Teach English in Indonesia: Salary, Jobs and Visa (2027 Guide)
Housing, flights and a free TEFL included, from Jakarta to Java
Now recruiting: English teachers for Indonesia
Your guide to teaching English in Indonesia
Thousands of islands, warm people and a low cost of living, with a job that includes housing, flights and a free TEFL. Here's what it pays, who can apply and what life is like.
We recruit for English 1, part of the Education First (EF) group, at schools across Indonesia. Our service is free for teachers. Not ready yet? Get job alerts.
Hiring now
Modern classrooms with interactive screens
Language schools · English 1 (EF)
English teacher, all ages
Jakarta and cities across Indonesia · Starts year-round
IDR 12–15MA month, after tax
HousingProvided, or a housing allowance
Return flightReimbursed, plus airport pick-up
Free TEFL120-hour TEFL and Cambridge TKTs sponsored
Teach students of all ages in well-equipped schools, with health insurance, at least 10 days' paid leave plus public holidays, free Bahasa lessons, regular teacher socials and quarterly trips.
You'll need: a bachelor's degree in any subject and a real interest in teaching. No TEFL or experience needed to apply.
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with a young, fast-growing middle class keen to learn English for study, work and travel. Language schools run classes for children, teenagers and professionals, mostly after school and at weekends.
For teachers, the appeal is the lifestyle. Your salary covers a comfortable life with plenty left for weekends on volcanoes, beaches and islands, and Indonesians are some of the friendliest, most welcoming people you'll meet. It's a Muslim-majority country, so modest dress at work and respect for local customs go a long way.
Language schools
Where most foreign teachers work. All ages, with afternoon, evening and weekend classes.
National Plus schools
Private bilingual schools that often want experienced teachers with a teaching licence.
Corporate classes
Business English for professionals, usually for experienced teachers in Jakarta.
Ulun Danu Beratan temple, Bali, a short flight from Jakarta.
What your salary covers
Indonesia is one of the most affordable countries in Asia to live in. With housing and flights covered, your salary is for living well, travelling and saving a little each month.
IDR 12–15M
Monthly salary after tax, about £550–£700
Housing covered
Accommodation or a housing allowance in every location
IDR 20,000–40,000
A plate of nasi goreng or mie ayam from a local warung
A dollar or two
Most short Gojek or Grab rides across the city
Return flight
Reimbursed by your employer, plus airport pick-up
Free TEFL
A sponsored TEFL course worth about US$500, plus Cambridge TKTs
A realistic month on IDR 13.5M
Here's an illustrative budget for a teacher in a mid-sized Indonesian city, with housing provided or covered by the allowance. Jakarta costs more; smaller cities cost less.
Take-home pay, after tax
IDR 13,500,000
Rent
Covered
Electricity, air-con and water
IDR 600,000
Phone and data
IDR 150,000
Groceries and eating out
IDR 3,500,000
Gojek, Grab and transport
IDR 600,000
Weekend trips and travel
IDR 1,500,000
Going out, gym and hobbies
IDR 1,200,000
Left to save
about IDR 5,950,000
That's roughly £280 a month, with your flight home already paid for.
Our honest take
Indonesia won't make you rich, but it's one of the easiest and most rewarding places to start teaching. Housing, flights, training and a TEFL are all covered, so your upfront costs are low.
Local food is cheap and delicious, but imported food, alcohol and Western-style cafés cost much more, so your savings depend on how local you live.
Arrive with around £500–£800 to cover your first few weeks until pay day.
Who can teach in Indonesia?
For our Indonesia role you'll need:
A bachelor's degree in any subject
Native-level English and a passport eligible for an Indonesian work permit
A clean criminal record check
Enthusiasm for teaching students of all ages and for a new culture
No TEFL or teaching experience needed to apply, as your TEFL is sponsored as part of training. No Bahasa needed either. Want to arrive classroom-ready? See the courses we recommend.
From application to classroom
Allow one to two months in total.
Apply and interview
An online application and video interview, with support from our team throughout.
Accept your offer
You sign a 12-month contract and send your degree, passport and other documents.
Work permit and visa
Your employer applies for your work permit and limited stay visa. You don't need to arrange this yourself.
Fly out
You're met at the airport, and your return flight is reimbursed.
KITAS and training
Your KITAS is issued, you register locally and start training, including your sponsored TEFL.
Do you need a TEFL for Indonesia?
