Requirements to teach English in Indonesia
- A bachelor's degree in any subject — required for the work visa.
- A 120-hour TEFL — the industry standard most employers ask for.
- A passport from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or South Africa for language-teacher work visas.
- A clean criminal background check.
How much do English teachers earn in Indonesia?
| School type | Monthly pay (IDR) | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Language centres & private schools | Rp10M–20M | US$550–1,100 |
| International schools | Up to Rp35M+ | US$1,930+ |
The source gives an overall Rp10–35M range; the split by school type is our reading of it. Common extras: accommodation or an allowance, airfare, health insurance and visa costs. USD at 30 October 2026 rates (US$1 ≈ Rp18,150).
The legal route: E23 work visa and KITAS
- Get a job offer from a school able to sponsor foreign workers.
- Your employer gets approval for a foreign-worker plan (RPTKA) and the visa approval.
- Apply for the E23 work visa online or at an Indonesian embassy.
- Arrive and complete biometrics within 30 days to receive your KITAS (limited stay permit).
Red flag: teaching on a visa on arrival, tourist or digital-nomad visa — or “volunteering” in a paid role — is illegal in Indonesia.
Non-native speakers and no degree
No degree
Not possible for the work visa.
Non-native English speakers
Limited. Language-teacher work visas normally require one of the seven passports above. Our source mentions exceptions for experienced teachers but gives conflicting details, so we could not verify them — ask the employer to confirm in writing before you start paperwork.
When do schools in Indonesia hire?
Jobs are advertised all year. The school year starts in July, so schools recruit most heavily from spring. English becomes a compulsory subject from the 2027/28 school year.
Cost of living
| 1-bed rent, monthly | IDR |
|---|---|
| Yogyakarta | Rp2M–4M |
| Surabaya | Rp2.5M–6M |
| Jakarta | Rp3M–7M |
| Bali | Rp10M–19M |
Other spending is about Rp7M a month. Bali is popular but expensive; on a language-centre salary, Java usually leaves more to save.
Sources checked
- TEFL.org, “Teach English in Indonesia” (updated 27 Jul 2026).
- Exchange rate: open.er-api.com, 30 Oct 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much do English teachers earn in Indonesia?
Roughly Rp10–35 million a month (about US$550–1,930), with international schools at the top of the range.
Can I teach English in Indonesia without a degree?
No. A bachelor's degree is required for the work visa.
Can non-native speakers teach English in Indonesia?
Usually not for language-teacher work visas, which normally require a passport from one of seven native English-speaking countries.
What visa do I need to teach in Indonesia?
An employer-sponsored E23 work visa, followed by a KITAS limited stay permit after biometrics.
Updated October 2026 by Teacher Francois. Salaries and visa rules are typical ranges reported for 2025–2026 and can change — always confirm with your employer and the official embassy or immigration website before you pay for anything.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
