Colombia

Brimming with stunning landscapes, vibrant traditions, and no shortage of spellbinding cities, Colombia is a force to be reckoned with. With Ecuador and Peru to the south, Brazil and Venezuela to the east, Panama and the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the north, the Republic of Colombia is often referred to as the “Gateway to South America” and has served as the meeting place of various cultures, settlers, and civilizations over the years. Today, the country is a presidential republic home to some 52 million people, making it the nation with the second largest population of native Spanish speakers in the world. Climate & Landscape Colombia’s tourism slogan, “Colombia, The Country of Beauty,” highlights the country’s abundance of illustrious traditions, near-mythical wildlife, and enchanting views. Colombia’s terrain is rich and varied — from the soaring peaks of the Andes and the tropical grasslands of Los Llanos to the azure waters of the Caribbean and the vast expanse of the Amazon. History & Culture Colombia boasts a long and storied past. Historians estimate that the first people to inhabit the region of modern-day Colombia arrived some 20,000 years ago. In the millennia that followed, settlers grouped together to form advanced civilizations, including those of the Chibcha and the Muisca. In the 1500s, Spanish explorers arrived, driven by visions of gold and riches. They decimated much of the indigenous population with disease and violence, and procl…

Each country has its own unique requirements and qualifications when it comes to teaching. Some require a bachelor’s degree in any field. In others, you’ll qualify with only a high school diploma and your TEFL certificate. Some countries have strict visa requirements that may disqualify you based on your citizenship or criminal background. Let’s take a look at the qualifications needed for teaching English in Colombia. Education A bachelor’s degree is required for the M work visa application, the most common work visa type for English teachers in Colombia, and most schools prefer to hire teachers who have a bachelor’s degree. Teachers without a bachelor’s degree will find it very difficult to secure a position and a work visa in Colombia. Citizenship There are no specific citizenship requirements to teach English in Colombia, though some employers might prefer to hire citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. English Fluency If you are not a citizen of one of the countries listed above, you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a fluent level to be considered for teaching jobs. Background Check A FBI Criminal Record Check with an apostille is required for the Colombian Type M Work Visa. The document must be issued within 90 days of your application date. Any major crimes/felonies may disqualify you from the visa process, and schools may not hire you. Be sure to discuss this with your Student Affair…

Colombia presents a strong market for English teachers. English instructors will be able to find positions with learners of all ages in Colombia, from children to teens and adults. Many Colombians seek out English language learning opportunities for academic purposes, to advance their career goals, and to communicate with English-speaking business partners and tourists. English teaching jobs can be found throughout Colombia, though more densely-populated cities like Bogota, Medellin, and Cali hold the most opportunity and biggest markets for prospective ESL teachers. The majority of foreign English instructors in Colombia teach at private language schools, at public schools via a government-run program, and/or work online or in-person as private tutors. Qualified English instructors bearing a teaching license or master’s degree will also be able to secure positions in international schools. Each of these job types comes with their own specific set of advantages, so you’ll want to understand the basic differences between them before you begin applying. Private Language Schools Private language schools are privately-run and typically for-profit language training centers that can cater to students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Many school-aged students will attend private language schools to supplement their public or private school language education, and adults will often attend private language schools to develop their foreign language competency and thereby advanc…

Now that you’ve explored the job types available to you, it’s time to begin the application process! There are several steps to take to find a job teaching English in Colombia, and we have them all outlined below. Heads up! The timelines for your job application process and for gathering documents for your visa will likely overlap. You’ll want to be working on both processes at roughly the same time. Be sure to check out our teaching Colombia Timeline , as well as the Applying for the Visa section for more information and to make sure you are staying on track with your documents while applying for teaching positions. *ITA does not review applications for government-run programs like Fulbright , Peace Corps , or the SENA and MEN programs. Please refer to the programs’ websites for application details and deadlines. Step 1: Prepare Your Initial Application Materials Resume & Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are key to connecting with employers and beginning the application process. International employers look for specific elements in a resume that may differ from what you’re used to seeing domestically. Once you’ve updated your resume and cover letter to meet the recommended international standards and proofread both documents, submit your drafts to your Student Affairs Advisor for review. Step 2: Determine Your Preferences A major part of the teaching abroad experience is enjoying where you’ll actually be living! Do you have a preference when it comes to your dail…

Congratulations on your job offer(s)! If you’ve been offered a position from a school in Colombia and you’ve followed our previous advice, you’re already off to a great start. But what’s next? Determining whether or not the offer is right for you. To help make this decision, follow the recommendations below by reviewing the basics. Whether you have one offer or several, the key elements you’ll want to take note of are: salary, working hours, vacation days, sick days, housing, airfare, insurance, and bonuses. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect with each of these elements. Review the Basics Salary The average starting salary for a first-year English teacher in Colombia is 2,250,00,000 to 3,500,000 COP per month. Anything significantly lower or higher should make you ask a few questions. If the reason for the pay difference is obvious, like you’ll be in a rural location with a low cost of living or working longer than average hours, you may find that you’re okay with it. But don’t accept a contract that is paying you less for doing the same amount of work the average English teacher does, or one that doesn’t fit into your work-life-travel balance. Working Hours Teaching English in Colombia can be a part-time or full-time gig. However, there’s more than just the total number of working hours per week (typically 20-25 hours) to consider. Will you have to work in the morning for a few hours and then come back for more in the evening? Does your school require that you show u…

