Teach English in Colombia
The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Digital Nomad Visas, Private Institutes, and Life in the Andes.
Colombia has transformed into the premier destination for remote workers and English teachers in Latin America. With its "eternal spring" weather, incredible biodiversity, and welcoming culture, it offers a lifestyle that is hard to beat. In 2026, the market is split between traditional classroom teaching in Bogotá and the booming Digital Nomad scene in Medellín.
For traditional teachers, obtaining a legal "M" Work Visa requires a contract with a university or a large language institute (like the Colombo Americano). These jobs offer stability and local peso salaries.
For online teachers, Colombia is a paradise. The government's Digital Nomad Visa (Visa V) allows you to live in the country legally while earning USD or Euros. This "geo-arbitrage"—earning a strong currency while spending in Colombian Pesos—allows for a luxurious lifestyle. Whether applying for a local job or the Nomad visa, a myTEFL 120-hour certificate is the essential credential to prove your professional status.
Quick Facts
What’s in this guide?
Your roadmap to South America's northern tip. Learn how to navigate the "M Visa" bureaucracy, understand the "No Dar Papaya" safety rule, and choose between the mountains and the Caribbean coast.
- The TEFL jobs market in Colombia
- Universities vs. Digital Nomad Teaching
- Teacher Salary in Colombian Pesos (COP)
- Work Visa (M) vs. Nomad Visa (V)
- Requirements for 2026
- Split Shifts & University Perks
- Cost of living: Medellín vs. Bogotá
- Where to teach: Medellín, Bogotá, Coast
- Getting hired: The Independent Route
- Colombia TEFL FAQs
The TEFL jobs market in Colombia
Colombia's economy is growing, and English is seen as the key to international business. The market is divided into two distinct paths: Local Employment and Remote Work.
Locally, the most prestigious jobs are at Universities and large institutes like the Centro Colombo Americano. These employers offer legal work visas (M Visa), health insurance, and decent local salaries. However, they almost strictly require a Bachelor's degree and a 120-hour TEFL certificate.
The alternative path, which has exploded in popularity, is teaching online. Medellín is now one of the world's top hubs for digital nomads. Teachers live here on the Nomad Visa, teaching students in Asia or Europe online, earning USD/EUR while spending COP. This offers a significantly higher quality of life than a local salary.
- Population: 52 million
- Language(s): Spanish
- Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
- Capital city: Bogotá
- Local Salary: 3M - 5M COP
- Public Holidays: 18 days (World High)
- Climate: Tropical / Mountain
- Main Transport: TransMilenio / Metro
- Internet: Excellent (Fiber)
Types of English teaching jobs in Colombia
From university lecture halls in the capital to co-working spaces in the coffee region.
Online / Digital Nomad
The most popular option in 2026. You live in Medellín or the Coffee Axis on a Nomad Visa, teaching online for US/Asian companies. High income, low cost.
Universities
The best local jobs. Universities in Bogotá and Medellín hire native speakers for 1-year contracts. Good pay, long holidays, and visa sponsorship.
Language Institutes
Centers like Colombo Americano, British Council, or IH. They offer reliable work but often require "split shifts" (early morning and evening classes).
Private Bilingual Schools
K-12 schools for wealthy Colombians. They pay well but require a full 7 AM - 4 PM schedule and often a state teaching license from your home country.
TEFL teacher salary in Colombia
The Colombian Peso (COP) is volatile, so earning potential is best understood in terms of local purchasing power versus USD.
Local Salaries: A university job paying 4,000,000 COP ($1,000 USD) per month puts you in the top tier of local earners. You can rent a nice apartment, eat out daily, and take weekend trips. However, saving money to take out of Colombia is difficult.
Online Salaries: If you teach online and earn $1,500 USD (approx. 6,000,000 COP), you are earning a wealthy upper-class salary by local standards. This is why the digital nomad route is so attractive.
Monthly Salary Range (COP)
| University Job (Net) | 3.5M - 5.5M |
| Language Institute | 2.5M - 4M |
| Online Teaching ($1.5k USD) | ~ 6M - 6.5M |
| Rent (1-Bed Medellín/Bogotá) | 1.5M - 2.5M |
| Lunch (Menu del Dia) | 15,000 - 25,000 |
Work Visa (M) vs. Nomad Visa (V)
The M Visa (Migrant Work Visa): This is the standard visa for local employees. Your school must sponsor you. You generally need a Bachelor's degree and a TEFL certificate to have this approved by the Ministry. It is tied to your employer.
