Teach English in Peru

TEFL jobs in Peru

Living costs Key facts FAQ’s Student Story TEFL jobs in Peru

Yes, you can teach English in Peru, one of the most affordable countries in South America to live and teach in. Most jobs are at language institutes, private schools and in business English, mainly in Lima, with steady demand in Cusco and Arequipa. A 120 hour TEFL certificate is the usual requirement and a degree helps. To work legally you need a work visa status arranged with your employer, not a tourist stamp.

Teaching English in Peru at a glance

Main employers	Language institutes, private and bilingual schools, universities, business English providers, private and online students
How pay works	Hourly in soles at institutes, monthly salaries at schools and universities
Minimum wage benchmark	S/1,230 a month from 1 October 2026, under Supreme Decree 015-2026-TR, with a second step to S/1,300 due in the first half of 2027
Hiring season	February to March, before the school year starts in March, with institutes hiring year round
Minimum TEFL hours	120 hours
Degree required	Often not for institutes. Usually required for schools, universities and work visas
Main cities	Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Trujillo

Who can legally teach English in Peru?

Visiting. UK, Irish, EU, US, Canadian and Australian citizens can usually enter Peru without a visa as tourists, with the length of stay set at entry. Tourist status does not allow you to work for a Peruvian employer, and since 2021 tourist stays can no longer simply be extended.

Work status. To work legally you need a worker migratory status, usually based on an employment contract that is registered with Peru’s labour authorities, with the application handled by Migraciones, Peru’s immigration authority. Larger institutes, schools and universities are the employers most used to this process. Documents such as your degree normally need to be apostilled.

Online teaching. Teaching online to students outside Peru is different from working for a local employer. Take advice on the right status before relying on tourist entry for long periods.

Working for a Peruvian employer on tourist status is not legal, and we do not recommend it. Confirm current rules with Migraciones or the Peruvian consulate, and see our Visa Desk for updates.

How much do English teachers earn in Peru?

Pay is modest in international terms, but Peru’s low living costs mean it goes a long way. Institutes usually pay by the hour in soles, schools and universities pay monthly, and private and business lessons pay the most per hour. A full time employment contract must pay at least the minimum wage of S/1,230 a month from 1 October 2026. Many teachers add online lessons for foreign students, which typically pay around US$10 to US$25 an hour. Compare pay across countries on the TEFL Salary Index.

Where are the English teaching jobs in Peru?

Lima, home to around a third of Peru’s population, has most of the institutes, bilingual schools, universities and business clients, especially in districts such as Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco. Cusco has demand linked to tourism and hospitality, at lower pay. Arequipa, Peru’s second city, has steady institute and university demand, and Trujillo on the north coast has a growing market.

What qualifications do you need?

A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is the practical minimum, alongside native or near native English. Many institutes do not insist on a degree, but schools, universities and most work visas do. Our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course meets the standard requirement, and the Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL course is a regulated qualification employers can verify on the Ofqual register. Some Spanish makes daily life and paperwork much easier.

What does it cost to live in Peru?

Peru is one of the cheapest countries in South America for foreign teachers. Lima’s popular districts such as Miraflores and Barranco are the most expensive, while Cusco, Arequipa and smaller cities are considerably cheaper. Markets, menú lunches and local transport are very good value. Tap water is not safe to drink, so budget for bottled or filtered water. Teachers who share a flat and add a few private or online students usually live comfortably and save something each month.

What is it like teaching in a Peruvian classroom?

Peruvian learners are typically warm, polite and keen to improve, and many adults need English for work, study abroad or tourism. Relationships matter, so a friendly, patient approach and clear boundaries, such as keeping a work phone number for students, help a great deal. Lima’s grey winter skies and Cusco’s high altitude both take a little getting used to.

Where to find English teaching jobs in Peru now

Peruvian schools hire mainly in February and March, before the school year starts in March, while institutes in Lima hire year round. These are the best ways to see what is open and plan your timing.

Browse current vacancies on our TEFL jobs board, where partner schools post roles worldwide.
Sign up for Deadline Alerts to hear about application windows before they close.
Compare Peru with its neighbours in the ultimate guide to where to teach in South America.
Check entry rules on the Visa Desk before you plan your move.
Use the Eligibility Checker to see which routes your passport and qualifications open.

Teaching in Peru: read next

Comparing the region? See our South America country comparison.
Considering Ecuador too? See our guide to teaching English in Ecuador.
Or Colombia? Read our guide to teaching English in Colombia.
Compare pay in our TEFL Salary Index and check entry rules on the Visa Desk.

Get TEFL qualified for Peru

Last updated: 4 October 2026. 2026 figures checked October 2026: minimum wage of S/1,230 a month from 1 October 2026, set by Supreme Decree 015-2026-TR, published 28 September 2026, with a second step to S/1,300 due in the first half of 2027. Pay and living costs are approximate. Immigration rules change, so confirm current requirements with Migraciones before you travel.