The word “visa” tends to provoke daunting images of endless red tape and paperwork but we’re here to ease your anxiety and hopefully have you zipping through this process like a pro. Below, we’ll outline the most common visa routes for foreign English teachers in Colombia, and then dive into a deeper look at the required documents for a tourist permit and work visa there. All-star ITA graduate Jeremy K . taught in Bucaramanga, and summarizes his experience with Colombian visas as follows: “I entered Colombia on a tourist visa, which allows you to stay, but not work. When I worked for the NGO, that organization helped with the visa process, and I soon got a Type M visa. This visa expired at the end of each working contract (typically one year) and I’ve had to renew it four times. After five uninterrupted years as a legal Type M visa holder, I can apply for a resident visa, which lasts indefinitely.” Sounds easy enough, right? As is always the case with any of the visa advice we provide, please be sure to cross-check this information with your local Colombian embassy or consulate to ensure you are getting the most up-to-date, accurate, and personalized instruction there is! Visa Types Tourist Visa What is it? Your tourist visa will allow you to stay in Colombia for purposes of rest or recreation for up to 90 days, with the possibility of an additional 90 day extension, totalling in 180 days. Visitors are allowed to renew their tourist permit once, and thus may legally stay in C…

In the days, weeks, and months leading up to your move abroad, it’s more important than ever to stay organized and ask yourself: What are the logistics I have to consider and the loose ends I have to tie up in order to thrive in my new home? Do I have to worry about taxes? What about health insurance? And what the heck do I do about a cell phone? Fear not, TEFL teacher. In this section, you’ll find the tips, resources, and wisdom to tackle these questions and more! Review the Basics Health Insurance Although in a perfect world an apple a day would keep the doctor away, in reality, even teachers get sick. Cue health insurance. Regardless of the country you end up in, you should always inquire about health insurance before accepting a position. If health insurance is indeed provided by your employer, it’s imperative that the relevant details are outlined clearly in any contract you sign. More often than not in Colombia, health insurance is only provided as a benefit if you are formally employed by your school on a work visa. Even then, depending on your contract, you might have to pay into this insurance and split the cost with your school. If this is the case, your portion will likely be automatically deducted from your paycheck each month. Check out the “Accepting the Right Offer” section to learn more! If health insurance is not included in your contract or if you want to supplement your school’s health insurance plan with a more comprehensive private insurance option, you w…

You have finally made it to the end of the Colombia section, no small feat! Here is all of that wonderful information from the previous section laid out step-by-step and month-by-month before your intended departure date for Colombia. This timeline is not only for the planners and checklist lovers (although you will love this too!). It is strongly encouraged for anyone planning a move to Colombia to help keep you on track and organized as you make your way through the process. Teachers planning on working with a government-run program like Fulbright , Peace Corps , or the SENA and MEN programs will have to submit their program application in advance from their home country. Check out your program’s website for more information on timelines and important application dates, and note that applications for Fulbright in particular typically open almost a year prior to the program’s start date. So be proactive and plan ahead accordingly! Finding a Job on the Ground If you want to secure a job on the ground in Colombia, you will want to be there during one of those months. Avoid applying to positions or coming to Colombia in late December to late January, as most schools will be closed for the winter holidays. While it may be possible to move some parts of the process along quicker, follow this timeline as closely as possible. 4 months before departure: Begin your research ___ List out your preferences and priorities. ___ Chat with ITA alumni and read about alumni experiences . ___ …

My advice is to go into the experience with little expectations and an open mind. My experience was not quite what I imagined it to be, but in the end I am so happy I had the experience I did. Living abroad can be challenging, but being flexible (with everything from my job to my housing situation), contributed a lot to my personal happiness and overall positive experience in the country. I would 100% recommend teaching in Colombia! There's a huge market for teaching English there, and the country itself is stunning. Laura Hoppe Bogotá, Colombia I would highly recommend teaching English abroad in Colombia. Before deciding on anywhere to teach, do your research. Look into different placement options, schools, regions, the culture; all of these things are important when thinking about making any move abroad. Try to picture yourself in that country and living there. Craig Skillman's Bogotá, Colombia I would highly recommend teaching in Colombia, I loved it so much. If people are to teach abroad, they should understand there are weird cultural factors (for instance, for Colombia, there are A LOT of national holidays) that play a role in your experience. But if you go along for the ride, and you take advantage of those times, you will be able to see a very different part of the world! I've already been back to visit this year and hope to every few years. Tara Ashraf Medellin, Colombia