Teach English in Colombia: Salary, Jobs and Visa (2027 Guide)
A legal, paid teaching job, open to TEFL holders without a degree
Now recruiting: English Ambassadors
Your guide to teaching English in Colombia
Salsa, coffee country and some of the warmest people in Latin America, with a legal, paid teaching job that's open to TEFL holders without a degree. Here's what it pays, who can apply and what life is like.
We recruit English Ambassadors for established language schools in eight Colombian cities. Our service is free for teachers. Not ready yet? Get job alerts.
Hiring now
Salento, in Colombia's coffee region
Language schools · English Ambassadors Program
English Ambassador, small-group classes
Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Manizales and more · Starts any time
COP 3,746,620A month, before deductions
Up to 6 studentsSmall classes, easy to manage
Work permitPlus a visa contribution after 6 months
Health insuranceCovered for your whole contract
Choose a morning, afternoon or full-day shift, Monday to Friday plus every other Saturday, with orientation on arrival, ongoing training and paid time off on a 12-month renewable contract.
You'll need: fluent English and either a degree or a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA. No teaching experience needed.
Most countries need a degree for a teaching work visa. This programme accepts a TEFL instead, so a 120-hour online course is all that stands between you and a legal, paid teaching job in Colombia.
Looking for our public school programme or Spanish immersion trips? They aren't running at the moment. Leave your email and we'll tell you when they reopen.
You choose your shift when you accept your offer, so you can plan your life around it, whether that's Spanish classes, salsa lessons or weekend trips.
Feature
Morning shift
Afternoon shift
Full-day shift
Hours
6am to 1:30pm
1:30pm to 9pm
9am to 6pm
Saturdays
Every other Saturday, 8am to 4pm
Every other Saturday, 8am to 4pm
Every other Saturday, 8am to 4pm
Your free time
Afternoons and evenings
Mornings
Evenings
Best for
Early risers who want afternoons to explore
Night owls and Spanish classes in the morning
A classic working-day routine
Why teach English in Colombia?
Colombia has set out to become a more bilingual country, and demand for English is growing fast among students and professionals who want better jobs and study opportunities. Language schools in cities across the country are hiring English speakers year-round.
For teachers, Colombia offers something different from Asia: Spanish, salsa, mountains, coffee farms and the Caribbean coast, all in one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. Salaries cover a good local lifestyle rather than big savings, but few places give you as much life for your money.
A word on safety
Colombia has transformed over the last twenty years, and thousands of foreigners live and work in its cities. Use normal big-city precautions, take local advice on neighbourhoods and transport, and check your government's travel advice before you go.
The world's tallest palms in the Cocora Valley, a weekend trip from Manizales.
A realistic month in Bogotá or Medellín
Here's an illustrative budget for an English Ambassador renting a room in a shared flat. Costs are a little lower in smaller cities such as Manizales and Villavicencio.
Take-home pay, after health and pension contributions
about COP 3,450,000
Room in a shared flat
COP 1,200,000
Utilities and internet share
COP 150,000
Phone and data
COP 50,000
Groceries and eating out
COP 900,000
Buses, metro and taxis
COP 200,000
Going out, gym and salsa classes
COP 400,000
Weekend trips
COP 300,000
Left over
about COP 250,000
Roughly £50 a month. Many teachers top up their income with private lessons.
Our honest take
Colombia isn't about saving money. The salary covers a good local life, with a set lunch (menú del día) for about COP 15,000–20,000 and cheap buses and flights, but it won't leave much left over.
What you get instead is a year of Latin American life, real classroom experience and fluent-ish Spanish, which open doors to better-paid jobs later.
Arrive with around £1,000–£1,500 to cover a deposit, your first month's rent and any visa costs until your first pay day.
Who can teach in Colombia?
For our English Ambassadors Program you'll need:
Fluent English
Either a bachelor's degree or a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate
Good communication skills and confidence leading a small group
Send your application and CV, and we'll check you meet the requirements.
Online interview
Shortlisted applicants have a short online interview.
Offer, shift and city
You receive your offer, choose your shift and confirm your city.
Visa and work permit
We support you through the visa and work permit process before you travel.
