TEFL jobs in Chile

Overview

Yes, on a temporary residence permit. Irish citizens enter Chile visa-free for up to 90 days, per the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, but paid work needs a Residencia Temporal permit from the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones. Teachers earn 430,000–630,000 pesos a month, approx. €530–€780; the statutory minimum is 553,553 pesos.

What Irish teachers should know first

Irish citizens do not require a visa to enter Chile for stays of up to 90 days, according to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. As everywhere in this region, that stamp admits you as a visitor and does not permit paid employment. Chile rebuilt its immigration system under the 2021 migration law and is stricter than it used to be about changing status from inside the country, so the old backpacker route of arriving, finding a school and converting a tourist entry is no longer reliable advice — a point most US-facing guides have not caught up with.

The permission you need is a Residencia Temporal granted by the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG), specifically the sub-permit for foreign nationals carrying out lawful paid activities. It is applied for online through SERMIG, normally from outside Chile and on the back of a signed employment contract, and it is the document that lets a school put you on a proper Chilean payroll rather than paying you cash in hand.

On pay, our audited range for English teachers in Chile is 430,000–630,000 Chilean pesos a month, or approximately €530–€780. Lead with the peso figure: the Chilean peso is outside European Central Bank reference-rate coverage, so the euro conversion here has not been verified against an official rate and should be treated as indicative only. The statutory benchmark is firmer. The Dirección del Trabajo confirms that under Ley Nº21.830, published in the Diario Oficial on 22 June 2026, the monthly minimum income for workers aged 18 to 65 has been 553,553 pesos since 1 May 2026. Read that against our range and the conclusion is clear: a genuine full-time contract in Chile cannot lawfully pay you the bottom of that band, so an offer near 430,000 pesos is almost certainly part-time or paid by the hour. Ask how many contracted hours the figure buys before you accept it.

Why do teachers choose Chile over its neighbours?

Higher wages and a higher standard of living, bought at the price of a higher cost of living.

Of all the countries in South America, Chile enjoys one of the highest standards of living. It is, therefore, easy to see why many people fancy teaching English in Chile as opposed to some of the other countries. This does mean it is quite expensive to live and work as an English teacher in Chile, but you do receive better wages than some of the other neighbouring countries. It’s a breakeven type arrangement, so don’t expect to be able to save lots of money, although you could teach English privately in your spare time to top up the coffers. There is much to see and do in this vibrant, bustling country, and lots of people who head over to teach English in Chile are more than happy not to have savings because there is just so much to explore.

What is Chile like to live in?

Mountainous, food-obsessed, Spanish-speaking and among the safest places in South America to base yourself.

Set in a picturesque backdrop, Chile is the perfect location if you enjoy mountain climbing, as it features the Andes. And there are plenty of other great climbing locations too. You may be aware that Chile is rather into the game of football, and you will come across many football fans on your travels. It has an amazingly diverse ecosystem, and the locals are warm and welcoming and love to chat with visitors often over a meal as they do like their food, so if you are a foodie too, you will fit in well.

It is worth noting that most people in Chile speak Spanish, so you could use the opportunity to not only teach English in Chile but learn some Spanish. It has an amazing culture and is one of the safest countries in South America to live in, meaning you can spend time there and not be unduly worried. In this guide, you will find all the information you need to learn about life as an English teacher in Chile, including where to find work, the qualifications you need, visa requirements and the cost of living.

Next steps: browse current openings on our teach English abroad jobs hub, compare Chile with teaching English in Peru and teaching English in Brazil, and qualify before you go with our TEFL courses in Ireland.

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Types of teaching jobs

Private Language Academies

The best paying jobs as an English teacher in Chile will be found at private language academies. Here you will be able to earn more than in a public school program, and you will find these language academies located in the big cities. Often you will be employed to work at more than one of them, and they are used by various companies to help their employees learn better English. So you will travel around the various centres teaching classes. In this case, it is possible that your transport costs will be covered by the school.

Public School Volunteer

The government-sponsored English open doors program is another potential way to find work as an English teacher in Chile. If you enrol with this program, you are placed in a school where they need you and don’t have a choice, and it can be anywhere in the country. Generally, you will teach for around 12 hours each week, and your students tend to be aged 12 to 18. This does give you plenty of spare time, but it may not be enough of an income on its own for you to live on, so you may want to consider private tutoring as well. The English open doors program is a voluntary program, and you don’t get paid as such, but you do receive staying with a local host family and a stipend of around $125 per month.

International Schools

There is also a possibility of finding work at an international school teaching English in Chile. However, you do have to be a qualified teacher with a degree in education and a current teaching license. They will also expect you to have a good basic knowledge of Spanish. They expect a high standard from their English teachers, and you will lead classes independently with no support. Of course, this is better paid than any other post but does have significantly higher entrance requirements.

Private Teaching

Many English teachers in Chile also top up their income by offering private one-to-one tutoring sessions. Alternatively, if you have a good Internet connection, you can tutor online and teach English to students all over the world. Either way enables you to add a little more money to your pot, and there are no restrictions on being self-employed as an English teacher in Chile.