Teach English in Costa Rica
A genuine lifestyle destination with no government scheme — and a private “internship” market where knowing the difference between a fee-paying programme and a real paid job actually matters.
No government scheme — and a private market worth understanding clearly
Costa Rica has no centralized government placement scheme. Peace Corps Costa Rica and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant programme both operate here, but both are restricted to US citizens — not an option for UK applicants. For everyone else, the route in is a standard employer-sponsored work arrangement or a rentista/self-sufficiency residency, and there's no legal requirement for a TEFL certificate, though language institutes expect one in practice.
One private provider worth understanding precisely: Maximo Nivel runs TEFL courses in San José and Manuel Antonio alongside a paid "internship" package. It's important to be accurate here — Maximo Nivel's internship is a fee-paying programme (participants pay for the placement, homestay and Spanish lessons, not the other way round), separate from their Job Placement Guarantee, which connects certified graduates to real paid teaching roles at partner institutes, typically $750–1,000/month for native or C2-level English speakers with a bachelor's degree preferred.
- Peace Corps / Fulbright ETA: US citizens only, not available to UK applicants
- Private institute roles: native or C2-level English, bachelor's degree generally preferred
- A TEFL certificate isn't a legal requirement but is expected by most language institutes
What you can expect to earn
Costa Rica is best understood as a lifestyle destination rather than a savings destination — language institutes and the small bilingual/international-school tier pay modestly by regional standards, and most teachers are there for the quality of life rather than the take-home pay.
| Employer type | Local currency | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Language institute | $700–900/mo | £520–£670 |
| Job-placement-guarantee role (e.g. Maximo Nivel partner institutes) | $750–1,000/mo | £560–£745 |
Where to find real openings
Which TEFL Global course fits?
Since a TEFL certificate isn't legally required here but is expected by institutes and by placement-guarantee programmes alike, our Level 3, 120-Hour TEFL/TESOL Course (£169.50) is a solid, widely-recognized baseline before you apply anywhere in Costa Rica.
Researched July 2026 from official program pages and named recruiters where cited above. Government programs, visa rules and salary bands change — always confirm current details on the official site before applying.
FAQs about teaching in Costa Rica
No — both Peace Corps Costa Rica and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant programme are restricted to US citizens only.
No — it’s a fee-paying programme where participants pay for the placement, homestay and Spanish lessons. Their separate Job Placement Guarantee is what connects certified graduates to genuinely paid teaching roles.
It isn’t a strict legal requirement, but it’s expected in practice by language institutes and is generally a precondition for job-placement-guarantee style arrangements.