Not to apply for this role: English 1 sponsors a 120-hour TEFL and Cambridge TKTs once you join. We'd rather tell you that than sell you something you don't need. Where a TEFL from us does help is if you want to arrive confident, or build a qualification that takes you further after Indonesia.
For your next move
168-hour Level 5 Certificate in TEFL
£239
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
Ofqual-regulated, the same level as CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL
Opens doors to better-paid roles in the Gulf, Korea, Taiwan and international schools
Studied online with a personal tutor, around your current job
A qualification that stays with you for your whole career
Good to know: the free TEFL is part of your training with English 1. If you'd like a certificate you can take anywhere before you go, our 120-hour TEFL starts from £63.
Where you could live
Our partner has schools in Jakarta and other cities, and placements depend on where teachers are needed. Wherever you're based, the rest of the archipelago is a cheap flight away.
Jakarta
The vast, energetic capital, with the most jobs, malls, nightlife and an international community, and the busiest traffic.
Bandung
A cooler, creative city in the hills of West Java, known for students, cafés and weekend escapes to tea plantations.
Surabaya
Indonesia's second city, a busy port in East Java with a lower cost of living and Mount Bromo on the doorstep.
Yogyakarta and Central Java
The cultural heart of Java, near Borobudur and Prambanan, with a laid-back, arty student scene.
Sumatra and beyond
Cities such as Medan, gateways to rainforests, orangutans and Lake Toba.
Smaller cities
Where your salary goes furthest and you'll quickly feel part of the community.
17,000 islands to explore
Sunrise over Borobudur, surf in Bali and Lombok, Komodo dragons, rice terraces and volcanoes. With cheap domestic flights, every long weekend is a new adventure.
Before you sign any job offer in Indonesia
Wherever you apply in Indonesia, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Will you get a KITAS?
Your employer must sponsor your work permit and KITAS. Never teach on a tourist visa or visa on arrival.
Net or gross pay?
Check whether your salary is before or after tax. Our partner's salary is quoted after tax.
Housing or allowance?
Ask whether housing is provided or paid as an allowance, and whether the allowance covers rent in your city.
When do you teach?
Language schools often teach afternoons, evenings and weekends. Ask about your schedule and days off.
When is the flight repaid?
Flight reimbursements are often paid at a set point in the contract. Check when, and what conditions apply.
Who pays for the visa?
Visa and work permit costs can be high. Make sure it's clear in writing who pays for them.
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Teaching in Indonesia, your questions answered
How much do English teachers earn in Indonesia?
With our Indonesia partner, English 1, teachers earn IDR 12 to 15 million a month after tax, depending on location, qualifications and experience. Housing or a housing allowance, a reimbursed return flight and health insurance are included, so the salary goes a long way.
Do I need a degree to teach English in Indonesia?
Yes. A bachelor's degree in any subject is needed for the KITAS work permit and is required for our Indonesia role.
Do I need a TEFL to teach in Indonesia?
Not before you apply for our Indonesia role. English 1 sponsors a 120-hour TEFL course and Cambridge TKT modules as part of its training, so you can qualify on the job. Some teachers still take a TEFL before they go so they arrive confident in the classroom.
What is a KITAS?
A KITAS is Indonesia's limited stay permit, which, together with a work permit, allows foreign teachers to live and work legally in the country. Your employer sponsors it. Don't accept a teaching job that expects you to work on a tourist visa or visa on arrival.
Can you save money teaching English in Indonesia?
Yes, modestly. With housing covered and food and transport cheap, many teachers save around IDR 4 to 6 million a month while still travelling on weekends. Indonesia is more about lifestyle and experience than big savings.
Can South Africans teach English in Indonesia?
Yes. Indonesia is one of the most popular destinations for South African English teachers. Requirements can change, so check your eligibility with us when you apply.
Do I need to speak Bahasa Indonesia?
No. You teach in English, and our partner offers free Bahasa Indonesia lessons. Bahasa is one of the easier Asian languages to pick up, and a few phrases go a long way with students and neighbours.
What is daily life like for teachers in Indonesia?
Indonesia is warm, welcoming and very affordable. It's a Muslim-majority country, so modest dress at work and respect for local customs matter, especially during Ramadan. Ride-hailing apps make getting around easy, and islands like Bali, Lombok and Java are perfect for long weekends.
Ready to teach in Indonesia?
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