Do American Citizens Need A Visa For Costa Rica

Spain attracts a large number of ESL teachers from all over the world due to the culture and healthy job market. The type of visa you require varies depending on your nationality, so we recommend that you check with the Spanish embassy website before making any plans to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. Spain is a long-standing member of the European Union so anyone with an EU passport can live and work freely in the country without a visa. However, EU citizens still need to apply for a residency permit and a tax number as soon as they arrive. The application process for this is generally very straightforward and your employer will normally help you with it. The most common route for non-EU citizens is to enter Spain on a 90-day tourist visa that is issued on arrival...  [Read more]

Costa Rica has much to offer those who choose to teach ESL in this part of Central America. A tropical climate, picturesque beaches, exotic wildlife and pristine rainforest are just some of its many attractions. But what visa do you need to live and work in the country? Unlike many other popular teaching destinations, it is technically legal for foreign teachers to work in Costa Rica on a standard tourist visa. Most nationalities, including Americans, Canadians and Western European citizens, are given a 90 day visa on arrival at the airport. Once the visa expires you can simply cross into a neighboring country and then get a new one on your way back into the country. When you first arrive in Costa Rica you are not legally allowed to work until you have registered for a tax number...  [Read more]

EU citizens who want to teach English in Germany should have few problems as they can work freely in the country without a visa. Teachers from countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada are able to apply for a working holiday visa that allows them limited access to teaching jobs. However, for everyone else, including Americans, there are fewer options if you want to live and work in Germany. That being said, if you are willing to be patient, it is still possible to obtain a work visa. As the application process has to be completed from within the country, most people initially enter Germany on a standard tourist visa. Unfortunately, the process can take up to two months so you will need to have enough funds to support yourself while you wait for your application to be...  [Read more]

As the UK is an English speaking country it does supply a large number of TESOL qualified teachers to work in countries all over the world. However, due to the high cost of living, many of these complete their training through an online TESOL course or at a training center located overseas where the overheads are less and the demand for qualified teachers is particularly high. The truth is that the vast majority of first-time teachers from the UK head abroad to find teaching jobs initially as positions within the UK itself will normally be snapped up by experienced teachers who are returning from teaching overseas. Due to economic factors there are less in-class TESOL courses available within the UK as there were a few years ago. However, there are still plenty of different options...  [Read more]

In the vast majority of cases, ESL teachers will need to obtain some form of visa to enter their destination country. What specific visa you need is wholly dependent on the rules and regulations of your host country, so you should contact the relevant embassy or take a look at their website to make sure you have all the correct information. Below we outline the most common forms of visa you are likely to come across. Tourist visas are typically issued to people who only plan on a short visit and do not intend to work or study. This type of visa comes in many different forms depending on the host country and your own country of origin. The 'upon entry' tourist visa is the most common and this is issued upon arrival at the airport immigration desk. For example, US citizens arriving in...  [Read more]

If you have researched teaching English abroad, you might have found stories suggesting that it is impossible for US citizens to find ESL teaching jobs in Europe. However, this is not the case as a high demand for foreign teachers in many countries means there are plenty of great opportunities for American teachers in Europe. Language schools in many areas are always on the lookout for native English speaking Americans with a TESOL qualification to fill their vacant positions. At anytime you will find thousands of US citizens teaching in major European cities such as Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Moscow, and Prague. In many Western European countries there is a preference for British English in some schools and excessive bureaucracy can also be responsible for restrictions on US born...  [Read more]

The simple answer to this question is YES, it is now common for TESOL qualified teachers to work exclusively online while traveling from place to place or while spending an extended time in one location. Internet download speeds continue to increase in most countries around the world, including many that you might think are off limits. There are also plenty of different employers targeting the online teaching market, with more starting up on a regular basis. With countless potential employers and no shortage of possible destinations, there has never been a better time to leave your stale nine to five behind. However, which countries offer the best visas for a long-term stay. Visa length: Up to 60 days Bali has long been a popular tourist hotspot and a stop on the backpacker trail,...  [Read more]

Italy remains one of Europe?s top destinations for teaching English abroad due to its popular culture, Mediterranean climate, and its laid back approach to life. To ensure you maximise your potential in the local job market, we recommend that you follow these simple tips. The main requirement you will need to teach ESL in Italy is an internationally recognised TESOL qualification. Almost all respected employers in all regions of the country will expect their job applicants to have taken the time to complete a relevant teacher training course. Although a small percentage of vacant positions are advertised online, most jobs are secured following an in-person interview on the school premises. The most common and straightforward approach is to simply fly into the city of your choice and...  [Read more]

Having adequate health insurance is clearly an important issue wherever you are living and working around the world. Whether health insurance is covered by your employer or not is something that varies from one situation to the next so it is important to confirm this whenever you are interviewed for a teaching position. Here we take a brief look at health insurance within the ESL teaching world. In most of the big ESL job markets across Asia such as China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Vietnam, health insurance is typically included in a teaching contract. In most cases the cost will be fully covered by the employer, although a small sum might be deducted from your salary in certain situations. In other less developed markets, health insurance is less likely to be...  [Read more]

The market for qualified ESL teachers around the world is huge. Right across Europe, Asia, Latin America and even Africa, there are dozens of countries to consider. However, if you want to teach ESL in an English-speaking country, you might find things a little more tricky. Although there is typically a strong demand for ESL teachers in most English-speaking countries, the required amount of teachers can normally be recruited from within that country's own population. Another common problem for foreign teachers looking to work in an English speaking country is getting hold of the necessary work permits and visas. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. Some teachers acquire the right to work in another English-speaking country via marriage to a foreign national, or as a...  [Read more]

