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Teach English in Costa Rica and discover a spectacular land that consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries on earth. Costa Rica is a melting pot of cultures, religions, and people who are passionate about living the "pura vida" with pure joy. Take in the sights, sounds, and flavours of music, art, and gastronomy of this biodiverse paradise, where sultry tropical beaches co-exist with steamy jungles and vibrant, bustling cities. Take a look at our exciting teaching jobs in Costa Rica today!
Costa Rica is the most popular place in Central America to teach English, and one of the easiest to get into. A 120-hour TEFL certificate and a bachelor's degree are enough for most language school jobs, employers hire year-round, and a small number of well-run schools, including our partner Idioma Internacional in San José, sponsor a legal work visa. You won't save a fortune, but the trade is a low-stress, outdoors-first lifestyle in a country that regularly tops the world's happiness rankings.
On visas, Costa Rica is stricter than its reputation suggests. Many teachers work on tourist entry and leave every 90 days, but that is informal and means no aguinaldo (the legally required extra month's pay each December) and no state healthcare. A sponsored work visa through an employer such as Idioma Internacional puts you on the right side of the law and enrols you in the CCSS health system. You will need an apostilled birth certificate and criminal record check to apply, so start gathering those before you fly.
Costa Rican schools want a solid, accredited certificate rather than a university-level qualification, so you don't need a Level 5 course here. Our two most popular options both meet the 120-hour benchmark every employer in Costa Rica uses. Choose the 120-hour if you want to qualify quickly and affordably; choose the 150-hour Advanced if you want the extra modules on teaching adults and business English that Costa Rica's corporate-heavy market rewards.
A language school salary covers a comfortable local lifestyle rather than savings: a room in a shared house in San José runs USD $350–550 a month, a lunchtime casado at a local soda costs a few dollars, and buses are cheap and everywhere. What you get in return is weekends at Manuel Antonio, Arenal or Monteverde, a genuinely friendly culture and the pura vida pace that keeps so many teachers there longer than the year they planned.
Full-time onsite and online teaching with Idioma Internacional in San José, with a sponsored work visa, health cover and paid holidays, or our supported TEFL Internship if you'd rather have placement and orientation arranged for you.
View the Teach Costa Rica jobBoth the 120-hour and 150-hour courses are online and self-paced, so you can qualify in a few weeks and apply in time for the next monthly intake in Costa Rica.
Start the 150-hour Advanced TEFLFor a sponsored work visa, yes: employers such as Idioma Internacional require a bachelor's degree. Some smaller language schools and volunteer programmes will take teachers with a TEFL certificate alone, but a degree opens up the better-paid jobs and the legal route to working.
Language school teachers typically earn USD $600 to $1,200 a month for 20 to 25 hours of teaching, with entry-level roles at the lower end. Bilingual schools pay more, and international schools USD $1,500 to $2,500 a month for licensed teachers. Legally employed teachers also receive an extra month's salary each December.
A 120-hour TEFL is the minimum every school asks for. We recommend the 150-hour Advanced TEFL for Costa Rica because it adds modules on teaching adults and business English, which is what most language schools in San José actually deliver. A Level 5 qualification isn't necessary for this market.
No. Lessons are taught entirely in English. Basic Spanish makes banking, renting and daily life much easier, and B1 Spanish is a preferred extra on some applications, but it is not a requirement.
Language schools hire year-round on a month-to-month basis, with a slight peak in January and June. Bilingual and international schools recruit six to nine months ahead of their February start. Because most schools interview in person or by video with a short lead time, it's best to have your TEFL certificate finished before you apply.
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