Visas and background checks

To enter Cambodia you need either a T Class visa or an Ordinary Visa E Class.

If you don’t plan to teach in Cambodia after the course, a T Class visa is sufficient. It’s valid for 30 days and can be renewed once for a further 30 days without leaving the country.

If you plan to stay and teach in Cambodia after the course, it’s best to enter on an Ordinary Visa E Class. These are also valid for 30 days and can be obtained from a Cambodian embassy or at the port of entry. They can be extended once for one, three, six or twelve months. If you extend for six or twelve months, you’ll be able to leave and re-enter the country as many times as you like, and open a bank account in Cambodia. When you secure a teaching job, employers in Cambodia often assist with the process of obtaining a work permit and extending your visa. This depends on the school’s policies and your contract.

If you enter Cambodia on a T class visa, you may need to leave the country briefly to obtain an Ordinary Visa E class prior to transitioning to a Work Permit. For example, some teachers take a day trip from Phnom Penh to the Vietnam border. This typically costs around $120, including the visa.

The government fee for a Work Permit and related visa extension is US $540.00 +/-. Typically, this is a shared cost between the employer and the employee.

Most nationalities don’t require a visa to enter Costa Rica, and you’ll automatically receive an entry stamp at immigration valid for 90 days. For some nationalities this is 30 days, and for a few nationalities a visa IS required. Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months from your entry date into Costa Rica, and you may need to show proof of onward travel and funds sufficient for the duration of your stay.

At immigration, you should state “tourism” as the purpose of your trip. If you state “study”, you may have to pay for a special visa, which is not necessary, as our partner centre’s TEFL course falls under the category of Educational Tourism.

Some teachers choose to extend their stay beyond 90 days by making a short trip to Nicaragua or Panama, which are easily accessible, and then returning to Costa Rica. (Please note that visa policies can change, so it’s important to check the latest rules.)

If you work in Costa Rica after the course, your employer will normally help you with the work visa process – this will depend on the length of your contract and the benefits provided.

Most nationalities don’t need a visa to enter the Czech Republic for short stays. You’ll receive a 90-day entry stamp upon arrival if you’re from a visa-exempt country. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay.

If you’re planning to stay and work in Prague after the course and are not an EU citizzen, you’ll need to apply for a long-term visa. The most common option is the Živnostenský list (freelance license), which allows you to work legally for multiple schools and private clients.

The visa process can be complex, but don’t worry – our partner centre works with Visa Guru, an in-house visa agency that will guide you through every step. You’ll receive detailed instructions before the course and full support throughout the process.

If you’re an EU citizen, you don’t need a visa to live or work in the Czech Republic. Some employers may still ask you to register for a Živno license, but the process is usually simpler and can be completed after arrival.

EU citizens

If you’re an EU citizen, you don’t need a visa to take the TEFL course or work – you can study and work legally in France.

British and American citizens

If you’re British or American, you will need to apply for a visa by one of the following two main options:

1. Apply for a long stay visa by setting up as a freelance English teacher. For this, you’ll need to submit a business plan. Your TEFL course in Toulouse will be at the heart of this plan. Our partner centre provides guidance on how to apply for this visa and supports you during the process. For this type of visa you also need to show that you have savings equivalent to living on the French minimum wage.
2. Apply for a student visa. If you enrol for French courses (our partner centre’s course gives you 15% off at the Alliance Francaise) you can legally work up to 20 hours per week. You would stay in Toulouse for a minimum of 5 months, the first month of which is your TEFL course. You would normally study French in the mornings, leaving you free to teach for the rest of the day. The French courses would cost around 500 euros per month, so this option is for those who want to improve their French and have the budget to do so. Please note that this method doesn’t guarantee you work, it just allows you to work legally while you are studying. Our partner centre provides guidance on how to apply for this visa and supports you during the process.

Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens

If you are from Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can come to France on a Working Holiday Visa for a year. You need to be under 30 (35 for Canadians). This visa allows you to work on a contract with a language school. Canadians can extend it while in France.

If you have a different nationality, please get in touch, we’re here to help.

Most nationalities don’t require a visa to enter Guatemala, and you’ll automatically receive an entry stamp at immigration valid for 90 days. For some nationalities a visa IS required.

Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months from your entry date into Guatemala.

At immigration, you should state “tourism” as the purpose of your trip. If you state “study”, you may have to pay for a special visa, which is not necessary, as our partner centre’s TEFL course falls under the category of Educational Tourism.

Some teachers choose to extend their stay beyond 90 days by making a short trip to Mexico or Belize, which are easily accessible, and then returning to Guatemala. (Please note that visa policies can change, so it’s important to check the latest rules.)

