Talk to a real personChina
AsiaRequired for the work permit
China's work permit rules for English teachers ask for a TEFL certificate or two years of teaching experience, on top of a degree.
Read the guideThe honest answer, 2026
Do you need a TEFL to teach English abroad?
In most countries, yes. A few ask for one by law, and almost everywhere else schools and recruiters expect a 120-hour TEFL before they'll hire you. Here's exactly where it's required, where it's expected, how many hours you need and the cheapest way to get one.
120hours, the standard most employers ask for
3big markets where it's part of the rules
$49for our accredited 120-hour TEFL
Country by country
Where you need a TEFL to teach English
Required means it's part of the visa or hiring rules. Expected means most employers ask for one. Helpful means it gives you an edge.
Required
Vietnam
AsiaRequired for foreign language teachers
Vietnam's rules ask foreign English teachers for a teaching qualification such as a TEFL, and almost every job advert lists one.
Read the guideSouth Korea
AsiaRequired for public schools
EPIK only hires at pay levels that need a 100+ hour TEFL or a teaching degree. Most private academies (hagwons) prefer one too.
Read the guideTaiwan
AsiaExpected, and required with an associate degree
Most schools want a TEFL. If you have a two-year associate degree, a TEFL is part of how some language centers can hire you.
Read the guideThailand
AsiaExpected by most schools
It isn't always a legal rule, but most schools and agencies ask for a 120-hour TEFL, and it helps with your teaching license.
Read the guideJapan
AsiaHelpful, often preferred
The visa depends on your degree and employer, not a TEFL, but many conversation schools and ALT companies prefer one.
Read the guideCambodia
AsiaExpected, especially without a degree
With flexible degree rules, a TEFL is often the main thing schools check before they hire you.
Find out moreHong Kong
AsiaHelpful, but not enough on its own
Top school jobs and the NET Scheme want teacher training or experience as well. A TEFL helps for learning centers.
Read the guideUAE and Saudi Arabia
Middle EastOften required, plus experience
Most English teaching jobs ask for a TEFL, and the better-paid ones want experience or a teaching license too.
Find out moreSpain
EuropeExpected by language academies
Private academies usually ask for a TEFL. Government language assistant programs don't always require one, but it helps you get placed.
Find out moreCzech Republic
EuropeExpected by language schools
Prague's language schools usually ask for a TEFL, and it helps with Business English work.
Find out moreMexico and Colombia
Latin AmericaExpected by most schools
Language schools usually ask for a TEFL, and it matters even more if you don't have a degree.
Find out moreChile and Costa Rica
Latin AmericaExpected by most schools
Most institutes want a TEFL. It's often the one qualification everyone asks for.
Find out moreOnline platforms
OnlineExpected by many platforms
Many online platforms ask for a TEFL, and on marketplaces such as Preply it helps students choose you.
Find out moreRules change and employers differ, so always check the job advert and the embassy before you apply. Our country guides go into the details.
Even where it isn't the law
Three reasons a TEFL matters
It gets you the visa
In China, Vietnam and for South Korea's public schools, a TEFL is part of the paperwork. Without it, you can't get the job, however good your English is.
It gets you hired
Recruiters filter by it. With dozens of applicants for good jobs, "120-hour TEFL" on your resume is often the first box they tick.
It gets you through day one
Speaking English isn't the same as teaching it. Lesson planning, classroom management and grammar make your first weeks far easier.
When you might not need one: if you're a licensed teacher applying to international schools, your teaching license usually matters more. Japan's visa doesn't require a TEFL either, though many employers there still prefer one.
How many hours?
How many TEFL hours do you need?
The minimum
South Korea's EPIK program asks for at least 100 hours. Anything less won't count for most jobs.
The standard
What most schools, recruiters and visas mean by "a TEFL". It's the safe choice for almost any country.
For teaching kids
Extra units on young learners, phonics and sight words help with the many jobs teaching children in Asia.
Get your TEFL
The cheapest way to get the TEFL you need
Accredited by OTCAC, QR-verified and accepted for teaching visas across Asia. Every course is at least 120 hours.
Best value
120-hour Premium TEFL
$49one-off
- The full 120-hour course, with human-voice narrated video and subtitles
- Practical scenario tasks and real teaching videos
- Tutor support, plus the lesson plan and Job Support bundles
- 12 months to finish
Most popular
120-hour Practical TEFL
$59one-off
- A personal tutor and full narrated video
- 2 written assignments graded by your tutor, with helpful feedback
- Resubmit after feedback, and your certificate says "with Practical Assignments"
- 24 months to finish
Kids and teens
168-hour Practical TEFL
$69one-off
- Everything in the 120-hour Practical, including tutor-graded lesson plans
- 40 hours on young learners and 8 on adults
- Full narrated video for the 120 and 168-hour units
- 24 months to finish
With every Practical course, a personal tutor grades 2 written lesson plan assignments with helpful feedback within 24 hours, and you can resubmit after feedback. Pass them and your certificate says "with Practical Assignments". Compare all courses
FAQ
Do you need a TEFL? Your questions
Do you need a TEFL to teach English abroad?
In most countries, yes. Some, such as China and Vietnam, ask for a TEFL as part of the work permit rules, and South Korea's public school program needs one for its pay levels. Elsewhere it isn't the law, but most schools and recruiters still ask for a 120-hour TEFL.
Can I teach English abroad without a TEFL?
Sometimes, but your choices shrink fast. Japan's visa doesn't require one, and some private schools will hire you without it, but most good employers, and the visa rules in several countries, expect a TEFL certificate.
How many TEFL hours do I need?
120 hours is the international standard most employers ask for. South Korea's EPIK program asks for at least 100 hours. If you want to teach children, a longer course with young learner units, such as our 168-hour TEFL, gives you an edge.
Is an online TEFL accepted?
Yes. Online TEFL certificates from accredited providers are widely accepted, including for visas in South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan, as long as they meet the hours employers ask for.
Do I need a TEFL if I'm a qualified teacher?
Not always. International schools hiring licensed teachers usually care more about your teaching license and experience. A TEFL still helps if you'll be teaching English as a second language, which is a different skill from teaching your subject.
Do native speakers need a TEFL?
Yes, in most cases. Being a native speaker gets you the visa in many countries, but the TEFL is what shows schools you know how to teach English, and some visas ask for it directly.
Is a TEFL enough without a degree?
In a few places. Cambodia, parts of Latin America and online platforms hire TEFL-certified teachers without a degree, and Taiwan accepts some with an associate degree plus a TEFL. Most of Asia and the Middle East need a degree for the visa.
What's the cheapest way to get a TEFL?
An accredited online TEFL is the cheapest way to meet the 120-hour standard. Ours starts at $49, is accredited by OTCAC and comes with a QR-verified certificate employers can check.