Romania has growing demand for English teachers (driven by tourism, hospitality, and business) and one of the lowest costs of living in the EU. It’s among the most accessible European markets, especially for EU teachers: many private language schools accept a 120-hour TEFL certificate without a degree. Roles span private language schools (the primary employers, conversational and business English), international schools (the best pay, in Bucharest, for licensed teachers), private and public schools, kindergartens, corporate/business-English training, and private tutoring. Wages are low, but so are living costs, so many teachers break even comfortably. This guide gives a clear, program-neutral overview and points you to the K12 Academics directory to find and compare the specific programs, schools, and recruiters that fit you.
Step 1 of 10
Understand Why Teachers Choose Romania
Romania offers a low entry bar (TEFL often enough for EU teachers), one of the EU’s lowest costs of living, growing demand, and a beautiful setting (Transylvania, the Carpathians) — one of Europe’s most accessible markets for early-career teachers.
Low entry bar — TEFL often enough
Very low costs — in the EU
Growing demand — + beautiful
How to help: Weigh Romania’s accessibility and low costs against genuinely low pay — for an easy, affordable entry into European teaching (especially for EU citizens), it’s a strong choice.
Watch out: Many language schools accept a 120-hour TEFL certificate without a degree — making Romania unusually accessible for early-career EU teachers.
Step 2 of 10
Understand the Types of Teaching Roles
Route types include: private language schools (the primary employers — conversational and business English), international schools (the best pay, concentrated in Bucharest, for licensed teachers), private and public schools, kindergartens, corporate/business-English training, and private tutoring (which supplements most roles). Browse and compare specific options in the K12 Academics directory.
Language schools — primary employers
Int'l schools — best pay (Bucharest)
Kindergartens / tutoring — + corporate
How to help: Match the route to your profile — a language school for entry, an international school if licensed, or corporate/business English — then find options in the K12 Academics directory.
Good to know: Find and compare specific language schools, international schools, and recruiters in the K12 Academics directory — this guide stays program-neutral.
Step 3 of 10
Check the Requirements
Requirements: a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate is essential (often the only formal requirement at language schools and kindergartens); a bachelor’s degree is required for the non-EU work permit and for international schools (but not always for EU language-school roles); native or fluent English; international schools also require a teaching license and experience.
TEFL — 120-hr (often enough)
Degree — non-EU & int'l schools
Int'l schools — license + experience
How to help: Line up your credentials — a 120-hour TEFL (often enough for EU language-school roles), a degree for non-EU or international-school work, and a teaching license for international schools.
Good to know: A degree isn’t always needed at EU language schools, but it’s required for the non-EU work permit and international schools.
Step 4 of 10
Understand the Visa & Work Authorization
EU/EEA citizens work freely (just register on arrival). Non-EU citizens need a work permit and a National Long-Stay Visa (D), and importantly, you must secure a job and apply before moving — it can’t be processed inside Romania. The employer submits a visa package to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; non-EU teachers are most common at international schools and larger chains that can sponsor.
EU/EEA — work freely
Non-EU — long-stay visa (D)
Apply — before moving (job first)
How to help: Know your route — EU citizens work freely; non-EU teachers must secure a job and apply for the long-stay visa before moving (it can’t be done in-country), usually via an international school or chain.
Watch out: Non-EU teachers must have a job in advance and apply for the visa before arrival — it cannot be processed inside Romania.
Step 5 of 10
Know the Pay & Benefits
Pay is low but livable given very low costs: roughly €500–1,000/month at language and private schools (around 1,100–2,500 RON), with international schools paying the most. Few language schools provide housing, so budget for rent (cheaper outside Bucharest). Teaching online in your free time can earn more than local private classes.
Language/private — ~€500–1,000/mo
Int'l schools — highest
Housing — usually not provided
How to help: Set realistic expectations — ~€500–1,000/month (international schools higher); the very low cost of living makes it livable, and online teaching can boost income.
Good to know: Wages are genuinely low, but Romania’s very low cost of living means most teachers break even comfortably, especially outside Bucharest.
Step 6 of 10
Understand Contracts & What to Watch For
Because pay is modest, check the details: hours (often ~25/week, paid hourly), whether accommodation or visa help is included, and — for non-EU teachers — that sponsorship is genuinely offered. Many teachers supplement with tutoring or online work. Favour written terms, and confirm any benefits in writing.
