Teach English in Kuwait: TEFL & English Teacher Jobs in Kuwait

About Teaching English in Kuwait

Home to one of the world’s largest petroleum reserves, Kuwait offers a unique blend of traditional Arab culture, stunning desert and coastal scenery. In addition, it offers the modern cosmopolitanism of Kuwait City, distinguished by its extravagant shopping and modern infrastructure.

To teach English in Kuwait, you will need a TEFL certificate and a 4-year college degree. Additionally, you must be a native English speaker to find a TEFL job. The average salary for an English teacher in Kuwait is about $1,500 - $ 3,300 USD per month tax-free.

Benefits include airfare to and from the assignment, health insurance, and even furnished housing. Many schools also require prior teaching experience and the job market in Kuwait is more competitive than many others.

Most English teachers in Kuwait are hired in advance from their own country and have their visa processed prior to their departure for their teaching destination. Expect the interview and visa processes to take 1-3 months.

As a conservative Middle Eastern nation, expatriates in Kuwait must exhibit sensitivity towards local customs, and prepare to adapt to life in a society governed by Islamic law and traditions.

How to Become an English Teacher in Kuwait: Requirements

TEFL Certification in Kuwait

A TEFL certification is required to teach English in Kuwait, and it's common for schools to prefer applicants with advanced credentials or extensive teaching experience.

Interviews are typically conducted in advance from your home country. Because of this, it is most common for students to take one of our TEFL course options listed below.

Native English-Speaking Proficiency

Schools in Kuwait prefer to hire native English speakers (citizens from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), however, there are some exceptions so be sure to get in touch with your ITA Admissions Advisor to discuss this in further detail.

Degree Requirements for Teaching in Kuwait

At a minimum, English teachers will need to possess a bachelor’s degree in addition to their TEFL certification. With that said, many schools in Kuwait will require teachers to possess a degree specifically in education or a Master’s degree (often in any field). Many will strongly prefer candidates to have previous teaching experience and/or a teaching license from a country like the U.S or the U.K.

TEFL Kuwait: Background Check

You will require a clean FBI background check in order to process your work visa.

How to Find English Teacher Jobs in Kuwait

TEFL Jobs in Kuwait

The most common ESL jobs in Kuwait consist of:

Teaching adults, business professionals, or children in private language schools, international schools, and occasionally in vocational colleges or universities.
Private tutoring both children and adults.
Teaching English Online.

English Teaching Jobs in Kuwait: Hiring & Visa

English teachers in Kuwait can expect to find jobs year-round. Interviews are typically conducted via video chat in advance from your home country. Many schools recruit in the spring for positions that begin with the new academic year in August/September.

In addition, it is standard practice for English teachers in Kuwait to receive a sponsored work visa via their employer.

Teaching Jobs in Kuwait: Hours

English language schools in Kuwait typically offer 20-25 hours per week of work, leaving you plenty of opportunities to travel and explore.

Teaching Kuwaiti Students

There are a variety of teaching opportunities in Kuwait with all different demographics. It is most common that your students will be adults and business professionals, but it's also possible to teach elementary and high school-aged children.

TEFL Kuwait: Salary & Cost of Living

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs will range from $1,000 - $1,500 USD (300 - 450 KWD). These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in Kuwait until you receive your first paycheck, things like meals and transportation. This doesn't include costs for housing because it's typically provided by your employer.

English Teaching Jobs in Kuwait Salary

A solid hourly wage enables teachers the opportunity to live a comfortable lifestyle while in Kuwait and save each month after expenses. Teachers can expect to earn $1,500 - $ 3,300 USD (450 - 1,000 KWD) per month and save $800+ monthly.

On top of generous pay, it's common for employers to pay for teachers' housing and sometimes even provide reimbursement for flight costs.

Teaching in Kuwait: Cost of Living & Savings

What is the cost of living in Kuwait?

The cost of living typically ranges between $650 - $1,000 USD (200 - 300 KWD) plus housing per month.

English teachers in Kuwait can expect to save money each month. This means you can cover your rent and bills, support yourself, live comfortably, and enjoy your life abroad to the fullest, and also save money at the end of the month.

About International TEFL Academy

Founded in 2010, International TEFL Academy (ITA) is a world leader in TEFL certification for teaching English abroad and teaching English online. ITA offers accredited TEFL certification classes online and in 20+ locations worldwide and has received multiple awards and widespread recognition as one of the best TEFL schools in the world. ITA provides all students and graduates with lifetime job search guidance and has certified more than 40,000 English teachers. Our graduates are currently teaching in 80 countries worldwide.

Teaching English in Kuwait FAQs

Do I need a degree to teach English in Kuwait?

To teach English in Kuwait, make sure you understand what is required:

Required:

Four-year degree (BA/BS required, MA preferred)
A TEFL certification
Citizenship from a native English -speaking country (the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, or New Zealand)
Understanding of the types of English teaching jobs that are available
Savings for start-up costs

How much do English teachers make in Kuwait?

English teachers in Kuwait can expect to make $1,500 - $ 3,300 USD (450 - 1,000 KWD) per month. Since you also receive benefits like airfare, housing, health insurance, and paid vacation, expect to save $500-$1000 a month or even more after expenses.

Are English teachers in demand in Kuwait?

There is a growing demand for learning English and, as a result, English teachers in Kuwait. Most teachers are hired in advance from their own country and have their visa processed prior to their departure for their teaching destination. You can also be hired as an English teacher all year in Kuwait. However, most schools and universities begin in August-September, so spring and summer tend to be excellent times to look for jobs.

What type of visa do I need to teach English in Kuwait?

Most teachers are hired in advance from their own country and have their visa processed prior to their departure for their teaching destination.

A work visa is issued to those who find employment in advance of moving to Kuwait. The school and/or employer will apply for the work permit from the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour.

To receive their visa, teachers should expect to pass a physical and an HIV/contagious diseases test, and in many cases, academic transcripts and a criminal background check may also be necessary. Expect the process of interviewing and procuring a visa to take at least 1-3 months.

Recommended TEFL Courses for
Teaching English in Kuwait

Part-Time Online TEFL Course

What's included 👇

170-Hour Online Certification
11 Weeks Part-Time
OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation from TQUK
Live Office Hours with Your Instructor & Peer-Participation with Classmates
Lifetime Job Search Guidance
20-Hours Live Practice Teaching

Find out more

Intensive Online TEFL Course

What's included 👇

4 Weeks Full-Time (40+ hours per week) - required class time typically 6-8 hours daily
OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation from TQUK
Live Office Hours with Your Instructor & Peer-Participation with Classmates
Lifetime Job Search Guidance
10-Hours Live Practice Teaching (Virtual) built into the course

Find out more

Reviews From ITA Students Who Found Their English Teacher Jobs in Kuwait

You’re living in the Middle East. You probably won’t be living there forever. So live in the now, and don’t think too much about back home or your next move. Appreciate the experience for what it is, and do things one can only do in the Middle East.

I thoroughly enjoyed the online course. I worked a full-time job, so the flexibility of the course allowed me to achieve my goal of getting TEFL certified while maintaining employment to financially prepare for my departure. The instructor was available when necessary, but gave you room to just do the work at your pace. The tasks were surprisingly challenging but do-able. I really liked that ITA required a practicum. Not only did it allow me to practice what I'd been learning in theory, but it also gave me an edge in the job market.

I am currently teaching kindergarten at an international school, with a large majority of my students are native Arabic speakers. I find myself using many of the different techniques that I learned through ITA with my students every day.

TEACH ENGLISH IN KUWAIT

About Teaching English in Kuwait