TEFL jobs in Colombia

Yes, on a Migrant visa. Irish citizens enter Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days, per the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, but paid teaching requires the type M visa from the Cancillería. Teachers typically earn 1.5–2 million pesos a month, approx. €380–€500; the 2026 statutory minimum is 1,750,905 pesos.

What Irish teachers should know first

Irish citizens do not need a visa to visit Colombia for periods of up to 90 days, and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs notes you may be asked for evidence of return or onward travel at the border. Take that requirement seriously: it is enforced, and a one-way flight is the single most common reason an otherwise well-prepared Irish teacher gets a difficult conversation at Bogotá. The 90-day entry is a visitor permit and nothing more — it does not carry the right to be paid by a Colombian employer.

The category you need for that is the Visa de Migrante, the type M visa issued by Colombia’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, the Cancillería, in its trabajador (worker) sub-class. It is employer-sponsored and applied for online through the Cancillería’s own portal. Once you hold it you register with Migración Colombia for a foreigner’s ID card, the cédula de extranjería, which is what actually lets you open a bank account and be put on payroll.

On pay, our audited range for English teachers in Colombia is 1.5–2 million Colombian pesos a month. That works out at approximately €380–€500, but treat the peso figure as the reliable one: the Colombian peso sits outside European Central Bank reference-rate coverage, so we have not been able to verify the euro conversion against an official rate and it will move. For a statutory benchmark, Decreto 1469 de 2025, issued by the Ministerio del Trabajo on 29 December 2025, set the 2026 monthly minimum wage at 1,750,905 pesos plus a transport subsidy of 249,095 pesos. That decree was the subject of litigation before Colombia’s Consejo de Estado during 2026, so confirm the figure in force with your employer before you sign. What it tells you is blunt enough: much of our teaching range sits around the national minimum, and Colombia is a country you go to for the experience rather than the savings.

Why has Colombia become popular with TEFL teachers?

Because the security picture changed and the country has been actively promoting bilingualism in its schools ever since.

Due to the risks associated with visiting and residing in Colombia, it used to be referred to as a no-go zone for TEFL teachers. But ever since a peace accord in 2016, Colombia has begun to shed its past reputation, and people looking to teach English in Colombia have been pouring in. It is all the more appealing because the natives are hospitable, inviting, and supportive of foreigners’ arrival. In addition, Colombia is a fascinating location with a lot to see and do, which makes it well-liked among daring TEFL teachers. The walled city of Cartagena, the Gold Museum, scaling Mount Monserrate, lounging in the lovely Parque Arqueológico, and marvelling at the Piedra del Pool are just a few of the top tourist attractions available.

Because many jobs focus on corporate English, it is simple to locate positions teaching English in Colombia, and various initiatives encourage bilingualism in the educational system. Both entry-level roles for freshly certified TEFL teachers and possibilities for highly skilled and experienced English teachers in Colombia are available. You can also find volunteer opportunities teaching English in Colombia in addition to paid employment. Even while wages are often modest—especially for work in the local language schools—a low cost of living makes it possible to get by on a lower salary. Colombia can be the ideal teaching location if you’re eager to travel somewhere new where the excitement is around every turn.

What does the rest of this guide cover?

Qualifications, culture, day-to-day life and the safety precautions worth taking seriously.

In this guide, we have tried to cover everything you need to know, including the qualifications and experience you will require. We also take a look at the culture and how you might find it living and working as an English teacher in Colombia. Because this was once an unsuitable country to live you should be sure you understand the various pitfalls and take precautions to keep yourself safe. It is worth saying that things are improving all the time and that plenty of people will attest that working as an English teacher in Colombia is now a safe and enjoyable way to spend some time and will come with many great experiences.

Next steps: browse current openings on our teach English abroad jobs hub, compare Colombia with teaching English in Mexico and teaching English in Chile, and qualify before you go with our TEFL courses in Ireland.

Talk to a real person

No obligation and no sales pitch. Tell us what you want out of the year and we will tell you honestly whether Colombia fits.

Colombia is the second-cheapest nation in Latin America and is less expensive than 91 per cent of the world’s nations. Although TEFL salaries aren’t large, you can survive on even the lowest pay due to the high cost of living. In Colombia, professors frequently go on volunteer teaching roles, yet they nevertheless manage to enjoy themselves while travelling without being paid. Most volunteer opportunities provide free housing, a monthly stipend, and internal transit from Bogota.

Life in Colombia can be a little spartan for some ex-pats; don’t count on things running on schedule or being overly efficient, but visitors will quickly grow to love the country’s kind people. In addition, you’ll experience a wide range of weather conditions (so carry proper gear!) and indulge in a variety of regional specialities when dining out.

You should exercise caution when out and about, even though Colombia is shedding its reputation as a dangerous country. When taking public transportation or in crowded areas, it is advisable to phone ahead and reserve a taxi rather than flagging one down on the street. You should also always keep your possessions close at hand. In addition, it is advisable to stay away from dark areas at night and conduct your social visits in a group, especially if you are a lone female.

To obtain the most up-to-date cost of living figures, we use the world’s biggest cost of living comparison website, Numbio.com.