Country | Avg. monthly salary | Degree required | Start of term | Teaching experience | Housing & flights included | Suitable for non-native English speakers | Age restrictions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teach in Portugal | €1,657 £1,411 GBP $1,826 USD | September | Preferred | None |
A beautiful country with friendly people, great weather, and lots of English teaching opportunities – Portugal is a seriously underrated TEFL destination.
If you’re looking to teach English abroad in a place that values hospitality, learning, and culture, Portugal is well worth considering. With an emphasis on sociability and a positive attitude towards language learning, expect warm weather, a warm welcome, and plenty of opportunities to make a decent living as an English teacher.
In this article, we break down how to find opportunities for teaching English in Portugal. We’ll cover the requirements English teachers need to meet to get jobs, how to find teaching jobs, some typical benefits and salaries, plus the kinds of jobs out there. Bem-vindo!
In general, although there are lots of opportunities for ESL teachers in Portugal, you’ll need strong Portuguese skills to land a job there. On the plus side, demand for English teaching is high, and you’ll have a solid foundation to start from since proficiency levels in the country are high.
Out of 113 nations, Portugal ranks 8th in EF’s English Proficiency Index, with particularly high levels of English fluency in Coimbra and Braga. This makes sense, given that Coimbra has a historic university and Braga is globally recognised as a top immigration destination. (Of course, major cities like Porto and the capital, Lisbon, also have high levels of English proficiency!)
Here’s a breakdown of English teaching jobs in Portugal:
What are the requirements for teaching English abroad in Portugal? In this section, we’ll tell you everything you need to get started as a TEFL teacher in Lisbon, Porto, Braga or anywhere else in the land of Os Navegadores (the navigators).
To teach English in Portugal, you’ll need:
Given the high levels of English proficiency in Portugal already, it’s worth considering a teaching speciality to cut through the job market. An advanced TEFL certificate in Business English or English for Academic Purposes, for example, will help significantly - Portuguese students may have the basics of English covered but want to achieve specific learning goals.
Tip: While knowing the native language isn’t as important in other TEFL destinations, it’s a big deal in Portugal. To gain long-term residence or citizenship, you must prove your fluency by passing the CIPLE Language Test. Even basic Portuguese skills won’t be enough to land an English teaching job in Portugal.
The conditions you must meet to live and work in Portugal legally depend on whether you’re an EU citizen. For non-EU nationals, the first step is gaining a work search visa (Autorização de Trabalho). You’ll need:
This visa is granted for 120 days. You’re encouraged to apply for a permanent work visa during this time. The requirements are:
Which kinds of English jobs are available to those who want to teach in Portugal? Where can a teacher with TEFL certification teach English as a foreign language in this fascinating part of the Iberian peninsula? Let’s take a look.
While it’s harder for foreign teachers to break into the public school system in Portugal, there are still opportunities. The best way to find English teaching jobs in Portuguese state schools is by being local, since they’re rarely advertised outside of the immediate area. You’ll be up against plenty of Portuguese teachers, after all.
To be considered, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, TEFL certification, and plenty of teaching experience. Being proficient in Portuguese is also crucial.
If you’re looking for English teaching jobs, Portugal doesn’t disappoint, with a range of options and significant demand. But what’s the average salary for teaching English as a foreign language in sunny Portugal?
Country | Avg. monthly salary | Degree required | Start of term | Teaching experience | Housing & flights included | Suitable for non-native English speakers | Age restrictions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teach in Portugal | €1,657 £1,411 GBP $1,826 USD | September | Preferred | None |
The average monthly salary in Portugal for full-time TEFL teachers ranges from €1,657 to €1,800 (£1,411 - £1,532 / $1,826 - $1,984). Elite institutions like international schools tend to offer more lucrative average salaries, starting at around €2,000 per month.
Public sector workers in Portugal are entitled to 22 days of annual leave, maternity/paternity leave, mandatory pension contributions, agreed overtime payment and insurance contributions.
