Teach English Abroad In Costa Rica

Requirements and Qualifications

• Degree Requirements

  • BA/BS NOT Required for North Americans.
  • BA/BS REQUIRED for other native Western nationalities
    Note* reason for this is accent preferences for Costa Rican schools.
  • A short intro video is required for non-degree holders before approval.

• Medical/Mental Health

  No medical test is required.
  
  Medical Disqualifiers
  HIV
  Dyslexia
  Autism
  Legally blind or deaf
  
  Conditions That Require Discussion Before Approval
  Bipolar
  Epilepsy
  Depression
  Cancer
  Anxiety
  
  Notes
  HIV not a strict disqualifier but we have previously looked into medications and they are very expensive
  
  If taking any medication for mental health, must have doctor’s note. 

• Dependents and Pets

  Dependents. No dependents can be accommodated on this program.
  
  Pets: It is possible to bring pets on the program, however we discourage participants from traveling with a pet. If choosing to do so, the participant must bear all responsibility, logistics, and costs. We are unable to arrange or manage your entry into the country with a pet, nor can we guarantee support for pets at your placement. Moreover, bringing a pet may limit your placement and accommodation options, as finding suitable accommodations could become more challenging. It might also significantly increase your start-up costs.

• Tattoos

  Minor, visible tattoos are possible on this program but must be disclosed at signup and handled on a case-by-case basis.

• Age Restrictions

  Eligible age range is 22 to 45 years old.

   
  Applicants outside of this age range with previous teaching experience and a degree in education/teaching, can be screened and accepted on a case-by-case basis. They need to be flexible and open to any location, age group and timeline. A short intro video is required for anyone outside of this age range.

• Background Check

  Applicants must have a clean criminal background check with no criminal record, previous arrests or charges listed. 

  If an applicant has minor offenses on their record, we will need to send you through for pre-screening.

• Language and Citizenship

  Native English speakers from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada,  and South Africa. 
  
  Other nationalities can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  
  Strong preference for teachers from the US and Canada

• TEFL Certification

  A minimum of 120 hours of internationally accredited TEFL/TESOL certification required.

• Contract Length

  12 Months (renewable).
  
  Limited placements for contract commitments less than a year.

• Religious Attire And Garments

  Religious garments (hijaabs) may be reviewed and accepted on a case-by-case basis. 
  
  Note: They would need to be flexible with placements and willing to remove it during work hours if requested by the school

• Taxes

  Tax Rate in Costa Rica for teachers is around 2%
  
  There might be other tax deductions depending on the type of school. Some schools may deduct a higher % for healthcare, this is likely in a situation where a work permit is being applied for.

• Types Of Schools For Placement

  International and Local Schools
  
  Language Academies
  
  Online Schools (Based in Costa Rica and other countries such as Chile)

  Placement Network: More than 100 schools across Costa Rica

  Positions are available countrywide
  
  Top locations are: San Jose/Central Valley and the Guanacaste province 
  
  Preferences are requested but placement location is NOT Guaranteed 

• Working Hours And Class Sizes

  Typically 20–30 teaching hours per week (depending on the school)
  
  Language academies or online schools may start as low as 10 - 12 hours per week, gradually increasing to 15+ hours over time.

  Language Academies: 4 - 10 students
  
  Online Schools: One-on-one or small groups
  
  International/Local Schools: 10 - 30 students depending on the school

• Visa Support

  Tourist Visa:
  
  Participants obtain a 180-day tourist visa on arrival. The main requirement for the tourist visa on arrival is an onward journey ticket to show immigration they are leaving the country within 180 days. 
  
  Participants can obtain another 180-day tourist visa by leaving the country on a visa trip and coming back in, with another onward journey ticket.

  Proof of economic means, with a minimum of US$100.00 (one hundred US dollars) per month or partial month of legal stay in the country.
  No impediment to entering Costa Rican territory.

  Arrive on visa exemption or tourist visa. These visas last a total of 180 days. 
  
  Participants need to ensure their onward journey ticket is booked close to the 180 day mark to ensure they obtain the full 180 days. Amount of days granted is up to the discretion of the immigration officer.
  
  Teachers need to do a visa trip every 180 days, leaving to a neighbouring country and returning for a new 180 day visa. Teachers can do this as many times as they want with no issues, providing they meet exit and entry requirements. Teachers typically go overland to Nicaragua or Panama. The cost of an overland trip is low and can be done in a weekend.
  
  Work Visa:
  
  Around 60% of schools require teachers to obtain a work visa, which will require an apostilled birth certificate and an apostilled national criminal background check dated within 2 months from the program start date (To ensure documents are still valid {6 months} by the time the school might need them for the work visa application). These are then translated once in Costa Rica. Most schools will require a visa fee to be paid for the work permit processing. 
  
  Some schools will ask participants to do a visa run shortly before the initial 180 days are up. Most of the time participants will need to pay for their own transportation for the visa run. They will usually be asked to contribute to either the work visa or a visa run. In rare circumstances schools might ask participants to pay more for visa costs upfront but will likely reimburse them at the end of the contract.

• Start Up Costs

  Housing once at Placement - It's common for landlords to ask for the first month's rent as well as 1 to 2 months of rent as a deposit. Rent varies between $350 to $800 per month.
  
  --------------------------------
  Placement Program Startup Costs - $2,000 to get teachers through to their first paycheck
  In-Class TESOL + Placement Startup Costs - $2,800 to get teachers through to their first paycheck
  *Some intakes might require participants to budget more due to holidays, such as the November intake. Placements are usually only mid to late January.
  --------------------------------
  
  Health Insurance - Teachers should purchase health insurance that covers them for a minimum of 90 days in Costa Rica. This needs to include medical emergencies.

