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The easiest start. Many platforms hire teachers without a degree, you set your own hours and you don't need a visa.
Online TEFL jobsTeach English: 2026 guide
Teaching English without a degree
No degree? You can still teach English. Schools in parts of Southeast Asia and Latin America hire teachers with a TEFL certificate and no degree, and online teaching is open to almost anyone. Here's where you can go, what you'll earn and how to do it legally.
8countries hiring without a degree
$29for an accredited 120-hour TEFL
0visas needed to teach online
Your options
Three ways to teach English without a degree
Teach abroad
Schools in Cambodia, Laos and much of Latin America hire teachers without a degree. Pay is lower, but so is the cost of living.
Compare countriesGet your degree later
Start with a TEFL and online teaching now. If you finish a degree later, your certificate opens Asia and the Middle East too.
Teaching with a degreeCountry explorer
8 countries where you can teach without a degree
All of them ask for a TEFL certificate, and none of them need a native English passport. Filter by region and sort by what matters to you.
Cambodia
Southeast Asia$300 to $500saved a month
One of the easiest places in Asia to get a work visa without a degree, with a relaxed pace of life.
- Hourly pay
- $8 to $20
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Housing (some jobs), bonus
- Don't miss
- Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh
Laos
Southeast Asia$200 to $400saved a month
Quiet and beautiful, but pay is often low, so it suits adventure more than saving.
- Hourly pay
- $8 to $12
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Housing (some jobs), bonus
- Don't miss
- Luang Prabang, Vientiane
Argentina
Latin America$200 to $400saved a month
Residency is relatively straightforward, and Buenos Aires has a big private teaching market.
- Hourly pay
- $8 to $20
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Housing (rare), bonus
- Don't miss
- Buenos Aires, Patagonia
Brazil
Latin America$200 to $400saved a month
Most jobs are in private language institutes and with business clients.
- Hourly pay
- $8 to $20
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Rarely included
- Don't miss
- Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls
Chile
Latin America$200 to $500saved a month
Many private institutes hire without a degree, and a work visa is possible with a job offer.
- Hourly pay
- $8 to $20
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Housing (rare), bonus
- Don't miss
- Santiago, Patagonia
Colombia
Latin America$200 to $500saved a month
Flexible schools and a fast-growing market, especially in Medellín and Bogotá.
- Hourly pay
- $8 to $20
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Housing (rare), bonus
- Don't miss
- Medellín, Bogotá
Costa Rica
Latin America$200 to $400saved a month
Popular and friendly. Make sure your school helps you work legally, as a tourist visa doesn't allow you to work.
- Hourly pay
- $8 to $12
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Housing (rare), bonus
- Don't miss
- Arenal, San José
Ecuador
Latin America$200 to $400saved a month
Schools often help with the visa, and the cost of living is low.
- Hourly pay
- $7 to $12
- Contract
- 6 to 12 months
- TEFL needed
- Yes
- Native passport
- Not needed
- Often included
- Housing (rare), bonus
- Don't miss
- Quito, Galápagos Islands
No countries match. Try another region.
Work legally. A tourist visa doesn't let you work in any of these countries. Ask every school how it will help you get the right visa or permit before you accept a job. We've left out Vietnam, which now needs a degree for the work permit, and Myanmar, where many governments advise against travel.
Figures are typical ranges for full-time teachers with a TEFL certificate. They change often, so always check the job advert, the embassy and your government's travel advice before you go.
No visa needed
Online TEFL jobs you can do without a degree
Requirements vary by platform and change often, so check each one before you apply. Most ask for a TEFL certificate, a quiet space and a good internet connection.
Preply
Set your own price and timetable. Best if you're happy to market yourself.
ApplyNative Camp
Japan-based, teaching students of all ages in short lessons.
ApplyEngoo
One-to-one lessons with students in Japan and Taiwan.
ApplyPolly English
Online lessons for students aged 3 to 18 in Asia.
ApplyLingora
Video and audio lessons with Korean students.
ApplyReally Great Teachers
Recruits home-based teachers for online language schools.
ApplyMore online and Asia jobs on our TEFL jobs in Asia page and our TEFL job board.
Your TEFL certificate
Get the TEFL that gets you hired
Without a degree, your TEFL certificate does the heavy lifting. Ours is accredited by OTCAC, QR-verified and suits online teaching and the countries on this page.
Online Specialist
120-hour TEFL
$29one-off
- The accredited 120 hours schools and platforms ask for
- Online teaching built into every unit
- TEFL recruiter links
- 6 months to finish
Most popular
120-hour TEFL-TESOL Premium
$49one-off
- A tutor and 12 months to finish
- 2 lesson plans with instant, tutor-written feedback
- Human-voice narration and real teaching videos
- Full Job Support bundle and TEFL travel guide
Kids and teens
168-hour TEFL-TESOL
$59one-off
- Everything in the 120-hour Premium course
- 40 hours on teaching young learners, including phonics and sight words
- 8 hours on teaching adults
- Great for online kids' platforms
Want to show schools how you teach? Add tutor-marked Practical Assignments (+$20) or Practical Demos (+$40) to any course from Premium up. Compare courses
FAQ
Teaching English without a degree: your questions
Can I teach English abroad without a degree?
Yes. Countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador have schools that hire teachers without a degree, as long as you have a TEFL certificate. You can also teach English online from anywhere.
Do I need a TEFL certificate if I don't have a degree?
Yes, and it matters even more. Without a degree, a 120-hour TEFL certificate is usually what schools and online platforms check first, and it shows you know how to teach.
Can I teach on a tourist visa?
It isn't legal in most countries, and it can lead to fines, deportation or a ban. Some schools still ask teachers to do it, so always ask how they'll help you get the right visa or permit before you accept a job.
Can I teach English online without a degree?
Yes. Many online platforms, such as Preply, accept teachers without a degree, especially with a TEFL certificate. You don't need a work visa to teach online, though you should check the tax and visa rules where you live.
Will I earn less without a degree?
Usually, yes. The best-paid jobs, in places like South Korea, Hong Kong and the Gulf, need a degree for the visa. Teaching without a degree tends to suit people who want experience, adventure and a low cost of living more than big savings.
Which countries need a degree?
Most of Asia and the Middle East, including South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and the UAE, need a degree for a teaching visa. See our guide to teaching English with a degree.
Is the TEFLmasters certificate accepted without a degree?
Yes. Our courses are accredited by OTCAC, and our certificates suit online teaching and the countries on this page. Employers decide who they hire, so check the job advert.