If you work in Guatemala after the course, your employer will normally help you with the work visa process – this will depend on the length of your contract and the benefits provided.

EU citizens

If you’re an EU citizen, you don’t need a visa to take the TEFL course or work – you can study and work legally in Italy.

British and American citizens

If you are British or American, you will need to apply for a student visa to work in Italy. With a student visa, you can legally work, normally for up to 20 hours per week. Getting a student visa involves enrolling to study Italian at a local school or university, which leaves you free to teach at language schools or freelance in the afternoons/evenings and at weekends. With this option, you need to factor in the cost of the Italian course when working out living costs and budgeting.

Our partner centre can help with this process- please get in touch to find out more.

Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens

If you are from Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can come to Italy on a Working Holiday Visa for a year. You need to be under 30 (35 for Canadians). This visa allows you to work on a contract with a language school.

If you have a different nationality, please get in touch, we’re here to help.

Most nationalities don’t require a visa to enter the country, and you’ll automatically receive an entry stamp at immigration valid for up to 183 days. (Immigration officials typically issue a shorter, 90 day visa unless you politely request one for 183 days!) For a few nationalities a visa IS required.

Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months from your entry date into Peru, and you may need to show proof of onward travel.

At immigration you’ll receive a tourist card, which you need to present again at departure. You should state “tourism” as the purpose of your trip. If you state “study”, you may have to pay for a special visa, which is not necessary, as our partner centre’s TEFL course falls under the category of Educational Tourism.

Some teachers choose to extend their stay beyond 90 (or 183) days by making a short trip to Bolivia, which is easily accessible, and then returning to Peru. (Please note that visa policies can change, so it’s important to check the latest rules.)

If you work in Peru after the course, your employer will normally help you with the work visa process – this will depend on the length of your contract and the benefits provided.

EU citizens

If you’re an EU citizen, you don’t need a visa to take the TEFL course or work – you can study and work legally in Spain.

British and American citizens

If you’re a British or American citizen, you’ll need a visa that allows you to work in Spain. One common option is to apply for a student visa, which permits you to work part-time – usually up to 20 hours per week – while you study at a recognised Spanish language school or university.

With this arrangement, you study in the mornings and are free to teach at private language schools or freelance in the afternoons, evenings, and on weekends. It’s important to factor in the cost of your Spanish course when budgeting for your stay.

Please note: this visa does not guarantee work – it only gives you the legal right to work part-time while studying.

Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens

If you’re from Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you may be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa to live and work in Spain for up to 12 months. These agreements are typically for people aged 18 to 30 (up to 35 for Canadians).

This visa allows you to work legally during your stay, including at private language schools. It’s a popular option for those looking to teach English in Spain without needing employer sponsorship.

Keep in mind that working holiday visa quotas are limited and eligibility depends on bilateral agreements with your home country. Be sure to check the specific requirements with the Spanish consulate in your country.

If you have a different nationality, please get in touch, we’re here to help.

To teach English in Turkey you’ll need a residency permit and work visa. The residency permit allows you to live in Turkey once your tourist visa expires, but not to work. The work visa, sponsored by your employer, allows you to work.

Once you have secured a job, employers may assist with the application process for the work visa, depending on the school’s policies. You’ll need to provide your TEFL certificate, Bachelor’s degree certificate and passport.

For the residency permit, you’ll need an application form, your passport, passport photos, a small application fee (which may or may not be paid by your employer), and proof of funds in your bank account to cover the duration of your stay, or evidence that you will be earning money (i.e. a job offer). You can apply for the residency permit yourself at the police headquarters, but again, some employers may assist with this process depending on their policies and your contract.

To enter Vietnam, you need a tourist visa. A tourist e-visa costs $25 and is valid for 90 days, which covers the duration of the TEFL course and, in most cases, the transition time needed to secure a work permit from an employer, and the related 2-year visa, afterward.

In rare cases where the work permit and long-term visa aren’t ready within 90 days, you may need to briefly leave the country to renew your tourist visa. For example, some teachers take a dedicated visa renewal bus from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodian border and back. The process typically takes half a day and costs around $115, including the visa fee.

Once you secure a job, your employer may sponsor your work permit and assist with the process of obtaining a related long-term visa, typically valid for up to two years.

For this, you’ll need your university degree certificate, a clean criminal background check (not more than six months old), your TEFL certificate, and a clean bill of health (arranged by your employer). If you are a non-native speaker, you’ll need official test results showing your proficiency in English at C1 level or above.