A complete guide to teaching overseas
Once you have decided you want to move to a new country and teach internationally, it can be hard to know where to start – and the sheer amount of information out there means research is often overwhelming.
So we’ve put together a guide to what you need to know about teaching in international schools overseas.
Contents:
Have I got the necessary qualifications and experience?
Firstly, consider whether you are in a position to apply for overseas roles.
International schools normally expect you to have a recognised teaching qualification – and depending on the school and country, you may be required to have a set number of years’ experience or specific subject-related qualifications.
For example, if you apply for a visa to teach at a secondary school in Abu Dhabi, your degree will need to be in the subject you want to teach.
Some schools do take early career teachers, but you should check with the institution or government issuing your qualification whether this is acceptable.
How do I narrow down my search?
First, decide what’s important to you in the type of school and location. Shortlist some criteria for both and you’ll soon start to narrow down your search.
If you want to live somewhere warm with a social life and teach the IB, for example, you’ll soon find your pool of schools will become more manageable.
Look for online forums and groups on social media, and you can start to get a flavour of what different countries and education settings have to offer. But remember to take social media comments with a pinch of salt – and cross reference what you find.
No matter how many forums you read or teachers you follow online, everyone will have a different experience of working in a particular country. Make sure you think about what’s right for you.
Do you want a thriving expat scene where your weekends are spent having brunch in local foodie hotspots, or do you want to immerse yourself in local culture and learn the language?
What legalities are there to consider?
If you want to teach internationally, you’ll need to comply with the legal requirements of the country you’ll be teaching in.
Like the requirements for teaching roles, these will also vary by country – and might influence where you choose to relocate to.
However, it will likely include:
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Obtaining a visa or work permit
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Meeting local qualification or certification requirements
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Complying with local labour laws
Visa requirements
Most countries will require a work visa or permit for you to legally teach there – and if an advertised role that says this isn’t needed, it might be a red flag.
Visa requirements are different in every country and depending on the citizenship you hold.
Make sure you research the requirements of a country you’re interested in working at, as some have limitations – for example, you won’t be grated a work visa in the United Arab Emirates if you have certain health conditions.
It’s important you research visa requirements well in advance of moving to a new country, as application processes can take a lot of time and usually require specific documentation.
Awareness of local laws and culture
When you move to a different country, you need to live and work in accordance with their laws and culture.
As such, it’s essential you have an awareness of these – this might be around your social life such as whether you can drink alcohol in public, or more personal issues like public displays of affection and acceptance of different sexualities.
It's also important you understand labour laws, including:
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Working hours
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Wages
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Benefits
This ensures that when it comes to accepting a job, you understand what you'll be entitled to and can make sure your employment contract is fair.
How do I find the right school for me?
Once you’ve decided which part of the world you want to work in, you also need to draw up a shortlist of schools. There are lots of different international schools out there, so think about the type of experience you want as you narrow down your search.
Do you want to teach a particular curriculum? Just because you’ve never taught the IB, that doesn’t mean your application won’t make the shortlist.
Do you want to be part of a big school group? Although some teachers like the freedom of a single school, international groups can offer more opportunities to move around.
If you want to get a flavour of what’s out there but find the world of overseas schools overwhelming, you could sign up for a careers fair.
These are often global events, with schools attending from across the world – and they sometimes result in job offers, so don’t be afraid to research schools in advance and come with a CV.
How do I make my application stand out?
Although schools have minimum requirements when it comes to qualifications and experience, there is so much more you can do to appeal to international headteachers.
The usual rules apply when filling in a teaching application form, so make sure you make specific references to the school and the job description – and get someone to proofread it.
But in addition, think about what else you can do to make international heads take notice.
Make sure leaders know you want the job and you’re not just collecting stamps on your passport.
Schools also want to know that you’ll be able to handle whatever international teaching throws at you – whether that’s challenging parent engagement or adapting to a new and changing environment – so make sure your flexibility and resilience come through.
How can I ace the online interview?
The final hurdle when it comes to securing an overseas job is the interview. While you may be familiar with interviewing in person at UK schools, international schools often complete the process entirely online.
It’s not uncommon to be asked to do multiple online interviews. You could be asked to submit recorded answers to questions as part of the application process, so getting comfortable on camera is a must.
Remember, this is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have before you move your life to another part of the world – so think of a few questions of your own, too.
Ready to make the move?
With Tes Jobs, you can search roles across the world for teachers of all levels – so you can find the right job for you, wherever you are in your career.
Make your next role your dream role – and find it with Tes.
Originally published in 2021 and updated by Tes in 2026.