Portugal Overview
| Main Cities/Areas | Salary range (USD/month) |
| Lisbon, Porto | $1000 â $1500 |
There is a high demand for English tuition in Portugal even though the language is spoken to a high level by many citizens. As one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, with great weather and fabulous beaches, it is a popular destination for TEFL teachers.
Be warned that you will not become rich teaching English here and may need to take on more than one job to pay for the rising cost of living.
As usual in Western Europe, it is much easier for English-speaking EU nationals (i.e British and Irish) to find work due to European bureaucracy. Some employers in Portugal are very unreliable so do as much research as you possibly can before signing a contract.
Typical Requirements and Tips
| Degree? | TEFL Certification? | EU National? | Experience? |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Before signing a contract, ask to speak to both past and present employees for their opinions of the language center or school. International House has a good reputation.
Consider becoming a self-employed tutor so that you can work when you like and potentially earn a higher salary.
Learn some Portuguese before you arrive. This will make day-to-day life much, much easier and it is almost essential for private English lessons.
As with most countries in Europe, it is a lot easier for EU nationals to find work as the paperwork required is significantly less than when applying to employ non-EU nationals.
The accommodation, food, and transport costs are high. The cost of living has risen sharply in recent years but unfortunately, the average TEFL wage has remained the same.
Employers generally pay your income tax for you and as usual, you should expect to be paid on a monthly basis. Many EU nationals (particularly British and Irish) decide to become self-employed tutors as the profit margins and flexibility can be attractive when compared to working for a typical language center.
Pros and Cons of Teaching in Portugal
Pros:
- Fabulous history and culture
- Delightful weather and beaches
- A pleasant working environment
Cons:
- Lots of red tape for non-EU nationals
- High living costs and relatively low salaries
- It can be difficult without Portuguese language skills
