How Do I Get A Work Visa For Mexico

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]

In recent years Vietnam has gone from being a possible teaching destination for the future to being a fully fledged TESOL hotspot that is attracting a growing number of teachers every year. First-time teachers, and those with some experience, are drawn to the country for a variety of different reasons including the strong demand for foreign teachers, a relatively low cost of living, competitive salaries, world famous cuisine, and the warm and friendly atmosphere that is evident wherever you go. Although it was once possible to turn up in Vietnam and find a job teaching English with no qualifications and no experience, those days are firmly in the past. Government requirements and those of individual schools have become much stricter in recent times, leading to an increasingly...  [Read more]

One of the reasons why Mexico is an increasingly popular teaching destination is the fact that it is possible for most foreign teachers to get a work visa. Also, there is no requirement for you to possess a degree or to be a native English speaker in order to apply for one. As long as you possess a TESOL certification from a reputable provider, you are eligible for a work visa in Mexico. The great news for foreign ESL teachers is that there are very few restrictions on who can apply for a work visa for teaching English in Mexico. The only nationalities that are not eligible to apply are those from North Korea and Iran and there are no age limits either. A TESOL certificate is required, but there is no need to have a college degree or any previous teaching experience. The only other...  [Read more]

Japan is often regarded as one of the major world destinations for teaching English abroad due to the large number of potential jobs on offer and the large number of people who want to fill them. People come from all over the world to live and work in this most unique of environments and you can join them providing you meet the criteria necessary to gain a work visa. Whether you are drawn by the history and culture, the safe and friendly atmosphere, or the sheer number of things to see and do, Japan is unlikely to disappoint. If you think Japan could be the right choice for you, read on to see what requirements you need to meet. The following represent the basic requirements for teaching English in Japan. However, it is important to know that some of these requirements are not set...  [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]

There are many reasons why the Czech Republic is a very popular destination for teaching English abroad including its warm and friendly people, a fascinating cultural heritage, and some of the best beer in the world. One other crucial factor for many teachers is that it is possible for non-EU citizens to obtain a long-term work visa, which is not always the case in some other parts of Europe. The most common method is to enter the Czech Republic on a standard 90 day tourist visa and then start the application process from within the country. Most teachers apply for a Zivnostensky List (Zivno), which is essentially a business license that permits you to work for any school you choose. The application can be made at a government zivnostensky office in person or you can use a local...  [Read more]

  Our online TESOL courses offer many different features and one of the most popular with our trainees is their high level of flexibility. There are no set times when you have to be online and no fixed timetables for any part of our online courses, which allows you to fit your studies around your own personal responsibilities and lifestyle. You are free to decide for yourself when to study and how much you want to do at any one time. This freedom means you can take one of our online TESOL courses and still carry on with your existing commitments, such as work, family, or study. As there are no timetables to stick to, you can log in to your study dashboard whenever you have a bit of free time and do as much as you can with the time you have. The only real restriction we have with our...  [Read more]

Teaching English online generally requires all the same skills and knowledge as in-class teaching, although you will also need to be confident with the technology involved. Some online teaching platforms operate their lessons via their own software, while others operate using general communication programs such as Google Classroom or Zoom. If you choose to go down the online teaching route you will find that there are just as many different potential scenarios as there are in traditional classroom teaching. You might find yourself teaching only kindergarten children or only adults, or any other mix in between. Your lessons might be strictly one-to-one or you might have groups of various sizes. Specialized courses such as business English are also a common option. As online teaching...  [Read more]

  The popularity of China as a destination for English language teachers has steadily increased in recent years, and it is now right at the top of the list with an estimated 100,000 foreign teachers working in the country each year. As a result of an extraordinary economic boom, Chinese parents are more willing than ever to spend thousands of dollars on their children's English education to give them the best chance of success in the future. With over 300 million people learning English across the country, China's insatiable demand for English language teachers looks set to continue. As there are often more job opportunities than there are teachers to fill them, schools are willing to offer very good salaries and other benefits to attract teachers. Salaries vary depending on the...  [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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Spain is popular with foreign ESL teachers for many reasons including the consistently booming job market, the easy going culture, the warm climate, and the great food. Jobs can be found all year-round in many areas, but are you eligible to work there legally? The simple answer is no, you do not require a degree in order to legally teach English in Spain. There are no government requirements for teachers to have any kind of academic background and the demand is so high in many areas that employers are equally unconcerned about your degree status. Generally speaking, schools in Spain prefer native English speakers in their classrooms as this is what most local students are looking for. However, they will not simply hire you on that basis without having completed some form of teacher...  [Read more]

As an ESL teacher you are likely to apply for multiple jobs and in most cases head overseas, both of which require a variety of documentation. Some things cannot be sorted out until you are actually in your country of choice, however, it is essential that you organize all the documents you can in advance so you have them to hand whenever they are needed during a job interview or when applying for a visa. In most cases, anyone traveling outside of their home country will need a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months or even a year. To avoid any problems while you are overseas the best advice is to make sure you have at least two years left on your passport before you head off. In some countries you also need to apply for an entry visa before leaving home, while some will...  [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]

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]

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]