TEFL jobs in Myanmar

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs rates Myanmar/Burma Do Not Travel, its highest warning, last updated 11 February 2026, and states that its ability to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens there is extremely limited. We do not recommend Myanmar as a teaching destination. The description further down this page predates the 2021 military coup.

What Irish teachers should know first

The official Irish position. Myanmar/Burma carries a Do Not Travel rating from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs — the top of its four-tier scale, above Normal Precautions, High Degree of Caution and Avoid Non-Essential Travel. The advice was last updated on 11 February 2026 and was still current when we checked it on 8 September 2026. The Department’s wording for this tier is unambiguous: “Due to armed conflict, natural disaster, disease, civil unrest or other life-threatening reasons we advise that you cancel any plans to travel to this country.” On the Myanmar page it adds that if you are already in the country you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so, and that its ability to provide consular assistance there is extremely limited.

What that rating is describing. Myanmar has been in armed conflict since the military seized power in February 2021. Conscription is in force: the People’s Military Service Law was activated in February 2024, and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in its Annual update on the Human Rights Situation in Myanmar — Overview of developments in 2025 published in February 2026, put the number of people enlisted by the military at an estimated 95,000 since that date. The same report records 2025 as the deadliest year for children since the coup, civilian deaths from airstrikes at the highest verified level since 2021, and almost a quarter of the population facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Conscription applies to Myanmar nationals rather than to foreign staff — but it is your students, your colleagues and their families who are liable, and the arbitrary conscription campaign is described by OHCHR as a key protection concern.

Insurance and money. Comprehensive travel insurance is often unobtainable for countries at this rating, and the Department warns that a policy may not cover you at all. We publish no salary figure for Myanmar. We hold no audited pay data for the country, and the Myanmar kyat sits outside European Central Bank reference-rate coverage, so any euro conversion would be unverifiable against an official rate. That absence is deliberate and is dated 8 September 2026. Anyone quoting you a confident Myanmar salary range is guessing.

Our position. We are not placing teachers in Myanmar and we are not encouraging anyone to go. The material below is retained because it is part of this page’s history and because some readers arrive here researching a country they already have ties to. Read it as a record of how Myanmar was described before 2021, not as a description of the country today.

How was teaching in Myanmar described before the coup?

Due to travel restrictions, Myanmar (also known as Burma) was inaccessible to the majority of international tourists until just a few years ago. As a result, there was no TEFL business there. However, since it opened its doors every year, the nation has welcomed millions of tourists eager to discover this Southeast Asian hidden treasure. It’s a developing economy with more job chances for EFL teachers. Although there aren’t many TEFL employment available, and many are volunteer roles, it’s anticipated that the business will continue to expand. This will mean it becomes easier to secure a job teaching English in Myanmar.

Those who are successful in landing a respectable position teaching English in Myanmar in an international school can anticipate high pay and extremely affordable living expenses, including free or inexpensive housing given by their company. A major problem in Myanmar is the lack of infrastructure, which includes terrible potholes on most of the roads, the absence of air conditioning in rental homes, and a lack of internet access. As a result, it’s a nation that provides EFL teachers with a more ‘off the beaten track’ experience. There are many interesting spots to visit in this lovely nation, and beach fans will delight in seeing the 2,250 kilometres of coastline.

Continue reading if you’re interested in learning more about teaching English in Myanmar. We have gathered all the information you will need to understand the types of roles available and the qualification you need to apply for them. In addition, the information below includes details on lifestyle, local culture and how to integrate into a new country when you become an English teacher in Myanmar.

Where should you go instead?

If what drew you to Myanmar was Southeast Asia rather than Myanmar specifically, two neighbours offer the same region without the warning. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs rates both at Normal Precautions, its lowest tier: Thailand (last updated 22 May 2026) and Vietnam (last updated 22 April 2026). Vietnam is where most Irish teachers who want to save money actually end up; Thailand is the easier first year. Current vacancies are on our teach English jobs board, and if you have not yet qualified, begin 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 Myanmar fits.

EFL teachers in Myanmar can live comfortably and even save a portion of their salary each month, especially when working in international schools. Compared to the local average income, teacher salaries are high, making Myanmar an affordable destination for most expats.

Not all employers include housing in contracts, but many do. This is especially important in Yangon, where rent is significantly higher than elsewhere in the country. Affordable rentals can be found, but they are often in poor condition. Demand for housing remains high due to tourism and a steady inflow of foreign workers, while infrastructure has not yet caught up. Teachers should expect occasional power outages, weak internet connections, and limited housing availability. While gradual improvements are being made, Myanmar still faces shortages in modern facilities and reliable utilities.

Eating local food is very affordable, with most dishes costing only a fraction of Western-style meals. Burmese cuisine is a flavourful fusion of Southeast Asian, Indian, and Chinese influences. Popular dishes include: Lephet (fermented tea leaf salad), Mohinga (rice noodle soup, often called the national dish), Curry dishes, samosas, and a wide variety of noodle meals. By contrast, imported goods and Western-style restaurants are considerably more expensive, so teachers who embrace the local food scene can keep their living costs low.

In order to provide the most accurate cost of living figures, we use numbeo.com, the world’s largest cost of living database, updated regularly.