• Included In The Orientation Week

  One Week Culture, Language Orientation: In-class one week culture and language program upon arrival in country, including:
  
  - Town walking tour
  - Visit to Las Musas waterfall
  - Animal rescue centre visit
  - Coffee plantation tour
  - Cooking class
  - Sugarcane mill tour 
  - Spanish language classes 
  - Potential practicum experience

• Other Important FAQs

  1. Is it essential to know Spanish? 
  Whilst knowing Spanish is not a requirment for the program or to teach in Costa Rica, we have found that people who know some basic Spanish are better able to integrate into their community, which ultimately allows for a better experience overall.
  
  2. Can I have a single room whilst on the course?
  This would be an additional fee and can be accommodated depending on availability at the hostel during the intake.
  
  3. If I do not get a work permit/visa, how long can I stay in Costa Rica?
  You can stay in Costa Rica for as long as your initial visa allows, which should be 180 days. Most people then leave the country to go to a neighboring country, then enter back in, to get an additional 180 days.
  
  4. What vaccines do I need to take before coming to Costa Rica? 
  We recommend checking with your medical provider whether any vaccinations are recommended for travel to Costa Rica. You can also see more information here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/costa-rica
  
  5. With only my teacher's salary, will it be enough due to the cost of living?
  We strongly encourage participants to bring the amount we mention in our budget guides but to always budget a higher amount depending on their spending habits/lifestyle choices. Eating locally and ensuring you integrate into the local Costa Rican way of life can ensure that you can live comfortably off an average salary.
  
  6. How about cell service? Is there a certain provider we recommend?
  We will supply you with a Liberty SIM card on Sunday evening ahead of the program's start. 
  We will send you a guide on how to get set up and how to add credit to your SIM and purchase a plan. This will also be covered on Monday, the start of the course.
  
  7. How do you apply for a transit visa/ESTA?
  To transit through the US, you will need an ESTA, you can apply online here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
  
  8. I have not received my apostilled birth certificate and criminal record check back and I am due to leave soon, would that be a problem?
  This is not usually required as soon as you start at a school (if they are processing a work permit, not all schools do), so it is totally fine if you arrive in Costa Rica without these items. You can always get them sent over to you when needed.

  9. Can couples be placed together?
  This is unlikely but not impossible. We would try our best but ultimately it would be up to the school. Usually one person might need to work an in-person job and the other person work online in order to make it work unless both positions were in the same area.
  
  10. Dress code for teaching?
  This is usually smart casual but depends on the school you are teaching at as schools vary.
  
  11. How difficult is the TESOL course? Can one fail?
  Yes, one can fail. But if we see that an applicant is not doing well, we will spend more time with the applicant to make sure they pass. We have had people fail or be kicked off of the course, but that is typically caused by other things like drinking, fighting, not from lack of competence to complete the course successfully. However, a decent level of competence is necessary as a teacher may be required to do a demo lesson before finalizing their contract.
  
  12. Packing essentials? 
  You will need to bring your own towel or buy one as the hostel does not provide a towel. We recommend ear plugs for light sleepers as the roads around the hostel might be noisier than what you are used to. A good rain jacket/poncho/windbreaker would be helpful in the rainy season. We recommend bringing good sunscreen from home as this can be quite expensive in Costa Rica.
  
  13. What is the level of English and behavior of students?
  This will vary from student to student, however, there is typically beginner knowledge of English throughout the country. However, in some cases, students might have very limited English abilities, depending on the school.
  
  14. What curriculum will they follow at school?
  Some schools will have a set curriculum and some will have none at all. This varies depending on the type of school you are teaching at and their policies on curriculum. You may have a guide to follow but may also be able to decide on your own lesson plans/curriculum.
  
  15. Do your colleagues speak English?
  There is a good chance they will speak English. There are some schools where this might be different and English might not be commonly spoken.
  
  16. What are the chances of getting a salary increase?
  There is a chance this is possible depending on your performance and possible contract renewal.
  
  17. When are the school holidays?
  The academic year in Costa Rica typically runs from February to November or December. The first semester starts in February and ends in June, followed by a two-week vacation in July. The second semester begins in July and ends in November or December. There is also a one-week vacation in October for the rainy season. 
  Holy Week is a major religious holiday in Costa Rica, and public institutions often close for the entire week.
  
  18. Is religion a big issue?
  No. However, Costa Rica is the only state on the American continent which has established Catholicism as its state religion, making religion a big part of Costa Rican culture. The importance of religion is evidenced in the language, holidays and traditions.
  
  19. What happens if you lose your job? Can you get a new one?
  If you are fired, Xplorea will no longer help with placement; however, with your TESOL certificate you can usually find work by using job posting websites. If you are let go due to some other reason unrelated to performance, conduct or attendance, Xplore will continue to assist. 
  
  20. Can you drink tap water?
  It is generally safe to drink the tap water in Costa Rica. We recommend avoiding it in very outlying rural areas.
  
  22) How safe is it in Costa Rica?
  To date we haven't had any participants on the program become the victims of crime of any kind in San Ramon. However, we still advise the utmost caution when it comes to being vigilant with personal safety and being aware that risks still exist, and crime can occur. We provide participants with an extensive Safety Guide ahead of their arrival. 
  
  23) Should I bring Costa Rican Colon CRC with me?
  Dollars are accepted in many, but not all shops but typically only small bills are accepted. $100 bills are rarely accepted outside of banks. It is recommended that participants bring some cash in CRC. We recommend bringing $100 worth of colones should last a month or more if you pay for things with a card whenever possible. Rent, taxis, buses, sim cards and the farmer’s market are really the only things you can only do with colones. Everything else you can use USD cash or card.