It's possible to teach English without experience in Portugal, but only if you have a TEFL certificate and a bachelor's degree. You might need to spend more time when it comes to your job search, and you'll also need to consider roles that offer lower salaries.

Visa requirements for teaching in Portugal

If you're an EU citizen, you can live, study, and work in Portugal without a visa. After three months, you'll need to apply for a Registration Document (or Registro de Cidadão da União Europeia) to stay in the country on a long-term basis.

If you're from outside the EU, you'll need a D1 National Visa and Residence visa and temporary work permit or Autorização de Trabalho. The residence visa allows teachers to enter Portugal for the purpose of applying for a residence permit.

Before you set off for Portugal, you'll need to secure a job and your employer will sponsor your work and residence visa application. You'll then need to apply for a residence visa at your local Portuguese embassy or consulate.

Here's what you'll need to secure the residence visa and work permit:

• Completed visa application
• Proof of job contract with a Portuguese employer
• Clear criminal background check
• Proof of academic or professional qualifications (or evidence that a Portuguese or EU citizen couldn't have filled the role)
• Travel and health insurance

Teachers can also apply for the job seeker visa, providing that they have a degree, teaching qualifications, and 5+ years of experience in their field.

If you're an online English teacher, you might qualify for Portugal's digital nomad D8 Visa. However, requirements are high, as you'll need to prove that you earn at least 4 times the Portuguese minimum wage, which comes to around €3,480 ($4,050 / £3,000) per month.

Read more about visas for teaching English abroad.

Salary and Cost of Living

It's important to bear in mind both the salary and living costs when teaching in Portugal. While one teacher may have advanced qualifications and years of experience, their location or lifestyle may mean that they save less money than another teacher.

How much can you earn teaching English in Portugal?

The average salary for foreign English teachers ranges from €900–€1,800 ($1,045–$2,095 / £780–£1,555) per month depending on their experience, qualifications, and teaching job.

Generally, teachers who work at international schools receive the highest salaries and benefits. Salaries at international schools can range from €1,800–€3,500 ($2,095–$4,075 / £1,555–£3,020) but requirements include advanced qualifications such as a master's in English or education, a teaching license, and teaching experience.

Read more about teaching salaries abroad.

How much does it cost to live in Portugal?

Cost of living has increased dramatically since the introduction of the digital nomad visa, which has allowed people from higher cost of living countries to relocate to Portugal. But it can still be affordable compared to other western European countries.

On average, a single person spends around ~€600 ($700 / £520) per month, excluding rent, but you might pay significantly less – or more – depending on your lifestyle and location.

Rent for a 1-bed apartment ranges from €700–€950 ($815–$1,100 / £600–£815).

However, there's plenty you can do to save money as an English teacher in Portugal.

• Split the rent: Teachers often share accommodation with other expats to split costs, and it's a great way to make friends. While rent for a 1-bed apartment ranges from €700–€950, it averages at around €450 ($520 / £385) per person in a 3-bed apartment.
• Live outside the center: Don't feel like you need to live in the city center, you've got plenty of time to explore the city as a teacher. Renting outside the center can save up to ~€250 ($290 / £215) per month.
• Cook at home: You can find plenty of local markets in Portugal outside the tourist centers that offer affordable, nutritious food. Make cooking at home a habit, and eating out a treat to limit spending.
• Use loyalty cards: Loyalty cards like Cartão Continente or Cartão Pingo Doce can be used at supermarkets. Even if it seems negligible at first, it adds up over the semester!
• Eat like a local: The Atlantic and Mediterranean diet in Portugal isn't just nutritious but it'll save you money in the long run. Instead of heading to expensive foreign restaurants, you can pick up a dish for around €10 ($11.50 / £8.50) at local eateries.
• Use public transport: Major cities like Porto, Lisbon, and Braga offer extensive public transport routes, from trains, trams, and buses, and monthly transport passes only cost around ~€40 ($46 / £34).
• Do private tutoring: Not a budgeting tip — but private lessons are an excellent way for teachers to supplement their income. Teachers can earn anywhere from €10–€30 ($12–$35 / £9–£26) depending on your experience and qualifications.

English Teaching Jobs in Portugal

One of the best ways to find English teaching jobs in Portugal is through online job boards, expat forums, and contacting language schools directly. Hiring typically peaks from April to June and September to January ahead of new semesters, so be sure to time your application, especially if you're a non-EU teacher.

