Teach English in Indonesia
Stricter than most of Southeast Asia on paper — a genuine nationality restriction and a mandatory degree — and a market most competitor guides barely cover in any detail.
No government scheme — and a genuinely stricter bar than most of the region
Indonesia runs no centralized government teaching scheme. Peace Corps Indonesia is currently dormant with no open opportunities, and Fulbright's Indonesia ETA offers only around 20 awards a year, is highly competitive, and excludes dual citizens and recent residents — on top of being restricted to US citizens in any case.
The real route in is the KITAS/IMTA employer-sponsored work-permit system, and it's genuinely stricter than most Southeast Asian markets: it requires a four-year bachelor's degree in any subject plus a 120-hour TEFL certificate, and — unusually — nationality is restricted to seven recognized "native speaker" countries: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. The employer handles KITAS sponsorship, but the degree-plus-certificate-plus-nationality combination together rules out candidates who'd qualify elsewhere in the region.
- Bachelor's degree (4-year), any subject
- A 120-hour TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate
- Passport from one of seven recognized countries: US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa
- Employer-sponsored KITAS/IMTA work permit
What you can expect to earn
Established language-centre chains like EF and Wall Street English anchor the market, with international schools paying considerably more, sometimes including housing. Cost of living is low outside Jakarta and Bali's tourist zones, giving decent savings potential even at language-centre pay.
| Employer type | Local currency | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Language-centre chain (EF, Wall Street English) | Rp9–15M/mo | £370–£620 |
| International school | Rp30–45M/mo | £1,235–£1,855 |
Where to find real openings
Which TEFL Global course fits?
Since Indonesia's KITAS system requires both a bachelor's degree and a 120-hour TEFL certificate together, our Level 3, 120-Hour TEFL/TESOL Course (£169.50) covers the certificate half of that requirement directly.
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 Indonesia
No — the KITAS work-permit system restricts eligible nationalities to seven countries: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa.
Yes — unlike some Southeast Asian markets where one substitutes for the other, Indonesia’s KITAS/IMTA system requires a four-year bachelor’s degree in any subject plus a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate together.
Not really for most applicants — Peace Corps Indonesia is currently dormant with no open positions, and Fulbright’s ETA offers only around 20 highly competitive awards a year and is US-citizens-only.