Teaching English in Prague means working for a private language school that sends teachers into local companies and schools for business and exam-prep classes, since Czech state schools rarely hire foreign teachers directly. Pay typically runs 25,000 to 35,000 CZK a month (roughly €1,000 to €1,400), and as an EU citizen an Irish teacher can start work with no visa process at all, just a straightforward registration once settled.
Key takeaways
- Irish and EU citizens need no visa or work permit to teach in the Czech Republic, only an EU residence registration after 30 days.
- Most jobs are with private language schools (jazykové školy) that place teachers in companies and schools, not with state schools directly.
- Typical pay is approximately 25,000 to 35,000 CZK a month (€1,000 to €1,400), with private one-to-one lessons paying more per hour.
- A TEFL certificate of 120 hours or more is the standard requirement; a degree is preferred by the stronger schools but not always essential.
- Prague holds most of the country’s jobs, though Brno, the second city, has a smaller but growing scene.
- The academic and business year runs September to June, so hiring peaks in late August and early September.
What does teaching English in Prague actually involve?
Most foreign teachers in Prague work for a jazyková škola, a private language school that contracts teachers out to local businesses, government offices and secondary schools for in-company and exam-prep English classes, rather than running its own classroom full-time. This means a typical week involves travelling between two or three locations across the city rather than staying in one building, teaching business professionals in the morning and teenagers preparing for the Cambridge or Maturita exams in the afternoon. Some teachers instead work directly for international or bilingual schools, which pay better but usually require a full teaching qualification, not just a TEFL certificate. Private one-to-one tutoring is common as a way to fill gaps in the schedule and boost income.
Do you need a degree to teach English in Prague?
Language schools vary. Many of the mid-sized jazykové školy that place teachers in companies will hire on a strong TEFL certificate (120 hours or more) without insisting on a university degree, especially for adult business English work. The larger, more established schools and any role in an international or bilingual school will generally want a degree as well as the TEFL certificate. Since the Czech Republic doesn’t run a separate work-visa route for TEFL teachers the way non-EU countries do, the degree requirement here is about the individual school’s hiring bar, not immigration law, so it is worth asking directly rather than assuming you’re excluded.
How much do English teachers actually earn in Prague?
Language school pay in Prague typically runs 25,000 to 35,000 CZK a month, which converts to roughly €1,000 to €1,400 depending on the exchange rate, usually built up from an hourly rate around 250 to 350 CZK. Private lessons, arranged directly with a student or company, often pay considerably more per hour and are a normal way for teachers to top up a base salary. Prague’s cost of living has risen in recent years and central rents now sit close to some western European cities, so many teachers choose to live slightly outside the centre to make the numbers work. Brno and other regional cities pay somewhat less but also cost less to live in.
| Role type | Typical pay (approx.) | Degree needed | Hiring season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language school, in-company classes | 25,000–35,000 CZK/month | Not always | Aug/Sept, smaller intake Jan |
| International/bilingual school | 35,000–50,000+ CZK/month | Usually yes, plus teaching qualification | Spring, for the following Sept |
| Private one-to-one tutoring | 300–600 CZK/hour | No | Year-round, builds alongside a base job |
Figures are typical ranges reported by teachers and language schools and will vary by employer, hours and experience.
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Read the full reviewWhat visa or work rights do Irish teachers need for the Czech Republic?
As an EU member state, the Czech Republic allows Irish and other EU citizens to enter, live and work without a visa or work permit. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you register for a certificate of temporary residence at the Ministry of the Interior’s Foreigners’ Police department, and you’ll need a Czech tax number and health insurance to work legally, but there is no sponsorship process for a school to navigate the way there would be for a non-EU teacher. This is one of the clearest practical advantages of choosing a Czech job over, say, a Gulf or Asian one straight after finishing a TEFL course.
How do you actually find an English teaching job in Prague?
Most jazykové školy advertise directly on their own websites and on Czech job boards, and a good number hire off the back of a direct email with a CV attached, particularly in the weeks before the September term. Facebook groups for TEFL teachers in Prague are active and often carry roles before they appear anywhere else. As with Greece and Poland, arriving in the city a week or two before the term starts, ready to interview in person, remains one of the more effective routes in, since many school directors prefer to meet a teacher before offering a contract.
Frequently asked questions
Not always. Many language schools hire on a strong TEFL certificate for business and exam-prep classes. International and bilingual schools, and the higher-paying roles generally, do expect a degree plus a teaching qualification.
Yes. The Czech Republic is an EU member state, so Irish citizens can enter, live and work there with no visa or work permit, only a residence registration after 30 days plus a Czech tax number.
A jazyková škola is a private Czech language school. Most place their teachers directly inside local companies and schools to run in-company or exam-prep English classes, rather than teaching all their classes in one building.
Language school pay typically runs 25,000 to 35,000 CZK a month, roughly €1,000 to €1,400. Private one-to-one lessons and international school roles generally pay more, though international schools usually require a full teaching qualification.
Late August and early September, ahead of the academic and business year, is the main hiring window. A smaller intake also happens in January, and international schools tend to recruit in spring for the following September.
Yes, for teachers who want a lower cost of living. Brno’s job market is smaller than Prague’s but growing, with the same jazyková škola model and generally lower rent, making take-home pay stretch further.
Where this fits with the rest of Europe
Prague sits in the same EU-access bracket as Greece, Spain, Poland, France and Portugal, so the visa administration is identical wherever you choose in the bloc; what changes is pay and cost of living. Our guide to real salaries for Irish teachers abroad shows how Czech pay stacks up against 20 other countries, and the Czech Republic also features in our safest countries to teach English abroad solo guide. See the full spread of destinations on the teach English jobs pillar page, and if you’re still deciding between TEFL, TESOL and CELTA, read our comparison guide first.
Ready to start?
Prague’s language schools generally look for a recognised TEFL certificate as the entry point. Our accredited 120-hour TEFL course covers what most jazykové školy ask for, and the Level 5 TEFL diploma puts you in a stronger position for international school and business English roles. Both are studied online from Ireland.
Sources: European Commission, Your Europe: residence rights for EU citizens; European Commission, Your Europe: working in another EU country; Embassy of Ireland, Prague.