Check — hours (hourly pay)
Confirm — housing/visa help
Supplement — tutoring/online
How to help: Read every contract for hours, hourly pay, and any housing/visa help — and, since pay is modest, plan to supplement with tutoring or online work.
Good to know: Only a few schools provide accommodation — budget for rent, and consider online teaching to top up a modest salary.
Step 7 of 10
Get Qualified & Prepared
Earn an accredited 120-hour TEFL certificate (often the key — and sometimes only — requirement). A degree widens your options and is needed for non-EU or international-school roles. Prepare your documents (apostilled/translated), a background check, and a CV; non-EU teachers should arrange the job and visa before moving.
TEFL — 120-hr (often enough)
Degree — widens options
Non-EU — arrange before moving
How to help: Get an accredited 120-hour TEFL (a degree widens options), prepare apostilled documents and a background check, and — if non-EU — arrange the job and visa before moving.
Good to know: For EU teachers, a TEFL certificate alone often suffices — a degree simply opens more (and better-paid) doors.
Step 8 of 10
Plan the Hiring Timeline
Private and language schools hire most in August–September and January (with some year-round openings); international schools recruit January–May for a September start. Non-EU teachers must allow extra time to secure a job and complete the long-stay visa before travelling.
Language schools — Aug–Sept & Jan
Int'l schools — Jan–May
Non-EU — allow visa time
How to help: Plan around the calendar — language schools (Aug–Sept & Jan), international schools (Jan–May) — and non-EU teachers should allow time to secure a job and visa before travelling.
Good to know: Non-EU teachers must complete the visa before travelling — start the job search and paperwork well ahead.
Step 9 of 10
Prepare for the Move
You don’t need Romanian to teach (classes are English-only), but basic Romanian helps daily life. Popular bases include Bucharest (the biggest market), Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași (much cheaper than Bucharest). Romania is affordable and scenic, with Transylvania and the Carpathians to explore.
Romanian — not needed to teach
Basic Romanian — helps daily life
Bases — Bucharest, Cluj, Timișoara
How to help: Prepare practically — teach in English, but learn basic Romanian for daily life; popular bases are Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași, with cheaper living outside the capital.
Good to know: Cities like Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași are cheaper than Bucharest and have growing demand — great value options.
Step 10 of 10
Find Your Program & Thrive
Once you know your route, find and compare specific language schools, international schools, and recruiters in the K12 Academics directory. Apply to several, verify each employer, contract, and (for non-EU) the visa route, and build toward international-school or corporate roles. Confirm current rules with Romanian immigration.
Find & compare — schools & recruiters
Apply — to several
Build — toward higher pay
How to help: Use the K12 Academics directory to find and compare schools and recruiters, apply to several, verify each contract and visa route, and build toward higher-paid international-school or corporate roles.
Watch out: Browse the K12 Academics directory to find the specific schools, programs, and recruiters that fit your route and goals.
Quick Reference
Teaching in Romania: The Essentials
A snapshot — program-neutral. Confirm details with Romanian immigration and each employer, and find specific options in the K12 Academics directory.
- The routesPrivate language schools (the primary employers, conversational and business English), international schools (best pay, in Bucharest, for licensed teachers), private and public schools, kindergartens, and tutoring — find and compare specific ones in the K12 Academics directory.
- RequirementsA 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate is essential (often the only formal requirement at language schools); a bachelor’s degree is required for the non-EU work permit and international schools; native/fluent English.
- VisaEU/EEA citizens work freely (register on arrival); non-EU citizens need a work permit and National Long-Stay Visa (D), and must secure a job and apply before moving (not in-country).
- PayRoughly €500–1,000/month at language and private schools (~1,100–2,500 RON), with international schools highest; few provide housing (budget for rent, cheaper outside Bucharest); very low living costs make it livable.
- Timeline & moveLanguage schools hire August–September and January; international schools January–May; non-EU teachers must complete the visa before travelling; basic Romanian helps daily life (Bucharest, Cluj, Timișoara).
Official & Trusted Sources
Where to learn more
About this guide. This guide is a general, plain-language, program-neutral overview compiled by K12 Academics, current as of 2025–26, and is not legal, immigration, or employment advice. Romanian rules, pay, and requirements change and vary by employer and city; confirm all details with the Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and each employer. Use the K12 Academics directory to find and compare programs and schools.
Teaching in Romania