The Digital Nomad Visa (Visa V Nómadas Digitales): This is the game-changer. It allows you to live in Colombia for up to 2 years while working remotely for a foreign company.
Nomad Visa Requirements
To qualify, you must prove a monthly income of 3x the Colombian Minimum Wage (approx. $900 - $1,100 USD, subject to change). You also need health insurance and a letter from your foreign employer/clients.
Tourist Visa: Most Westerners get 90 days on arrival, extendable for another 90 days. While many people work online "under the radar" on this visa, the Digital Nomad visa offers a legal, long-term solution.
Requirements to teach English in Colombia
Colombian institutions value credentials. To get a legal work visa, you usually need to tick specific boxes.
- Bachelor’s Degree Required for M Visa. To get a sponsored work visa at a university or institute, a degree (any field) is standard. (Note: Nomad visas do not strictly require a degree, just income).
- 120-Hour TEFL Certificate Essential. The market is competitive. A TEFL certificate is required by all reputable employers and strengthens your visa application.
- Bank Statements (Nomad) If applying for the Nomad Visa, you must show 3 months of bank statements proving you meet the income threshold (~$900+ USD).
- Clean Background Check A criminal background check from your home country (apostilled) is often required for visa processing.
Split Shifts & University Perks
Hiring Season: The academic year runs February to November. The main hiring period is November-January for a February start. A secondary hiring window occurs in June/July for the second semester.
Early Mornings & Late Nights
If you work for a language institute, expect "split shifts." Business professionals want classes at 6 AM or 7 AM before work, and again at 6 PM or 7 PM after work. You often have the middle of the day free.
University Perks: University jobs are coveted because they usually offer block schedules (no split shifts), weekends off, and paid holidays during Semana Santa (Easter) and Christmas.
Cost of living & Savings in Colombia
Your money goes incredibly far in Colombia. It is one of the cheapest places to live in the Americas while maintaining a high standard of modern infrastructure.
Housing: In trendy El Poblado (Medellín) or Chapinero (Bogotá), a furnished studio costs 2M - 3M COP ($500-$750 USD). If you live in more local neighborhoods like Laureles or Teusaquillo, rent drops significantly to 1.2M - 1.8M COP.
Food & Transport: A "Corrientazo" (set lunch with soup, main, and juice) costs 15,000 - 20,000 COP ($4-$5 USD). Uber is cheap and safe. Domestic flights to the Caribbean coast often cost less than $50 USD.
Monthly Budget (Single Teacher)
| Rent (Furnished Studio) | 1.8M - 3M COP |
| Utilities & Internet | 300k - 500k COP |
| Groceries | 600k - 900k COP |
| Transport (Uber/Metro) | 200k - 400k COP |
| Dining & Nightlife | 500k - 1M COP |
Where to teach English in Colombia?
Choose between the eternal spring of Medellín, the business hustle of Bogotá, or the tropical heat of the coast.
Medellín
The "City of Eternal Spring." The undisputed Digital Nomad capital. Perfect weather, cafe culture, and metro system. Highly popular, so rents are rising, but the lifestyle is unmatched.
Bogotá
The capital. Massive, chilly, and cosmopolitan. It has the most local jobs and universities. Traffic is intense, but the cultural scene (museums, food) is the best in the country.
Cartagena & The Coast
Caribbean heat and colonial history. Very touristic and humid. Jobs here are often in tourism and hospitality English. Great if you love the ocean and can handle the heat.
Cali & The Coffee Axis
Cali is the Salsa capital—energetic and raw. The Coffee Axis (Pereira/Manizales) is greener, safer, and quieter. Both offer a lower cost of living than Medellín.
How to get a job in Colombia
Whether you are applying for the Digital Nomad visa or a local university position, you need to prove your professional status.
Get Your 120-Hour Certificate
Colombian universities and the visa authorities look for accredited training. A 120-hour myTEFL certificate validates your teaching ability, strengthening both your "M Visa" and "Nomad Visa" applications.
- Visa Support: Essential credential for M Visas.
- Nomad Proof: Validates profession for Visa V.
- Accredited: Accepted by Colombian Universities.
- Lifetime Access: Keep your lesson plans forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crucial info for the 2026 Colombian teaching landscape.