Top TEFL destinations in 2025

With each year that passes, we notice different trends and patterns emerge. Loads of our students become excellent teachers, and they want to ply their trade overseas in one of countless amazing destinations. Those destinations, well - they’re fascinating. Some places are ever-popular. They’re cast-iron, absolute bankers. As far as we can tell, ambitious TEFL teachers will always flock to, and with good reason. Other students want to become teachers in more challenging locations where the teaching infrastructure isn’t optimal and want to be part of the change. Or, they want to move from place to place, either working freelance or taking on short teaching contracts so they can visit as many countries as possible.

There are, however, no really “bad” TEFL destinations. Every place has its pros and cons, and it’s all about making a personal decision based on your preferences, safety, job opportunities, salaries and the overall vibe you get from a place. There’s significant demand for English teaching, well… everywhere. Online and in person, you’ll never be short for students if you know where to look.

There are some stand-out TEFL locations, however. Some countries tick every box. You won’t be surprised at one or two of our choices, but there are some emerging picks for 2025 that, we feel, deserve more attention.

Let’s get to it, then. Where will you TEFL in 2025?

Where are TEFL teachers in demand?

Before we get to anything else, let’s tackle one of the most frequently asked questions we get around here. Where are TEFL teachers in demand?

If you’re looking for a simple answer, good news! TEFL teachers are in demand everywhere. English is the world’s most popular language, after all. Around 1.5 billion people speak English worldwide at various levels of proficiency. English is the lingua france of international business. English-language pop culture is enormous. The long and short of it is that people want to learn English.

Mind you, the whole planet isn’t some kind of employment bonanza. Job availability is more widespread in some countries than others. For example, South Korea , Japan , and Spain have significantly bigger TEFL markets than the US Virgin Islands, San Marino, and Liechtenstein. Some nations specifically hire TEFL teachers through government programmes; in others, you must find jobs yourself. The TEFL Org Jobs Centre makes that much easier whichever route you take!

What do you need to TEFL?

What do you need to turn 2024 teaching dreams into 2025’s career realities? Well, firstly, get yourself a TEFL certificate . A TEFL certificate from at least 120 hours of training will provide the foundation for the rest of your teaching career. It’s the industry standard and what employers will look for.

In many places, you’ll need a degree to get a job teaching English as a foreign language. It isn’t always the case, though; you can TEFL without a degree in plenty of fascinating TEFL locations. This is especially true if you have some teaching experience, a TEFL certificate, plenty of enthusiasm and some transferable skills to bring to the table.

We mentioned teaching experience there, and while having a few years of work experience is always desirable, you can find TEFL work abroad without experience . You can also teach English online without experience . You don’t need to have taught before to become a TEFL teacher. Otherwise, nobody would be able to do it, would they?

What else do you need? Here are some essential skills that TEFL employers love, but won’t always show up on a CV , and ten skills needed to be a great TEFL teacher !

China

You knew China would be here, and it continues to be the most prominent presence in the TEFL world for ambitious teachers who want a total culture change. China has the most jobs, the most teaching companies, the most international schools, an abundance of megacities, and... well… everything, really.

There are approximately 400 million English learners in China . Four hundred million. Though TEFL teachers still feel the effects of a ban on private tutoring in China, there is still more than enough work going around, especially in the enormous metropolises of Shanghai and Beijing.

If living in a metropolitan area with nearly 25 million inhabitants sounds a little busy, there are many great options. The tier system for cities in China is based on economic standing and population. So, if you’d prefer a smaller city, you can teach in Tier 3 locations like Qujing, Yangzhou or Zhangzhou. It’s not all about skyscrapers and commutes - head out to towns or even rural China, where there’ll still be considerable demand for English teachers.

Requirements to teach in China : bachelor’s degree (in any discipline), 120-hour TEFL qualification to receive a Foreign Expert Certificate and a Z visa 

Proficiency level ( via EF ): Low (91st of 116 countries)

Biggest cities: Shanghai, Beijing

Taiwan

We’re not venturing far to our next top TEFL destination for 2025. Taiwan is a fantastic place to teach English as a foreign language, with its distinct culture, exciting club scene , delicious cuisine and - crucially! - loads of well-paid English teaching jobs .