Fly to Colombia
Orientation on arrival, then your first classes, with ongoing training and staff meetings.
The right TEFL for Colombia
If you don't have a degree, a TEFL is what makes you eligible for this programme. If you do, it still prepares you for small-group teaching and helps you stand out. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
Our pick for Colombia
170-hour TEFL with teaching practice
£133£279
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
20 hours of assessed teaching practice, so you're confident from your first class
Meets the TEFL requirement for applicants without a degree
Teaching adults and small groups, the core of this role
100+ ready-to-use lesson plans, perfect for private lessons too
Good to know: most other countries still need a degree for a teaching work visa, so a TEFL alone won't open every door. Planning a long-term teaching career? The Ofqual-regulated 168-hour Level 5 TEFL (£239) is at the same level as CELTA.
Where you could live
Our language school partners have centres in eight cities. You'll confirm your city when you accept your offer.
Bogotá, Soacha and Mosquera
The high-altitude capital: cool climate, museums, street art, a huge food scene and the most jobs.
Medellín and Itagüí
The "city of eternal spring", with a warm climate, a famous metro and cable cars, and green hills all around.
Cali
Colombia's salsa capital, hot, lively and friendly, with the Pacific coast within reach.
Manizales
A relaxed university city in the coffee region, close to Salento and the Cocora Valley.
Villavicencio
The gateway to the Llanos plains, with a slower pace and lower living costs.
Cartagena's old town, a cheap flight from any of our cities.
Mountains, coffee and the Caribbean
Hike the Cocora Valley, tour a coffee farm, dance salsa in Cali and spend long weekends on Caribbean beaches. Colombia packs a whole continent into one country.
Before you sign any job offer in Colombia
Wherever you apply in Colombia, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Will you get a work visa?
Make sure your employer provides a legal work permit. Never teach on a tourist entry stamp.
Gross or net pay?
Ask what's deducted each month for health and pension, so you know your real take-home pay.
What are your hours?
Check your shift, Saturday working and whether split shifts are possible.
Who pays for the visa?
Visa costs can be significant. Ask what's covered, and when any contribution is paid.
Help with housing?
Ask whether a local team will help you find a safe, well-located place to live.
Health insurance
Make sure you're covered from your first day, and know which clinics you can use.
Get Colombia job alerts
Not ready to apply yet? Leave your email and we'll tell you when new Colombia jobs and programmes open, along with other roles we're recruiting for.
Free, and you can unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy.
Teaching in Colombia, your questions answered
Can I teach English in Colombia without a degree?
Yes, on our English Ambassadors Program. You need either a bachelor's degree or a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate, so a TEFL on its own is enough to apply. That makes Colombia one of the few legal, paid teaching routes for people without a degree. See TEFL courses.
How much do English teachers earn in Colombia?
On our English Ambassadors Program, teachers earn COP 3,746,620 a month before deductions, with health insurance covered and paid time off. That covers a comfortable local lifestyle in Colombian cities, though savings are modest.
Do I need to speak Spanish to teach in Colombia?
No. You teach in English. Day-to-day life is much easier with some Spanish, though, as English is less widely spoken than in many teaching destinations, and most teachers make real progress during their year.
Is Colombia safe for English teachers?
Colombia has changed enormously over the last two decades, and thousands of foreigners live and work in its cities. As in any big city, use normal precautions, follow local advice on neighbourhoods and transport, and check your government's latest travel advice before you go.
Do I get a work visa to teach in Colombia?
Yes. Our English Ambassadors Program provides a legal work permit, and we support you through the visa process, with a contribution towards your visa costs after six months.
Is housing included for teachers in Colombia?
Not on our programme. You choose and pay for your own place, and our local team helps you find somewhere suitable. A room in a shared flat in Bogotá or Medellín typically costs around COP 1 to 1.5 million a month.
What are the working hours?
You choose a shift when you accept your offer: mornings from 6am to 1:30pm, afternoons from 1:30pm to 9pm, or a full day from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, plus every other Saturday. Classes are small, with up to six students.
When can I start teaching in Colombia?
Any time. Our English Ambassadors Program recruits all year round, on a 12-month renewable contract.
Ready to teach in Colombia?
See the full job details and apply in a few minutes. Our service is free.
