Azerbaijan Overview
| Main Cities/Areas | Salary range (USD/month) |
| Baku | $1200 â $1500 |
The former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan is a country undergoing immense change. There is a growing demand for Business English classes with native speakers as English replaces Russian as the language of business.
Expect a rather poor infrastructure and not exactly the warmest of welcomes (smiling in public is considered strange as appears to be typical for former Soviet republics). There is some fascinating natural scenery in Azerbaijan but pickpocketing is common on public transport and there are still no commercial ferries on the Caspian Sea.
Typical Requirements and Tips
| Degree? | TEFL Certification? | EU National? | Experience? |
| Yes | Yes | No | No |
Americans might consider volunteering with the Peace Corps for an easier track to teaching in Azerbaijan
Because of the history, try to avoid speaking about political topics in public.
There are tons of red tape to get into the country. A letter of invitation from a contact in Azerbaijan is required in order to enter the country. You must register with local police if you wish to stay for more than 30 days within 3 days of arriving. Expect to encounter corruption.
It also costs quite a lot to live here. Accommodation, food and transport are pretty pricey.
Employers generally pay your income tax for you and as usual you should expect to be paid on a monthly basis.
Pros and Cons of Teaching in Azerbaijan
Pros:
- There is growing demand for English tuition
- Beautiful natural scenery
- Azerbaijan has some excellent cuisine!
Cons:
- Lots of red tape (see above)
- Some say that it is not a particularly friendly country
- It is not the safest country to live in and the infrastructure is rather poor
