Best Countries to Teach Abroad 2026

Teaching abroad is a beneficial way to see the world, experience other cultures, and make friends. This allows people to explore anywhere in the world while building their résumé. A great way to do so is to find a paid teach abroad program to guarantee that you will have a paycheck and offer support for teachers getting accustomed to their new life abroad. These programs, however, have several requirements in order to be accepted.

Some international schools may look for licensed teachers to teach specific subjects, but in order to teach English, one only needs a Bachelor’s degree in any area of study. Teach abroad programs also may require a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, which helps the candidate gain confidence and develop strong teaching skills. The most obvious qualification is to have strong English language skills. Native speakers generally do not need to worry about this, but non-native speakers are also accepted into programs and can usually prove their skills when completing a TEFL course.

As with traveling abroad for vacation, some countries are better to teach in than others. Salary, cost of living, safety, and ease of transition may all be points of concern.

South Korea is the best country to teach abroad. South Korea is a modern country with high-tech cities and is one of the largest markets in the world for TEFL teachers. A typical teacher contract includes free airfare, paid vacation, and a one-month salary bonus. After expenses, teachers can usually save around $1,000 per month of their salary, which typically ranges from $1,850 to $2,500 per month. Many of the countries on this list have low costs of living, allowing teachers to save a considerable amount of their salary every month. The English teacher markets are strong, large, and growing in many countries so demand is high.