TEFL jobs in India

Yes, but rarely for a full salary. The Embassy of India in Dublin, which is where Irish citizens must apply, sets a minimum of US$25,000 a year for an Employment Visa, and the exemption granted to language teachers expressly excludes English language teachers. That single line explains why paid English posts in India are so scarce.

What Irish teachers should know first

This is the rule almost every English-language guide to teaching in India gets wrong, and it is the most important thing on this page. The Embassy of India in Dublin states that an Employment Visa requires an annual salary of not less than US$25,000, and that Employment Visa applications are accepted at that embassy only from citizens of Ireland. It then lists the exemptions from the salary floor: foreign specialist chefs and ethnic cooks; language teachers other than English language teachers, and translators; and staff working for a foreign embassy or high commission in India. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs sets out the same carve-out in its published visa schedule, adding foreign teaching faculty at the South Asian University and Nalanda University and a handful of other categories. Teachers of French, German or Spanish are exempt from the floor. Teachers of English are not.

Read that against the pay described further down this page and the arithmetic is uncomfortable: a monthly salary anywhere in the range typically advertised for English teaching in India falls far short of US$25,000 a year, which is precisely why the realistic paid openings sit in expensive international schools rather than in language centres or state schools. It is not a market where a determined applicant can talk their way past the threshold. The threshold is the market.

There is one officially documented route for unpaid work. The Embassy of India in Dublin states that foreign nationals coming to India for honorary work without salary with an NGO registered in India are granted an Employment Visa for one year, and that such a person may draw a monthly remuneration not exceeding Rs. 10,000. That figure comes from the embassy, not from a placement agency, and it is a useful reality check against volunteer programmes that imply a living wage. An Employment Visa generally runs for up to one year, extendable year to year up to five years from issue by the Ministry of Home Affairs or the FRRO in the relevant state.

Finally, Ireland has no working holiday agreement with India. Irish Immigration Service Delivery lists Ireland’s working holiday partners as Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and the United States. There is no permit that lets an Irish citizen simply arrive and pick up teaching work, and no Indian government body publishes an official average salary for English teachers, so no ministry-sourced pay figure appears in this section.

What is it like to teach English in India?

Wondering what it’s like to teach English in India? English is one of India’s official languages and is widely spoken throughout the country as the world’s second most populated country. Unfortunately, while many Indians are learning English, there is a shortage of paid TEFL teachers; however, as you will discover, that does not mean it will be easy to secure a paid position for various reasons. In India, there are several volunteer opportunities to teach English, but because few state schools can afford to hire a foreigner, only those who apply to expensive international schools are likely to obtain a paid job. However, finding a spot for volunteer teaching isn’t difficult for those drawn to this fascinating culture and can be a valuable experience for beginning TEFL teachers.

Despite the fact that India still has many problems, it has made significant economic progress and output in recent years. Even if you aren’t paid, teaching English in India can be a terrific opportunity to give back to a local community. Hindi is the government’s official language, and most Indians speak it as their first language. Because English is widely used in business and administration, as well as in education, particularly as a medium of higher education, there will be opportunities for you to volunteer to teach children or adults.

India has a lot to offer the adventurous TEFL teacher: low living costs, vibrant cities, world-renowned cuisine, white-knuckle rickshaw rides, incredible wildlife, epic train excursions, shopping paradise, and historic cultural attractions. However, in order to teach English in India, most teachers will require a bachelor’s degree and TEFL or CELTA certification. The average salary for teaching in India is $150-$1,000 per month.

What does the rest of this guide cover?

In the guide, you will find everything you need to know about teaching English abroad in India. There is a lot of information about living and working in this amazing country, as well as the types of teaching jobs, qualification requirements and the visa process. Everything you need to decide whether teaching English in India is for you.

If the US$25,000 threshold rules India out as a paid year, our guide to teaching English jobs abroad shows where Irish teachers actually get hired, and the two markets that suit the same traveller are teaching English in Vietnam and teaching English in Cambodia. Our TEFL courses in Ireland cover the certification international schools expect.

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 India fits.

Although India is one of the world’s most affordable countries, the cost of living varies greatly depending on location. Small towns and less-populated cities are inexpensive, but living in Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru can be costly, with rent comparable to major global cities. Since many TEFL jobs in India are volunteer or low-paid, housing, food, and other benefits are a major consideration. Some programs may even require a participation fee, so careful budgeting is essential.

Food remains very affordable throughout India, from street vendors to local restaurants. Public transportation is cheap, though often crowded and less comfortable. Life in India is vibrant, noisy, and fast-paced, an experience that many TEFL teachers find exciting and rewarding.

We use numbeo.com to find the most up to date cost of living figures, the world’s largest cost of living comparison site.