Living costs

Peru is 75% cheaper than the rest of the countries in Latin America are making it a great place to live this means is 83% cheaper to live in Peru than it is to live anywhere else in the world. There is a wonder that it attracts a great number of tourists who have all come for very different reasons. It is also the perfect location to teach English abroad. If you are a gap year student, you may want to consider teaching English in Peru to bolster your CV and university application. While it is not paid work, you do get your accommodation and food provided for you, and the experience is something you will remember forever. If you don’t have a lot of spending money, it really doesn’t matter as there is plenty to do that is cheap or free. Street festivals are something that Peru is famous for, and they go on all around the year. The beaches are famous for their surf and attract a lot of surfers, but if you prefer to keep dry, then you can simply watch the action from the amazing beaches.

To obtain the most up-to-date cost of living figures, we use the world’s biggest cost of living comparison website, Numbio.com.

Accommodation: USD $470–$703
Utilities: USD $51
Health insurance: Cost of a typical visit to a GP: USD $20
Monthly transport pass: USD $29
Basic dinner out for two: USD $9
Cappuccino in an ex-pat area: USD $3.65
A beer in a pub: USD $1.95
1 litre of milk: USD $1.14
2 litres of Coca-Cola: USD $1.95

TEFL jobs in Peru: KEY POINTS

SALARY

Paid in soles, often hourly; minimum wage S/1,230 a month

EDUCATION

BA degree preferred

MAIN JOB TYPES

Private schools, public schools, private tutoring, volunteering projects

TEFL CERTIFICATION NEEDED

120 hour TEFL Training

KEY FACTS

Popular locations for TEFL jobs: Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Trujillo
Average salary for EFL teachers: Institutes usually pay by the hour in soles, and schools and universities pay monthly salaries. A full time employment contract must pay at least the minimum wage of S/1,230 a month from 1 October 2026, rising to S/1,300 in the first half of 2027. Private and business lessons pay more, and online lessons for foreign students typically pay around US$10 to US$25 an hour.
TEFL qualification requirements: A 120-hour TEFL qualification will be required for most positions
Prerequisite university degree: Having a degree is preferred but not required for all jobs
Term times: March–December
Currency: Sol (PEN)
Language: Spanish
Teaching programmes: Freelance, Voluntary, International Schools, Business English, Private Language Schools
Age restrictions: None
Previous teaching experience: Not usually required

When to go

Climate and hiring in Lima

Arrive in February: schools hire in February and March, before the school year starts in March, and institutes fill timetables then. July, at the mid-year break, is a smaller window, and Lima’s institutes hire through the year.

Month	High	Low	Hiring
January	27°C	20°C
February	28°C	21°C	Main
March	27°C	20°C	Main
April	25°C	19°C
May	23°C	17°C
June	21°C	16°C
July	20°C	16°C	Some
August	19°C	15°C
September	20°C	15°C
October	21°C	16°C
November	22°C	17°C
December	24°C	19°C

Lima is mild and almost rainless, with only about 5 mm a year. Summer, from December to April, is warm and sunny, around 81°F, while winter, from June to October, is cool, damp and grey under a coastal mist called garúa, around 68°F, with very little sun. Homes are not heated, so winter feels colder than the numbers suggest. Cusco, in the Andes, is much colder at night.

Average daily highs and lows, 1991 to 2020 station averages for Lima. Hiring months are typical patterns, not guarantees.

Facts about Peru

LANGUAGE

Spanish

POPULATION

3.3 crores

TEFL JOB DEMAND

Mid

CURRENCY

Sol

CAPITAL

Lima

OUR PERU TEFL RATING

3.8/5

TEFL jobs in Peru: FAQS

How much can I earn as an English teacher in Peru?

Institutes in Peru usually pay by the hour in soles, while schools and universities pay monthly salaries. A full time employment contract must pay at least the minimum wage of S/1,230 a month from 1 October 2026, rising to S/1,300 in the first half of 2027, and private, business and online lessons pay more per hour. Peru’s low living costs mean modest pay goes a long way.

Is Peru expensive to live in?

No, Peru is one of the cheapest countries in South America for foreign teachers. Lima’s popular districts such as Miraflores and Barranco cost the most, while Cusco, Arequipa and smaller cities are considerably cheaper. Markets, menú lunches and local transport are very good value.

Can I teach English in Peru without a degree?

Many language institutes in Peru will hire teachers without a degree if they hold a TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours. Schools, universities and most work visa applications do expect a degree, so teachers without one have fewer legal options.

What is the best TEFL certificate for teaching in Peru?

An accredited TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours, such as our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course, is what most Peruvian institutes ask for. For schools, universities and business English in Lima, an Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL Diploma gives you a stronger application and is recognised wherever you teach, including online.

Can UK and US citizens teach English in Peru?

Yes, but you need a worker migratory status, usually based on a registered employment contract and handled by Migraciones. Tourist entry does not allow paid work, and tourist stays can no longer simply be extended. Check current rules on our Visa Desk.

Do I need to speak Spanish to teach English in Peru?

Not to teach, since lessons are in English, but Spanish makes daily life, renting and paperwork much easier, especially outside Lima. Many teachers take classes once they arrive. For a nearby market, see our guide to teaching English in Ecuador.