Teach English in Romania

You can teach English in Romania at private language schools, in business English, at international schools and with private students, mainly in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara. Demand is driven by Romania’s large IT and outsourcing sector, and living costs are among the lowest in the EU. EU citizens can work freely, while UK, US and other non EU teachers need a work authorisation, a long-stay work visa and a residence permit arranged with an employer. A full-time contract must pay at least Romania’s minimum wage of RON 4,325 gross a month from 1 July 2026.

Teaching English in Romania at a glance

Why teach English in Romania?

Romania combines one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union with fast internet, lively cities and spectacular countryside, from the Carpathian mountains and medieval Transylvanian towns to the Black Sea coast. Its booming IT and outsourcing sector, centred on Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara, creates steady demand for professional English. Romanians already have a good level of English, so most work focuses on business, exam and advanced English, and few foreign teachers know the market, keeping competition low.

What kinds of English teaching jobs are there in Romania?

Private language schools. The main employer of foreign English teachers, teaching children, teenagers and adults general, exam and business English. Cambridge exam preparation is especially popular.

Business English. Romania’s IT, outsourcing and shared service companies pay for in-company English training, often through language schools or freelance trainers, and this is the best-paid part of the market.

International schools. A number in Bucharest and some other cities follow British, American or IB curricula and want qualified teachers with a teaching licence.

Universities. Language centres and English-taught programmes, usually wanting a master’s degree and experience.

State schools. Romanian public schools employ Romanian-qualified teachers, so they are rarely an option for foreign TEFL teachers.

Private tutoring and online teaching. A common way to top up income, especially exam preparation for teenagers.

How much do English teachers earn in Romania?

Language schools often pay by the hour, with business English paying best, and international schools pay monthly salaries on their own scales. Romania’s minimum wage was RON 4,050 gross a month until 30 June 2026 and rose to RON 4,325 from 1 July 2026 under Government Decision 146/2026, so a full-time contract must pay at least that. Pay is modest by western European standards, but living costs are among the lowest in the EU, especially outside Bucharest. Check how many paid hours are guaranteed before you accept a part-time contract. Compare pay across countries on the TEFL Salary Index, or read how much TEFL teachers make.

What qualifications do you need to teach English in Romania?

Most employers expect a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours. Business English and Cambridge exam preparation skills are especially useful, university posts need a master’s degree, and international schools want a teaching licence and experience. Our Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL course can be verified on the Ofqual register.

Which visa do you need to teach English in Romania?

Romania is an EU member state, so EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, including Irish passport holders, can live and work there freely and register their residence. UK citizens lost that right after Brexit. UK, US and other non EU teachers need their employer to obtain a work authorisation from the General Inspectorate for Immigration, then apply for a long-stay work visa and, after arrival, a residence permit. Romania sets an annual quota for non EU workers, and the process takes time, so start early. Check current rules with the Romanian embassy and our Visa Desk before you accept an offer.

Where are the English teaching jobs in Romania?

Bucharest, the capital, has most language schools, international schools and corporate work. Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania is a major university and tech city. Iași in the northeast and Timișoara in the west both have large IT sectors and universities, and Brașov, near the mountains, has a smaller market.

What is it like teaching and living in Romania?

Romanians are warm and sociable, and students are generally motivated, particularly adults learning for their careers and teenagers preparing for Cambridge exams. Romania is the only Romance-language country in Eastern Europe, so Romanian is easier to pick up than most of its neighbours’ languages for speakers of Spanish, French or Italian. Summers are hot, winters are cold and snowy, and the country is affordable to explore by train and bus.

Last updated: 3 October 2026. Pay figures are approximate, not quotes. Work authorisation, visa and residence rules change, so confirm current requirements with Romania’s General Inspectorate for Immigration and your employer before you travel.