Public schools

Teaching opportunities in public schools are limited due to Portugal's availability of local teachers fluent in English. Roles are usually advertised locally and often require EU citizenship, teaching experience, a degree, TEFL certification or teaching license, and Portuguese fluency.

What to expect at a public school in Portugal:

• Monday to Friday schedule
• Teaching larger classrooms
• High entry requirements; bachelor's/master's, teaching certificate, EU citizenship, Portuguese fluency

Private language schools

Private language schools are the most entry-friendly route for TEFL teachers, especially in larger cities. From students preparing for IELTS exams and adults developing business English skills in the workplace, lesson topics and student ages varies from one language school to another.

What to expect at a private school in Portugal:

• Evening and weekend classes
• Smaller class sizes
• Variety of student ages and subjects
• Year-round hiring and more flexible entry requirements

International schools

International schools are growing due to Portugal's popularity with expat families, particularly in regions such as the Algarve, Madeira, Lisbon, and Porto. As an international school teacher, you'll teach local and international students through a British, American, or IB curriculum.

What to expect at international schools in Portugal:

• Monday to Friday schedule
• Teaching local and international students from an international curriculum
• Excellent salary and benefits, but high entry requirements including master's degree, TEFL or teaching license, and previous teaching experience

Summer camps

Summer schools and camps can be a good entry point for newer teachers, though many still require a TEFL certification or experience working with children. Summer camps offer short-term contracts and an informal and active learning environment, making it an ideal start for those wondering whether TEFL is for them.

What to expect at summer camps in Portugal:

• Short-term contracts
• Active-based learning, focus on conversational English
• Unpaid or small stipend, free accommodation

Teaching Programmes in Portugal

While there aren't as many teaching programmes in Portugal as there are in Spain or France, the Fulbright Program offers sponsorship for US graduates and undergraduate students to teach English in Portuguese universities and colleges.

With this sponsorship, students receive a stipend of up to €15,200 to cover living expenses while working as a language assistant at a higher education institution for 9 months. Teaching hours can't exceed 16 hours, and lessons vary according to the school and responsibilities.

Here are the requirements to qualify:

• Clear criminal background
• Graduates of all degree levels, or undergraduates with 1–2 years of study or equivalent
• Intermediate Portuguese language proficiency required by programme start date
• Interest in international relations and Portuguese culture is preferred but not mandatory
• Must not already reside in Portugal

Teaching English in Major Cities

From the warmer northern cities to the cooler climates down south, there are plenty of factors to consider when choosing a location to teach English in Portugal.

Teach English in Lisbon

With a coastal scenery, warm climate, gothic architecture and azulejos designs, Lisbon is a marvelous location for any professional to start their career. If you're a beach lover, historian, foodie or a vinophile, Lisbon is hard to beat.

Portugal's capital city boasts not only a cosmopolitan and multicultural feel, but also the biggest TEFL market. With an influx of international business and digital nomads, you can find work teaching locals at language centres or expat students at international schools.

When you're not teaching English, you can indulge in Lisbon's famous custard tarts, saunter through its steep cobblestone streets (or take the tram), or soak up the warm Mediterranean climate. However, it has a higher cost of living than other Portuguese cities.

Teach English in Porto

Home to the vibrant Festa de São João festival, colorful architecture, and a 12th-century cathedral donning blue-and-white azulejo tiles, Porto is full of style. Although it's not the capital, Porto plays a big part in Portugal's roots. Not only is Porto home of the rich port wine, the city was named Port Cale by the Romans, meaning warm port — or Portugal.

When you're not teaching, indulge in riverside wine, or grab a coffee to stroll through narrow cobble-stone streets. While the city is idyllic, teachers should note that the job market is smaller and the climate is cooler than in Lisbon.

Ready to Start Teaching Abroad?

Don't forget your TEFL certificate! Teaching English as a Foreign Language isn't just about travel or cultural immersion, it's a job with real responsibilities in the classroom. While a TEFL course will open doors to plenty of job offers across the globe, it also ensures that you're a skilled and confident teacher before you enter the classroom.

Get certified today with our 120-hour TEFL course – the industry standard – for the best cultural and classroom experience in Portugal.