In some countries where teaching ESL is popular there is a clear path for obtaining a work visa or permit that allows you to live and work long term, while in others the process can be overly complicated, expensive or simply nonexistent. However, as the demand for teachers is so high in many countries, the need for a work visa can often be ignored by employers. The truth is that thousands of people are currently working as ESL teachers in countries worldwide without a formal work visa or work permit. In two of the most popular ESL teaching destinations in Europe, Italy and Spain, it is very common for Americans and other non-EU nationals to start work as teachers with nothing more than a tourist visa in their passport. A standard tourist visa is valid for 90 days and there is no...  [Read more]

  As with most countries in the region, jobs are quite easy to find but salaries are very low. Most jobs seem to be in La Paz but there are certainly opportunities elsewhere in the country for those prepared to accept a local wage. The cost of living is low which means that despite the low salaries teachers can enjoy a reasonable standard of living. 1. 3 EFL teachers needed, La Paz, Bolivia SpeakEasy Institute is an innovative language institute here in La Paz. We opened in January 2002 to try to satisfy the needs of Bolivian students of English as a Foreign Language. The two partners in this venture have some 30 years of experience teaching English between them and had previously pinpointed failings within the state and private EFL sector. SpeakEasy Institute aims to give a good...  [Read more]

If you are considering Spain as a location for teaching English, you certainly won't be alone as it has long been one of the most popular destinations in Europe. However, before you buy a plane ticket why not take a look at Latin America as many teachers find that this amazing region is actually a better option for them. For many people, the opportunity to learn a new language is one of the great benefits of teaching English abroad. When it comes to learning Spanish, the assumption that Spain is the best place to do so is certainly a common one. However, in reality the type of Spanish used in Spain actually uses accents and slang terms that are vastly different to the language spoken in other Spanish speaking countries. In fact, many native Spanish speakers from outside of Spain...  [Read more]

There is a very strong demand for ESL teachers in many parts of Poland which makes it a popular place for first-time teachers to gain classroom experience. EU citizens are free to work anywhere in the country without restrictions which does give them a good advantage, however, as demand is high non-EU citizens will also find plenty of opportunities. Although it is possible to acquire a work permit from within Poland, most teachers find it more convenient to secure a job via an online recruitment site and then apply for an entry visa from a Polish Consulate in their own country. Jobs are widespread throughout the country, although major cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz, and Wroclaw traditionally have the largest number of openings. Despite the abundance of jobs across the country,...  [Read more]

Spanish language schools often prefer to employ teachers from within the EU to avoid the hassle of applying for a work permit. Despite this, thousands of non-EU citizens still head to Spain every year to work as ESL teachers. A large proportion of these enter the country on a standard tourist visa and work illegally without a work permit. Although illegal, this practice is very common and rarely causes any problems for the teacher. However, one alternative for non-EU citizens to consider is to apply for a student visa which also allows you to legally teach a set number of hours each week. To get the process underway you need to visit a Spanish Embassy at least three months before your planned departure date. At the embassy you can pick up an application form, verify the exact...  [Read more]

There is a very strong market for TESOL qualified teachers right across Europe and there is never a shortage of people looking to fill any vacant positions that come up. Many people from all over the world like the idea of heading to the UK to work as an ESL teacher, however, there are several things to consider before you book your plane ticket to London. The UK is known to have relatively high levels of immigration and a significant refugee population, which in itself creates plenty of work for English language teachers. In many parts of the country teachers are employed to help newcomers get their language proficiency up to a level that is necessary to get by on a day to day basis. However, the vast majority of these positions are snapped up by local teachers, either newly...  [Read more]

With a population of 1.4 billion people spread throughout a huge geographic area, China always has a vast amount of opportunities for foreign ESL teachers. However, there is one question that teachers continue to ask: The answer to this question would have been yes until quite recently. Although individual schools are still not concerned with whether their teachers have a degree or not, it is government restrictions that have made the difference. It is now an official requirement for teachers to have a degree in order to be eligible for a Z (work) visa. As every teacher needs this visa to work legally, the answer is no, you cannot teach legally in China without a degree. If you don?t qualify for a Z (work) visa, you can visit China on another type of visa such as an L (tourist) visa...  [Read more]

France receives more foreign visitors than any other nation in the world and many of these come to teach English. Thousands of ESL teachers come to France each year to experience the history, culture, fashion, and cuisine. If you want to join them, have a read through the following guide to teaching English in France. As you will find in most of Western Europe, employers of foreign teachers in France generally expect their employees to have completed a TESOL certification course. Anyone who arrives without one is likely to struggle in what is a very competitive job market, where the majority of those applying will be TESOL certified. If you are successful in applying for the government-run teaching assistant recruitment program known as TAPIF, you will have everything arranged...  [Read more]

Although Greece has been popular with ESL teachers for many years, the recent economic downturn has had a significant impact on the number of jobs available. Despite this, teachers continue to be drawn to the country due to the great climate, stunning beaches, and the general culture. As there are less jobs available than in the past, employers can afford to be a little more picky when it comes to the hiring process. Also, recent changes to immigration laws have made it harder for non-EU citizens to obtain the necessary work visa. As a consequence of these factors, many employers choose to only hire teachers with an EU passport. The basic requirements expected when applying for most teaching jobs are a university degree and a TESOL qualification. Greece has a large network of...  [Read more]

ITTT has a highly-respected in-class TESOL course that is available in many different locations around the world. To help you decide which location is best for you we have given a brief overview of our options in each of the major regions below. We would recommend doing your own thorough research in terms of visas and other regulations required for you to attend a four-week training course in another country. As Asia contains the largest markets for English language teachers, there are plenty of centers to choose from throughout the region. Despite recent changes that have taken place in China, there are still some locations to choose from there. Other popular Asian options are Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Our...  [Read more]