TEFL Jobs in Indonesia
Make a positive impact and see the world with our exciting TEFL jobs.
Teach English in Indonesia and experience an exotic and vibrant culture. When you teach in Indonesia, you'll have the amazing opportunity to explore ancient temples, burgeoning cities and some truly blissful beaches. Immerse yourself in this land of adventure and discover a spectacular tropical archipelago. Take a look at our exciting teaching jobs in Indonesia today!
The easiest big Asian market to get hired in
Indonesia has more first-year teaching jobs than almost anywhere in Asia, and its biggest employers hire from abroad, sponsor the visa, pay for your flights and give you a structured year with training. Pay is lower than China or Korea, but so is everything else, and the country you get to explore on the weekends is 17,000 islands wide. If you want a proper contract without needing experience first, this is where to look.
- Jakarta
- Surabaya
- Bandung
- Yogyakarta
- Bali
- Medan
What you need to teach English in Indonesia
The requirements are set by Indonesian immigration rather than by employers, and the two that catch people out are the passport rule and the degree. Meet both and you're in demand; miss either and no amount of experience will get you a work permit.
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A TEFL certificate
Required for the work permit and by every language centre worth joining. Some employers will sponsor a course if you arrive without one, but applying already certified puts you at the front of the queue and gives you a choice of city rather than what's left.
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A bachelor's degree, in any subject
A condition of the work permit, no exceptions. Any field is fine for language centres; national-plus and international schools prefer education or English-related degrees and a teaching licence.
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A KITAS work permit through your employer
Your school applies for the work permit and temporary stay visa before you travel, then you convert to a KITAS residence card on arrival. Allow six to eight weeks and expect a medical and a police check. Teaching on a tourist visa is illegal and enforced.
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The right passport, under the age limit
Indonesia issues teaching work permits only to citizens of the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and most employers cap new hires at 55. No experience is needed for language centre roles, which is the whole appeal.
Immigration rules and the list of approved nationalities change periodically, and some regions require your degree to be legalised. Talk to our team before committing, and see our guide on how to legalise your TEFL certificate for the apostille step.
Which TEFL course should you take for Indonesia?
Given Indonesian salaries, weigh the course against what you'll earn. For a language centre contract the 120-hour course is the sensible choice. The heavier qualifications earn their keep if you're aiming at the national-plus and international schools in Jakarta, where pay doubles, or plan to move on to Vietnam, China or the Gulf afterwards.
120hr Professional TEFL
£99
What the language centres and the work permit require, at a price that makes sense against a local salary. The practical starting point for a first contract.
- Meets the work permit requirement
- Finish in 2–4 weeks
- Lifetime access to materials
170hr Combined TEFL
£279
Includes 20 hours of assessed practice with real ESL learners. Your first month in Indonesia is rooms full of energetic children and teenagers; this is the one that means you've already run a class before you land.
- Ready for the demo lesson
- Confidence with young learners
- Free lesson plan bundle included
168hr Level 5 TEFL
£269
Ofqual-regulated and awarded by TQUK. Worth it if you're targeting the Jakarta and Surabaya schools that pay above language-centre rates, or if Indonesia is your first step towards a better-paying market.
- Regulated, not just accredited
- Opens the better-paying schools
- Travels with you to any market
Most Indonesian contracts are with children from about four upwards, and kindergarten classes are common. The Early Childhood Education course (£15) is a small add-on that prepares you for the youngest ones. Or compare every package side by side.
What to expect teaching English in Indonesia
Pay and package
Expect a salary in rupiah that looks small in sterling and stretches a long way locally, plus a package that covers the big fixed costs.
- Language centres: IDR 12–15 million a month after tax (£600–£750)
- National-plus schools: IDR 18–30 million (£900–£1,500)
- International schools: £2,000–£4,000+ for licensed teachers
- Shared housing or an allowance on most contracts
- Flight reimbursement, health insurance and a contract-completion bonus
- Living costs low enough to save a little and travel a lot
Where you might teach
Language centres are the volume employer and the realistic first job; the school tiers above them want a licence and experience.