Meanwhile, English teachers who work in international and private schools can sometimes expect an accommodation offer. According to recent job adverts, this usually comes as a one-bedroom apartment. This can reduce your monthly expenses dramatically!
Many private schools will also tempt teachers with ESL jobs that include additional benefits like performance bonuses and free travel.
Geographically and culturally, Portugal is a fascinating example of European living. Much like northern Spain, Northern Portugal is characterised by lush, green fields and a cooler, wetter climate. In the north, you’ll find the famous, picturesque Douro Valle, the home of port wine and countless acres of gorgeous vineyards. The south, significantly warmer and drier, is home to regions like the Algarve, with its golden beaches and dramatic cliff-top views.
Here are some of the top cities for English teaching jobs in Portugal in 2025:
Lisbon being labelled Europe's work-and-play capital accurately reflects the city's well-balanced lifestyle. Demand for English is extremely high. This means English teachers can find work in different institutions. There are plenty of international schools, and it’s no wonder, given Portugal's capital city's multicultural and cosmopolitan feel.
Home toa considerable number of digital nomads, Lisbon’s international population has boomed over recent years. In under an hour, you can get from the city centre to amazing beaches, with excellent quality of living and a climate that’s hard to beat.
However, this has caused some pressure on housing prices in recent years, and finding reasonable rent on a lower income can be challenging.
Portugal’s historic second city is well worth a look. Intersected by the Douro River, Porto is famous for its colourful architecture, medieval buildings and stunning sites, like the breathtaking Igreja de São Francisco.
Why teach English in Porto? With a growing tourism industry, the city has developed an significant demand for English language skills, with the bulk of the opportunities in language schools, private tutoring, and business English.
If you're looking to teach English in Portugal, and a university city appeals most of all, Coimbra is arguably Portugal's educational hub. Home to the University of Coimbra, TEFL teachers seeking an academic environment and stunning sunshine should opt for this intriguing, historic destination.
Coimbra has some noteworthy sites. There aren’t many cities where the library is a top attraction, but the Biblioteca Joanina justifies the hype. You can also take a river cruise on a dazzling Moliceiro Boat, walk the ancient streets of the Old Town, and take in the campus of the University.
A quieter, more studious locale than Lisbon or Porto, TEFL jobs largely come in the form of tutoring and helping students at the university. While lecturing jobs might arise occasionally, you’re better placed teaching English for Academic Purposes to students seeking opportunities worldwide.The TEFL Org Jobs Centre always has great opportunities available, whether you want to teach English in Portugal, find an English teaching job online, or teach English anywhere else in the world!
Wall Street English frequently hire teachers in Portugal, with around 30 language centres across the country.
International House has ten schools in Portugal that serve younger students.
Fun Languages are seeking applications. They offer instruction in English (as well as other foreign languages) as summer schools or extracurricular classes.
Bristol School has 9 schools providing classes for young learners (8 and above), teenagers, adults and corporate groups.
Cambridge School is one of the largest private language schools in Portugal. They occasionally post about TEFL jobs, so keep them saved.
APPI is a great job board to keep bookmarked if you want to work as an English teacher in Portugal.
While Portugal has rarely featured as a top TEFL location in Europe, in recent years a number of teachers have become aware of the unique benefits to living in this country, prompted by its recent economic growth.
With extremely high levels of English proficiency and a strong demand for the language, Portugal is a great place to teach English.
If you teach English in Portugal, you can expect to earn a starting salary of around €1,657 to €1,800 (£1,411 - £1,532 / $1,826 - $1,984. Teachers with various qualifications and experience will typically earn more, and most teachers will find they can earn a higher salary if they teach in larger cities like Lisbon and Porto. Giving private lessons is a great way to increase your salary, in person or online.
To teach English in Portugal, you must have basic Portuguese. If you want to gain citizenship and teach in Portugal for the long term, you must pass the CIPLE Language Test. Schools will more readily hire teachers with fluency in Portuguese, so having additional qualifications in the language can help.