With opportunities through private schools, international schools, language schools and government-led initiatives like the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Programme (TFETP) , you’ll have no issue finding work. Many businesses are also looking to boost their English language proficiency across Taiwan, so private tutoring gigs aren’t hard to come by.

With high wages, excellent living standards, and breathtaking views, we’re expecting a large number of TEFL teachers to call Taiwan home in 2025.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree (in any discipline), 120-hour TEFL qualification
Biggest cities: Taipei City, Tainan

Spain

Much like China, Spain will be an ever-present in lists like these. The culture, way of life, considerable demand for English and the weather will always make Espana a top TEFL destination, and it’s no mystery why.

Even if you distilled Spanish life down to its exciting festivals and passion for sport and music, you’d have a country that offers so much to intrepid TEFL adventurers. However, that’s just scratching the surface. There isn’t space to start talking about the history, the differences between Spain’s culturally distinct regions, the incredible art, the food, and so much more. 

With programmes like Meddeas and NALCAP , a schooling system that emphasises the importance of learning English, countless language schools, and many potential students to tutor, Spain has opportunities galore. 

Requirements: TEFL certification, degree preferred

Proficiency level ( via EF ): Moderate (36th of 116 countries)

Biggest cities: Barcelona , Madrid

Mexico

You're doing something right when you attract over 40 million tourists a year. Mexico doesn’t get the shine it ought to as a TEFL destination, but it’s hard to see why. With countless fascinating outposts from Mexico City to Cabo San Lucas via Guadalajara and Tijuana, Mexico is just packed with amazing places to teach English. 

Mexico has approximately 24 million English students but surprisingly low levels of conversational proficiency. So, add “enormous opportunity” to “gorgeous place to live”, and if our arithmetic is correct, that equals “Mexico should be welcoming TEFL teachers by the thousand”.

Teaching English in Latin America more widely is becoming increasingly popular, and with good reason. Starting a journey across the continent with a stay in Mexico sounds plenty appealing where we’re sitting. Let us know how it goes. Would you like to invite us over? We’ll start packing our sombreros now.

Requirements: TEFL certificate

Proficiency level ( via EF ): Low (87th of 116 countries)

Biggest cities: Mexico City, Tijuana

Online

You don’t necessarily need to dust off your passport to be a fantastic TEFL teacher. You can do it from the comfort of your own home.

With so many opportunities across various companies and platforms, teaching English online has never been more accessible or exciting. The online English teaching landscape keeps growing and changing. While there are tried and trusted platforms where you can find students for one-to-one Zoom lessons, there are gamification spaces where you can guide students through interactive games and quizzes. Through AI and other new technologies, language learning online is having an exhilarating moment in time, and more teachers are eager to become a part of the picture.

What do you need to get started? Having the right technology to teach English online is undoubtedly essential. Of course, a TEFL certificate is a must - there are even specific online English teaching courses . Enthusiasm and the ability to organise yourself are crucial, as you’ll likely work across different time zones. Finally, you must dedicate time and effort to make it work - but that’s true of any teaching job!

New year, new opportunities

Where will you teach in 2025? Are there any achingly, unbelievably obvious countries we’ve missed out here? Do you have any sleeper picks for upcoming TEFL destinations? What’s your experience of teaching abroad or online?

If you’ve got a certificate from The TEFL Org and have a story to tell, we want to hear all about it. Email euan@tefl.org , let us know what you’ve been up to, and you could tell your story to thousands of our readers or on our podcast, I Taught English Abroad !

If you’re new to teaching or considering getting TEFL qualified, our dedicated sales team and tutors are on hand to answer all your questions. You don’t need to commit to anything without knowing all you need to know. If you’re wondering which kind of TEFL course you should take, try taking our TEFL course quiz .

There’s a world out there for you to explore. Let us help you take that first leap into the rest of your life.

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