- Language centres — afternoons, evenings and weekends; children, teens and adults
- National-plus schools — English-medium private schools, school-day hours
- International (SPK) schools — best paid, want QTS or PGCE
- Universities and corporate English — occasional, usually for experienced teachers
- Kindergartens and bilingual pre-schools — growing fast in Jakarta and Surabaya
Getting hired
The big chains recruit continuously and interview online, which is why Indonesia is the easiest large market to land a contract in from home.
- Hiring year-round, with peaks before the July and January terms
- Online interview and a short demo lesson
- Six to eight weeks for the permit and visa
- Training and induction on arrival, sometimes a city rotation option
- Twelve-month contracts, 20–25 teaching hours a week
| City | Climate | What it's like | Job market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jakarta | Hot, humid, wet season November to March | Vast, chaotic, ambitious; malls, traffic and the best food and nightlife | Largest by far: chains, national-plus and international schools |
| Surabaya | Hot and dry | Indonesia's second city, more relaxed, a jumping-off point for Bromo and Bali | Strong language-centre demand, less competition |
| Bandung | Cool highlands | Student city in the hills, cafés, creative scene, mild weather | Good for centres; popular with teachers who dislike heat |
| Yogyakarta | Hot, with a dry season | Cultural capital: Borobudur, batik, gamelan and a big university population | Smaller market, lower costs, loyal students |
| Bali | Tropical, dry season April to October | Beaches, temples and a large expat and digital-nomad crowd | Few sponsored teaching jobs; visit rather than plan to work here |
| Medan and Sumatra | Hot and humid | Orangutans, volcanic lakes and almost no other foreigners | Quietly good: centres short of native speakers |
Teaching in Indonesia: your questions answered
How much do English teachers earn in Indonesia?
Most first-year teachers earn IDR 12–15 million a month after tax, roughly £600–£750, with housing or an allowance, flights reimbursed and a completion bonus on top. National-plus schools pay more and international schools far more, but both want a licence. See our guide to how much you can earn as a TEFL teacher.
Can I save money?
A little. Rent is covered or subsidised, a meal costs a pound or two and local transport is cheap, so most teachers live comfortably and put some aside. Nobody comes to Indonesia to build savings; they come for an easy first contract and a country worth exploring, then move to a higher-paying market with a year's experience.
Do I need experience?
Not for language centres, which train you on arrival and are set up for first-year teachers. National-plus and international schools want two years and a licence. A completed teaching practicum helps if you want a wider choice of city or a stronger start.
Do I need to be a native English speaker?
Yes, in effect. Indonesian immigration issues English teaching permits only to citizens of the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. There is no workaround, and employers won't interview outside that list, however good your English.
What are the hours like?
Language centres run when their students are free, so expect afternoons, evenings and Saturdays with weekday mornings off, typically 20–25 teaching hours a week. School contracts follow a normal school day. Both give you the long public holidays around Eid and the year end.
Can I teach in Bali?
Rarely. Bali has plenty of foreigners but very few sponsored English teaching jobs, and most of the people teaching there are doing it informally, which risks deportation. Take a contract on Java, where the work is, and treat Bali as the short flight it is.
Is it safe, and what about the culture?
Indonesia is a friendly, safe country for teachers, and the cities you'll work in have long-established foreign teaching communities. It is also the world's largest Muslim-majority country: dress modestly at school, be aware of Ramadan, and follow your employer's lead. Bali is Hindu and more relaxed; Aceh in northern Sumatra is stricter.
Which programme does TEFL UK place with?
We recruit for one of Indonesia's largest language-centre networks, with schools in over thirty cities, twelve-month contracts, housing, flight reimbursement and a rotation option that lets you see more than one part of the country. Have a look at our teach in Indonesia listing for the current package and locations.
Not certified yet? Start there.
Every role on this page needs a TEFL certificate before the permit can be filed. Get qualified in a few weeks, then our placement team will match you with a school and walk you through the visa.
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